New materials of the placoderm fish Bothriolepis heckeri Luksеvics from the Famennian of the Bilovo locality (Tver Region) are studied. This species is very similar to Livnolepis zadonica (H.Obrucheva) in the structure of cranial and postcranial armours and should be referred to the genus Livnolepis Moloshnikov. Morphoiogical simiiarities of these two species are discussed. Only bothriolepidids are really known in the Famennian of Tver Region. Data on the presence of asterolepidids (Asterolepis sp.) in the Middle Famennian need an additional evidence.

Plagio rhyolites of the Pre-Late Jurassic dyke contain restitegamet (cribrate inter grow ths of almandinespessartine and quartz) and ferrocordierite. The garnets of such habit and composition and with such kind of zonality - the content of Mg increases and the content of Mn decreases from the center to the edges - are typical for ferriferous metapelites of amphibotite facies. Composition of the rocks, during palingenesis of which the melt of plagiorhyolites of the Mount Kastel formed, probably corresponded to the cordierite-almandine plagiogneisses. An assessment of the parameters of these metamorphic rocks forming according garnet and cordierite compositions is »550° С and 4 kbar, so they are metamorphic rocks of the amphibotite facies of moderate pressure. There is an assumption, that Mountain Crime a tectonic zone was possibly formed on the ancient crystalline basement, on the mature continental crust, possible continuation of the structures of Russian Plattorm to the south. Ferro cordierite - sekaninaite has been described in Crimea for the first time. A part of garnet and cordiertte was replaced by highly ferriferous chlorite (daphnite) and pumpellyite-(Fe), a part of biotite, titanomagnetite and ilmenite - by chlorite, epidote, pumpellyite-(Fe) and mineral with intermediate compotition between titantte and vuagnatite. The reby, plagio rhyoltes were subj ected by metamorphism of prehnite-pumpellyite facies.

Detailed mineralogical examination of ammonites of jewelry quality has been carried out by means of radiographical, X-ray microanalyses and electronic microscopy. The ammonites consist mainly of calcite, apatite and some cells are constituted of phosphorite. The walls and shell’s septums consist of apatite and calcite, which have replaced original aragonite and maintain inclusions of pyrite of globular shape, aluminosilicate and organic matter. Dispersed apatite determines the black color of walls and shell’s septums. The color and transparency of the calcite, filling up the shell’s chambers, are determined by the quantity of micropores and microinclusions, mainly of apaTite. Ammonites from Kostroma region by its decorative and technology characteristics will be able to use widely in jewelry and interior articles.

The actual material on the distribution of the borates in Permian boron-ore provinces in the East European basin is characterized. An analysis of the distribution of boron minerals in the saliferous layers of the Caspian Depression shows that their composition has varied significantly from magnesium (western part of the basin) to the magnesium-calcium and strontium (South-West) to sodium-calcium, and possibly sodium (South). The main sources of the boron were concentrated sea brine and presumably thermal solutions which could go to the basin along the system of the intersecting deep faults. Given the lithological association of borates to evaporite deposits in haloid basins, the four genetic groups of boron minerals have been identified: evaporite, supergene, «through», presumably volcanogenic-sedimentary.

The morphology and inner structure of the placers in the maj or valleys of the Lena gold-bearing area are considered. The morphology of placers in the plan and the distribution of gold within the contours of the valleys are determined by the morphodynamic type of the channels and their evolution in different parts of the valley. The influence of the major tributaries on the placers structure is found out. They determine the presence of the gold-bearing formations, transverse to the axis of the valley, as well as the abrupt changes of the elevation values of the bottom of the metal-bearing layers, which are located on the outcrops of different height levels and in the erosion hollows - paleochannels of the tributaries. Taking these facts into account allow predicting the position and morphology of the gold formations in buried valleys, to identify undiscovered fragments of placers and to increase the accuracy of delimitation blocks for the estimation of the gold reserves.

The paper considers the methods for choosing the rational combination and comparison of the measured characteristic sand factors, used during decisions making, designing and assessment the efficiency of the production processes and boreholes drilling technologies. When choosing the rational comparison of the homogeneous characteristic sand factors, in abas is of the formalized representation of the methods the reisa coordinate geometrical approach, based on the definition of the maximum (minimum) distance between the points, located in the arithmetical n-dimensional Euclidean space and characterized by the given object of the analysis and decision making. Formalized representation of the methods for the choosing the rational combination of non-homogeneous as well as the homogeneous characteristics and factors bases on the definition of the maximum (minimum) value of the product of the their values. The examples are given from the different fields of the drilling production processes and technologies.

Based on the analysis of the modem quality system of the engineering researches, the authors offer its adjustment by extension with a new procedure - engineering geological audit. In the field of the engineering geology the audit is a principally new method. Studying the fundamentals of the control (checking) procedures allows identifying principal differences between the audit and the control. As a result, the relevance of applying the audit in the engineering and geological practice has been proved. As a result of the study of omission in the modern quality system, a method is proposed to develop mechanism of controlling the methodology of the engineering and geological works. This mechanism will provide the required quality of the researches and its product - engineering and geological information. The comparative analysis of the checking procedures and the audit has shown omissions in quality assessment of the results of engineering and geological investigations. Besides that, this paper summarizes all relevant information developed by he authors earlier.

A technique of the thermal investigations of rock samples is described that provides measurements of the rock thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, and thermal anisotropy coefficient on standard core plugs (cylinders with a diameter and height of 30x30 mm) that are being used widely in laboratory oil&gas petrophysics. A theoretical basis of the anisotropic core plugs investigations is given when the principal axes of the thermal conductivity are oriented arbitrarily. The technique allows to measure the rock thermal properties and other rock properties just on the same rock samples that provides reliable data on correlations between the thermal properties and other properties. A technique important peculiarity is that the thermal property measurements on the core plugs successively saturated with the different fluids are possible. Determination of the thermal properties of the rock mineral matrix, that are necessary for the basin and hydrodynamic modeling with the modern simulators, became possible due to the technique application. The results of the thermal core plugs investigations can be used for testing of correspondence of the theoretical models of the thermal conductivity to real rock properties and for necessary theoretical model corrections estimations and their implementation in the theoretical models. It is demonstrated that application of the geometrical mean mixing law for the rock thermal conductivity prediction requires introduction of a correction factor that can be determined from the thermal measurements on the standard core plugs. Experimental estimations of the correction factors for carbonates are given. The thermal investigations of Bazhen formation rocks provided the data on the regression equations for correlations between the thermal conductivity and total organic carbon and on rock matrix thermal conductivity. Essential peculiarities of these characteristics were established for radiolarites. The data on correlations between the thermal conductivity and compressive sonic wave veiocity for dolomites are given that were obtained from the core plug collection investigations.

Non-tidal variations of gravity are the residual part of the monitoring of the variations after subtraction from them the lunar-solar gravity variations and the drift of the zero point of the gravimeter. Non-tidal variations are sometimes of complex morphology and structure. The sources of the non-tidal variations are the intracrustal processes and flows of the charged particles in space. The streams of the charged particles can affect the sensor of the gravimeter. The streams of the charged particles can create a powerful magnetic hydrodynamic (MHD) shocks that cause abnormal changes of gravity. It is necessary to consider the non-tidal variations when carrying out high-precision gravimetric measurements.

The paper gives the definition of the term «sectorial industrial technological system» as an instrument for the realization of macro-level industrial policy, with regard to the features of concrete kinds of economical activity. The main methodic demands for the designing of such systems are formulated. The key ones are to define the perspective demands to the technological development of the sector, to define the subject-technological priorities and organizational ecomonical mechanisms of integration of economic subjects in corresponding directions. The feasibility and possibilities of such sectoral systems formation with regard to the geological sector specifics are characterized. The presence of the powerful scientific indusirial cenier as JSC «Rusgeology» gives the significant competitive advantages in the sectoral industrial technological systems design.

The problems of the concession development are considered, which is one of the forms of public-private partnership during developing difficult for access mineral deposits. Data on the historical experience of this form of management in the world and in Russia, including in mineral resources use, are given. The specifics of the implementation of the concession mechanism in the mineral resources use in Russia are reflected, as well as the factors that impede the development of the concession mechanism in modern conditions in the mining sectors of the Russian Federation. The necessity of using concessions for the creation of industrial infrastructure, which is necessary for the development of difficult for access mineral deposits is substantiated.