Kandalaksha graben, located in the water-area of the White sea, is a part of the Onega-Kandalaksha paleorift of the Riphean time of foundation. It is filled with the terrigenous formations of the Terskaya suites ranging from 3 to 8 km by depth, while the age of the rocks of the Terskaya suite is still controversial, and according to different sources, ranges from 1300 to 670 Ma. This means that the time of the formation of Kandalaksha Graben is not precisely defined. In 2016, on the Tersky Bank of the Kola Peninsula, a sample of sandstones of the suite was selected. The age of the rock of 1390±25 Ma, i.e. the boundary of the early and middle Riphean, was determined by the K-Ar isotope method.. This corresponds to the time of the beginning of the stretching of the lithosphere and continental rifting. Quartz-microcline metasomatites formed on sand-shale spit of Terskaya suite in the zone of amethyst deposit of Cape Korablik gave the age of 821±170 Ma, determined by Sm-Nd method, and fluorite of the same rocks gave the age of 690±71 Ma. The last value is close to the age of the basalts from the Onega depression, defined by the same method. These data correspond to the momentum of stretching of the passive Timan margin of the Baltic area at the end of the late Riphean.

Fossils of marine reptiles are a new jewelry and ornamental material and collected in the Ulyanovsk region from the Upper Jurassic deposits. They consist of (wt. %): calcite — 52, apatite — 24 and pyrite — 23, and also gypsum presents. The contents of radioactive and carcinogenic elements are close to background. The original bone structure of reptiles is preserved. Apatite replaces the bone tissue of marine reptiles, forming a cellular framework. According to the chemical composition, apatite refers to fluorohydroxyapatite with an increased Sr content. The size of the crystals is finely-dispersed. Calcite and pyrite fill the central parts of the cells. Calcite crystals of isometric and elongated shape, 0,01—0,05 mm in size, form blocks up to 0,3 mm during intergrowth. Calcite fills thin, discontinuous veins along the contour of cells with a width of up to 0,03 mm. In calcite, among the impurity elements, there are (wt. %, on the average): Mg — 0,30, Mn — 0,39 and Fe — 0,96. Pyrite forms a dispersed impregnation in calcite and apatite, content of impurities is, wt. %: Ni — up to 0,96 and Cu — up to 0,24. On technological and decorative characteristics of fossils of sea reptiles of Ulyanovsk region are qualitative jewelry and ornamental materials of biomineral group, allowing to make a wide assortment of jewelry and souvenir products.

Identification of indicators on placer gold allowed predicting formation types of primary sources of gold and their location in the East Siberian platform, overlapped by thick cover of Meso-Cenozoic deposits, where traditional methods of prospecting of gold deposits are ineffective. Each gold-ore formation is known to have the corresponding geological-structural control. Based on study of mineralogical-geochemical features of placer gold and regularity of its distribution, it has been determined that primary sources of low-sulfide gold-quartz, gold-copper-porphyritic, gold-ferruginous-quartzite, gold—rare-metal and gold-platinoid formations are confined to basement outcrops and their framings; gold-sulfide-quartz formation — to metasomatites, developed within the zones of deep faults, tracing the terrigenous-carbonate series; and manifestations of gold-silver formation are localized in the zones of intracontinental paleorifts. In general, identification of geological-structural location of specific types of gold sources favors more correct selection of prospecting methods for gold deposits in areas with thick sedimentary cover, and evaluating their potential.

The paper presents the results of a study of heavy mineral concentrates of Kosumnerskoe gold deposit as well as the native gold from them. This gold deposit includes two gravel deposits. The granulometric composition, morphology, roundness, flatness, presence of intergrowths of gold with other minerals, as well as the character of the surface, the chemical composition and internal structure of gold, have been investigated. Based on these results, the placer gold of rivers Narta-Yu and Nester-Shor has been concluded to be similar in morphology, chemical composition and internal structure so it allows attributing them to a single type of motherload, which could be named as gold-polysulfide-quartz type. On the results of the analysis of two gold deposits of this field, the gravel deposit of the river Nester-Shor has been concluded to be elder than gravel deposit of the river Narta-Yu.

Cho Don-Cho Dien is a potential area for lead-zinc deposits with reserves of about 40% of Vietnam’s total lead-zinc ores. Most of the deposits are hidden. The results of geological structural analysis have shown that the lead-zinc mineralization here is mainly concentrated in terrigenous-carbonate sediments of Devonian age and closely related to late Permian-Triassic granite Phia Bioc complex. The paragenetic ores assosiations have been distinguished and a scheme of minerals formation has been designed. By the geochemical composition, lead-zinc ore consist of principal elements (Pb, Zn) and the accompanying elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Bi, As, Ag, Sn, W, Sb). Statistical analysis has indicated that Pb has a strong positive correlation with Sb, a moderate correlation with Ag and a weak correlation with Sn and W. While Zn has strong, moderate and weak correlations with Cd, W and Cu, respectively. The presented data should be used for finding the hidden lead-zinc ore deposits in the Cho Don — Cho Dien area.

The new kimberlite pipe «Yanvarskaya» has been discovered in the Alakit-Markha field by a complex of geological and geophysical methods. For its delineation and the study three profile of wells were covered: one profile is along the long axis and two are in the cross stretch at the network 40x40 m. In wells geophysical researches, and also testing works, were carried out, including the selection ot the nine core samples with a total weight of 1120 kg, at the wells which had opened kimberlite. Yanvarskoe kimberlite body has a dike-like form with the orientation of the long axis in a North-East direction (50—55°) with sizes under overlying rocks 90x45 m, with an area of 2836 m², which allows reference of this body to the class of small bodies. The body is composed of porphyry kimberlites of greenish-gray and yellowish-brown colors, strongly altered, dissected by numerous differently oriented cracks filled with calcite. Based on the results of core testing, a diamond of class -2+1 mm weighing of 2.1 mg (0,01 car.) was found.

The paper presents the results of studies of coal spontaneous combustion and forecast of Tainin section of Kansk Deposit of Kansko-Achinsky basin. To this end, a new original methodology has been applied, based on the rank data model and the idea of classifying these data by «proximity» to reference groups of observations. As a result of studying of a geological structure of the investigated layer, physical and chemical researches and the analysis of statistical data on self-ignition of coals, the geological factors of self-ignition of coals and boundary values of their parameters of different degree of danger of self-ignition have been established. Transition from the initial data of a coal bed to a rank scale has been carried out with the use of standards (boundary values) of levels of danger of spontaneous combustion of coals. The obtained data were used in the construction of the self-ignition prediction map of coal bed «Powerful» (Moschnyi) using the program ArcMap 10.2 from the family of geographic information programs ArcGIS.

The distribution of rare-earth elements (REE) in ores of gold deposits of East Transbaikalia has shown that the ore-bearing magma chambers have different depths and degrees of differentiation. The greatest degree of differentiation was within the magmatic foci (Eu/Eu* — 0,29—0,32; Rb/Sr — 0,98—1,40), which are the sources of gold-quartz-arsenopyrite ores, the magmatic sources of the gold-quartz and gold-sulfide-quartz ores (Eu/Eu* — 0,53—0,72; Rb/Sr of 0,10 to 0,54) had lesser degree of differentiation. Magma chambers that are sources for the gold-quartz-arsenopyrite ores (Eu/Sm — 0,08—0,14), were at shallower depths than those for gold-quartz and gold-sulfide-quartz ores (Eu/Sm — 0,11—0,19). The formation of gold-quartz-arsenopyrite ores took place at the magma chambers, largely enriched in volatile components, it is indicated by the existence of a significant tetrad effects in REE patterns of (T1-4 - 0,80; 1,15; 1,16).

The Sergiev Posad polygon of the MGRI-RSGPU is located on the watershed of the Pazha and Torgosha rivers located on the southern slope of the Klinsky-Dmitrovsky ridge; geologically, the upper part of its section is composed of clay soils of Quaternary and Cretaceous age. The paper gives an analysis of the values of seismic, electrical and physical and mechanical properties of soils, as well as resistivity of water sources and reservoirs. Main methods of near-surface geophysics allow obtaining this information. The performed methods made it possible to specify the geological structure of the first 15 meters of the section, to refine the hydrogeological conditions of the test site, to determine the properties of the grounds as bases for buildings and structures. Also, the effect of the radioactive substance oonthe state of the underlying soils has been established by means of a specially prepared soil radiometer plate .

This paper presents a program of observation of the surface water and bottom sediments. In accordance with existing regulatory requirements, these elements are directly connected, which allows determination of the water loss and the level of geochemical contamination of rivers and large lakes due to dissolution, migration and accumulation of chemicals in the proper water intake areas, in background and in control points of water bodies. Since monitoring of the surface waters and of the bottom sediments is a part of the complex geoecological monitoring, it is necessary to reflect the feasibility of the work and, accordingly, its objectivity. In addition, results should be reliable and complete, and information received during the observations should be presented in a manner that is convenient for the consumer, which requires additional steps of systematization of the information obtained, data processing and formation of the information banks. When designing a network of monitoring points in the study area, we should follow the same principle that is used for determination of sustainability category of geoecological systems: with other identical conditions, monitoring points should be located in places characterized by low levels of stability and within the zones of exposure to high environmental risk objects.

A new subgenus of Upper Barremian rhyncholites Hadrocheilus (Lozovskia) has been described. It differs from subgenus Hadrocheilus (Microbeccus) Shimansky et Nerodenko by much smaller size of the hood, as well as by the top of the handle, which is significantly raised over the hood, and by the flat dorsal side of the arm. Morphological features of the new taxon allow us to consider it to be an ancestral to Aptian genus Erlangericheilus, the most important feature of which is the transformation of the hood in a small tusk-shaped appendage.

When conducting visual observations, the main criteria for assessment of their sites of location’s state should include: the degree of chemical contamination and / or mechanical cluttering of the riverbed and the banks, the floodplain and valley slopes, the water-shed surface; the dynamics of geological-engineering process in the studied area; visible deformations of the linear objects. Comparison and analysis of data received in the process of visual inspection of the waterway crossings allow us to state out that all sites have the same common problem, which is the development of the erosion process on the natural slopes, or on the slopes of the roadway and of the road ditches. The most dangerous areas for the linear part of the pipelines are those that are characterized by complex stress conditions, including longitudinal slopes in the zone of exogenous process action, transitions through the waterways and marshes, and curvilinear sections.

The problem of choosing the type of activity, methods and technologies of reclamation of quarry spaces, in the conditions of minimizing the harmful impact on water resources, is determined by a large number of natural and man-made factors. One of the main and determining factors is the state of surface and groundwater, as well as their change in the reclamation of quarries. To solve this problem, it is proposed to create an information and expert system (IES) for selecting a method of reclamation of quarries of IES «Quarry-water-reclamation», based on the natural and man-made conditions of the territories. The purpose of the development of IES «Quarry-water-recultivation» is a reasonable choice of methods, options and technologies for recultivation of the quarry space, based on the physical, geographical, geological, hydrological and hydrogeological conditions of the research area, the method of mining, the conditions of use of surface and groundwater, on the basis of these monitoring systems, as a result of retrospective and predictive geofiltration modeling, taking into account the planned for the implementation of design and water protection solutions and measures, as well as the social - economic conditions of the region. Tasks for the collection and compilation of physicogeographical, geological, hydrological and hydrogeological conditions according to the basin principle, the characteristics of economic activities, the construction of geofiltration, hydrodynamic and computational models, with the further correction of the last solution of the series of predictive tasks, the change of the hydrological and hydrogeological conditions of the area as a result of various variants of recultivation of the quarry, analysis of the current legislation, the requirements of the local authority and wishes of the local people, development of the project of water protection measures of the selected option.

The paper presents the timeframe of the under-stream period of hydrogeological well operation. The causes of the hydrological wells flowrate reducing while long operation have been indicated. The methods of the hydrological wells and near-filters zone decolmatation have been described. The pulse-reagent well recovery has been shown to be the most widely used method. The filter colmatant composition has been given and the possible filter failure cause has been shown. Laboratory investigations have been done with a special equipment that can be seen on the drawing. A solution of sulfamic and triacetate acid, corrosion inhibitor, surfactant, sodium tripolyphosphate, adalic acid and water has been suggested as an invention. Using of these chemicals allowed to achieve the synergistic effect. A double swab-packer and a washing device for wells regeneration has been designed, its description and drawing have been given. The optimal time for the colmated filter regeneration has been indicated. Laboratory investigations results are given in the table. The chemic equipment used for chemicals transportation and keeping of the reagents has been described. The created solution for hydrogeological wells regeneration has been shown to be the optinal and its using efficiency is forty percent more than that of the known one. The created solution is recommended for hydrogeological wells regeneration in field works.