In the modern structure of the East European platform (EEP) an important role is played by long-lived dislocation zones, complicating the complexes of the platform’s cover and the basement. They are  organized non-linearly, form a large vortex megastructure twisted  clockwise, and are characterized by an inhomogeneous structure in  the vertical and lateral directions. In the stages of their  development, numerous dynamic (kinematic) inversions are  observed, which are  associated with the periodic manifestation and repetition of various  geodynamic settings: collision, rifting, transpression and transtension.  The processes of alternating rotation of EEP using “iris diaphragm”  model explain many development laws of long-lived tectonic zones and vortex megastructure.

Famous Russian geologist N.A. Golovkinsky published 150 years ago an important scientific work, where the phenomenon of lateral  displacement (movement) of homogeneous lithological layers  («slide» over time) was asserted. This created the most significant  prerequisites for the fundamental facial law: the layers, lying nearby,  were formed in the same sequence vertically. The law was  formulated a little later by A.A. Inostrantsev, and later  «rediscovered» by J. Wal- ter. The ideas, developed by N.A.  Golovkinsky, subsequently found the application in the study of  geological cyclicity, and currently in the booming seismic  stratigraphy. The creative improvement and continuation of  theoretical positions  contained in the Golovkinsky’s work allowed to  advance a method of facially-cyclic analysis, which has been  success- fully used in the study of many coal-bearing strata, and is  currently used for coal-free deposits of the West Siberian oil and gas  basin. Methodically, they develop an understanding of causality and  correspond to the principles of synergetic world-view. The main  content of these ideas remains relevant in the light of new realities  of cognitive process (nonlin-ear science, endovision).

An experimental study of the process of the dissolution of diamonds in a sulfur-containing iron melt with different contents of sulfur (10,  15, 20, 25, 30 wt. %) at 3,5 GPa and 1400°C has been carried out.  The obtained results indicate that under the realized conditions, the  plane-faced diamond crystals of octahedral habit are transformed  into a curved octahedroid shape with morphological characteristics similar to  natural diamonds from kimberlites. It has been concluded that metal- sulphide melts, given their relatively low melting points, could affect the  safety of diamonds in the mantle. The presence of sulfur reduces  the solubility of carbon and tends to zero in the Fe-S melt compositions  close to eutectic (25 and 30 wt. %). That is, the presence of sulfur has a favorable effect on the stability of diamonds.

The Kanin Peninsula is an elevated block of the Timan Ridge where Precambrian sedimentary-metamorphic sequences and magmatic  rocks, intruding them, form the Kanin Kamen Ridge. In the  northwestern part of the Peninsula on the coast of the Barents Sea,  there is a unique outcrop of two-mica granites, monzonitoids and  lamprophyres cutting metaterrigenous rocks of the Upper Riphean  Tabuyev series and overlain by Lower Permian limestones. To establish the age of magmatic rocks, U-Pb dating of zircons has been carried out by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) method. In  zircons from granites, an age of 883 ± 16 Ma has been obtained,  which corresponds to the beginning of the Late Riphean, and the  subsynchronous formation of subalkaline rocks occurred in the Late  Cambrian. The age of monzogabbro is 505 ± 7 Ma, and  lamprophyres – 504±7Ma. 

Oxide ores of the global ocean — cobalt-rich crusts and ferromanganese nodules are of bacterial origin and identified as  stromatolites and onkolites. Pillar structure of ferromanganese  stromatolites and festoon-shaped structures of onkolites represent  the bacterial mats, formed by interbedding of fossilized bacterial  biofilms. The appearance of ore-forming types of procaryotic family  and their evolution are defined by major biosphere events. On the  case study of the ferromanganese  nodules of Magellanic mountains and cobalt-rich crusts of the province  of the Clarion-Clipperton, the main stages of the evolution of structural  forms of bacterial communities have been revealed. It has been shown that the change of phases happened due to the influence of  major tectonic, volcanic and other geological events.

Basing on generalization of large actual material on complex investigation of diamond, its characteristic in Upper Paleozoic and  Mesozoic sedimentary thick layers of the Siberian platform has been  provided. It has allowed receiving new data on composition features  and distribution of diamond in recent sediments of main  diamondiferous regions of Lena-Anabar, Central-Siberian and  Tungusskaya sub-provinces. On the north-east of Siberian platform,  the region of Kyutyungdinsky graben and nearby territories,  perspective for the discovery of rich kimberlite bodies with specific  dia- monds, are of the most interest. Special attention has been paid to the Central-Siberian sub-province, where it has been convincingly  shown that the area of development of individual diamond macro- associations is limited by a specific diamondiferous region, within  which complexes of different in age terrigenous and coastal Upper  Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments are developed. The complex of  features of diamonds from placers of the described platform testifies  by morphology, coloration, hard inclusions, internal structure,  photoluminescence and admixture composition about plurality of  primary sources and availability of still undiscovered kimberlite  bodies within many diamondiferous regions. Application of  typomorphic features of crystals for restoration of exogenous history of diamonds on the path from primary sources to the sites of modern allocation in placers, as well as for paleogeographical reconstructions of distribution of ancient productive thick layers and clarification of  diamondiferous material drift direction, has a significant importance.  Proximity of typomorphic features of diamonds in sedimentary thick  layers of these ages, identified in some diamondiferous regions,  testifies about formation of these collectors due to washout of more  ancient productive layers or Middle Paleozoic primary sources.  Polygeny of mineralogical associations of diamonds from different in age placers within some diamondiferous regions has been noted,  which may be successfully used when forecasting and prospecting primary sources of the mineral.

The main features of the difference and similarity of the physical and chemical properties of gold and mercury have been given, which  determine their behavior in the natural processes of formation of  deposits of both metals in Kamchatka. It has been shown that the  difference in the properties of gold and mercury led to the  emergence of independent monometallic deposits, differing in  connection with intrusive formations, in depth and temperature of  ore formation. The similarity of the properties of these elements  determined the appearance of mercury minerals on gold ore deposits and gold in mercury deposits, as well as the formation of complex  gold-mercury deposits. Four geological-industrial types of gold- mercury deposits have been distinguished: the Knoxville, the Carlin,  the Kyuchus and the Chemlian ones, which include deposits with  large gold reserves both abroad and in Russia. The identification of  gold deposits, including through the revision of mercury ore  occurrences and deposits of Kamchatka for gold presence, will strengthen the mineral resources base of gold in this region.

Based on the consideration and analysis of different approaches to obtaining data for constructing a digital elevation model and types of  three-dimensional surface representation, the choice of the most  optimum technique for construction and visualization of three- dimensional model of the volcano-sedimentary cover of the  Streltsovskaya caldera in Eastern Transbaikalia has been  substantiated. The creation of such model determines the need for  detection, identification and monitoring of processes, phenomena  and factors of natural and anthropogenic origin at uranium deposits of the same named ore field, which are developed by  underground way in difficult mining and geological conditions. To  solve this problem, modeling of the daylight surface relief and the  basement roof has been carried out on the basis on remote sensing  data, geophysical studies, cartographic materials vectorization and  processing results. The space between the constructed surfaces due  to the algorithm for creating closed framework of surfaces has been  transformed into a new object representing three-dimensional  volumetric model of the caldera volcano-sedimentary cover. The received results allow creating a predictive model of the tectonic and dynamic state of the Streltsovky ore field rock massifs for the deposits development and mine workings design.

The results of the works undertaken by students on practical classes and during educational practices have been discussed. Causes and  difficulties in student learning of exploratory geophysics have been  analyzed. It has been found a deficiency in practical skills of future  engineers relevant to the work with geophysical facilities and  equipment and further mental processing of the measured  parameters of natural and artificial geophysical fields. A brief  description has been given for improvements in the methodology of  teaching geophysics to future geology and geoecology engineers via  inclusion of practical works with geophysical equipment on the test  site on the Zorge Street with tasks linked to engineering-geological  cross-section study and mapping underground infrastructure on the  given area. There are some other examples of student involvement  in solution of geophysical tasks on the objects of educational geophysical practices with subsequent detailed geological and  geophysical interpretation.

Georges Cuvier belongs to the most largest naturalists of the end of 18th – the first half of 19th century. He published more than 300   scientific works, which considered different problems — from the  design of comparative-anatomical fundament for the development of  the creatures system, to the questions of natural science. Cuvier  suggested his own sight of the progress in organic world, which gave to the geologists the scientific method on geochronology. His theory  of catastrophes, which provided the change of the subsequent  systems of flora and fauna on the Earth, had a huge influence on the further development of science. The result of its use was the  appearance of the stratigraphic scale in the first half of 19th century. The most important reform of the zoological systematics is  connected with the Kuvier’s works. On the base of comparative- anatomical method, he justified for the first time the study ot the  four main forms of the organization of the creatures, or the plans of  the animal kingdom’s structure. The stratigraphic scheme of Paris basin, suggested by Kuvier, became the example pattern for  the differentiation of the similar deposits in other regions of Western Europe. A brief biographic data has been provided.

Sengilite is a trade mark of florogenic jewelry and ornamental material being mined around the village Sengilei of the Ulyanovsk  region. The sangilite is a lithofected marine plant remains cemented  in marl. The sangilite mainly consists of calcite (from 86 to 94 wt.  %). The following minerals have been established (wt. %): pyrite  2,5—6, quartz 2, montmorillonite 3, dolomite 2, in minor quantities  illite, kaolinite, jarosite, gypsum, chalcopyrite can be presented. Among the elements-admixture, Sr is presented up to 0,053 wt. %  and Ba up to 0,023 wt. %. The content of radioactive and  carcinogenic elements is at the background level. The original  structure of plant remains is inherited in sengilite. The differently  colored zones of sengilite are determined by the size and structural  features of the calcite crystals, as well as the amount of pyrite  inclusions, and the presence of marl. In the calcite, the following elements-admixture, (wt. %) are noted: Mg from 0,68 to  1,29, Fe from 0,14 to 0,52, insignificant amounts of Mn. According to its technological and decorative characteristics, sengilite is a new  high-quality jewelry and ornamental material that allows to produce  a wide range of jewelry and souvenirs. Collection and processing of  sengilit in the Ulyanovsk region along with ammonites and other  types of jewelry and ornamental raw materials will increase the profitability of the deposit and the range of products.

The time-varying resources for water supplies of historical settlements, fortifications and fortresses in periods of their creation and usage have  been analyzed. Nowadays it is necessary to assess the role of  hydrogeological conditions as an important component of engineering- geological conditions in order to study the reasons of conservation and destruction of archaeological sites. The contribution of groundwater  in protection (conservation) of organic origin artifacts has been  considered. It is necessary to ensure a safe groundwater level to avoid  flooding and chemical weathering during the process of the museumification of the archaeological sites.