New and specified data on the composition of the Triassic tetrapod assemblages of the Timan-North Urals region, the Mezen syneclise and the eastern part of the Moscow syneclise have been given. The succession of the Triassic tetrapod communities known in this area includes eight assemblages, seven of which correspond to the contemporary communities of the terrestial vertebrates known from other regions of the East European platform and the Cisurals. The first assemblage, known from the basal Triassic of the Mezen and Moscow syneclises, is Early Induan in age. The second, third and fourth assemblages are dated by Early Olenekian age and typical for the middle part of the Early Tri-assic section of the Timan-North Urals region, the Mezen and Moscow syneclises. The Late Olenekian fifth and sixth assemblages characterize the upper part of the Lower Triassic of the Northern Cisurals, the Moscow and Mezen syneclises. The seventh assemblage characterizes the base of the Middle Triassic (Lower Anisian) of the Northern Cisurals and has no analogues in other regions of the platform and of the Cisurals. The eighth assemblage is known from the upper part of the Middle Triassic of the Northern Cisurals and is Late Ladinian in age.

Kama-Kinel Trough System (KKTS) — the structure formed in the Frasnian of the Late Devonian in the vast territory of the Volga-Ural province, is distinguished by the Upper Devonian — Lower Carboniferous deposits. The new interpretation of forming conditions of carbonate deposits in the KKTS has been given. The troughs of the KKST were formed in the Late Devonian as basin with gently sloping shelf zones. The deposits of the middle shelf (ramp), gently sinking into the side of the pool, where the layered accumulated precipitation are presented by bioclastic and intraclastic (lumpy) limestones and carbonate breccia, formed under the influence of storms. Three structural-facial zones, central, border and arched, allocated in the structure of deflections of the KKTS, reflect the structure of troughs formed as a result of tectonic restructuring at the beginning of the Visean and reactivated at the neotectonic stage. The uplift of the side zone considered as the reef buildups seem to be horst-shaped structures in fault zones. These features allow us to consider the structure of the KKTS as formed as a result of paleotectonic processes with the appropriate distribution of shallow and deep-water facies, subsequently changed as a result of reactivation of the basement faults.

The study results of the microstructure, mineral, chemical and trace element composition of the northeastern shelf sediments in the area of the South Kirin hydrocarbon deposits of the Sea of Okhotsk in the Sakhalin region are considered. Sediment samples were taken during well drilling from the «Trias» special vessel at the depth of 25—30 m from the bottom surface (by the sea depth of 200—220 m). Interval coring (every one meter) was carried out by the pressing-in method. Analytical studies were performed for 30 air-dry samples (firmly cemented cylinders with a diameter of 4 cm, a height of 3 cm, and a weight of 50—70 g) of well No. 49 (30 m). According to lithological characteristics, three intervals are distinguished in the section which are represented by clay sands (0,0—4,0 m), sandy, silty clays (4,0—21,0) and clays (21,0—30,0). REM images of the sediment microstructure were obtained using a scanning microscope JEOL JIB-Z4500 (xlOOO-6000) for each interval. The scientific imaging was performed for ten thin undisturbed plates from the top part of air-dry sample-cylinder. Fauna residues and micropores were found. The content of aggregates, primary (free) particles and the volume of real clay content were determined by the «Microstructure» method. On the basis of these data, grouping of samples was carried out using the Q-type cluster analysis program which confirmed the picked intervals in the studied section. Changes in the mineral composition were determined by powder diffraction in the sediment thickness. The quartz content decreases with depth, and the clay phase increases in which hydromica dominates, and the almost complete absence of kaolinite is noted. The content of rock-forming oxides (method of silicate analysis) and statistical data processing showed a homogeneous distribution of silicon, aluminum and potassium oxides in the section, the coefficient of variation (V, %) was only 1—3 %. Augmentation of variability was found for БегОз (P12). Values of geochemical coefficients and statistical data processing revealed their insignificant variability in the section (V3—8). Noticeable changes are characteristic for the ratio of calcium and magnesium oxides (V16). A lesser degree of chemical transformations of sediments was established. The content of 23 trace elements was determined by the X-ray fluorescence method using an S8 TIGER spectrometer. The sediment thickness has the critical level of pollution by values of the pollution index (Zc) calculated for a group of toxic elements (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, As). Based on the obtained information, the conclusions were drawn about the zonal structure of the sediment thickness, the features of their microstructure, mineral and chemical composition, as well as the degree of contamination by toxic trace elements.

Four magnetic fractions of small classes concentrates (0,05—0,125 mm) of a representative technological sample have been separated from titanium-bearing medium thickness sandstones of Malorucheysky unit (Pizhemsky titanium deposit). They have been studied: general sample (T-2) and three partial (T-l a, b, c) ones obtained by gravitational separation in heavy liquid in three density intervals (3,3—3,5; 3,5—3,7; 3,7—3,9 g/cm3). It has been demonstrated that the magnetic fraction of the small productive classes consists mainly of pseudorutil, ilmenite, siderite (ironstone) and garnet. The phase composition of iron-titanium phases has been reliably established by the means of normative recalculation of chemical analysis data, as well as methods of Mossbauer spectroscopy, infrared (IR) absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The ratio of the pseudorutile, ilmenite, siderite and associated rare earth minerals monazite-kularite and zircon accumulated in the respective gravity classes, has been computed . It has been recommended to use the methods of recovery of the concentrates (extraction of zircon and monazite) before the operation of desilication, as well as their purification from siderite.

In the West of the aHochthon of Magnitogorsk zone thrusted onto the Precambrian complexes of the Uraltau zone, the Devonian island-arc complexes overlap stratigraphicalry the Ordovician and Silurian chert-basalt sequences and serpentine melange. Melange and Ordovician strata are intruded by dyke swarms and sheeted dykes («dyke in dyke») which are composed of mafic and ultramafic rocks. The dykes, composed by gabbro-dolerite, amphibole K-feldspar gabbro, hornblendite, picrite and lamprophyre, predominate. The composition of the ultramafic rocks corresponds to the composition of picrite and komatiite. The 40Ar/39Ar age of the magmatic amphibole from gabbro is 357 ± 8 m.y. The formation of dykes is related to the Early Carboniferous rift-related magmatism on an active continental margin.

The patterns of restoration of the piezometric level of groundwater in the aquifer under test in a layered aquifer system with the overflow of water from the adjacent horizon after stopping the experimental constant-rate pumping tests, have been analyzed; the physico-mathematical model of piezometric level restoration has been formed and analyzed. It has been shown that the restoration of the level is carried out in the same way as after stopping the pumping from a pressure isolated aquifer. In other words, it has been assumed that pumping with a constant flow rate continues even after it has been stopped, and at the time of self-stopping through the well from which the pumping is performed, water is pumped into the test aquifer with the same flow rate. As a result, the disturbance flow rate becomes zero, and the groundwater level in the tested horizon is restored to an unperturbed position. In addition to this, during test filtration testing of layered systems with overflow, the groundwater flow formed during the injection, directed from the tested horizon to the adjacent one, completely "locks" the groundwater flow formed during the pumping out of the adjacent horizon to the tested one. Accordingly, the processing and interpretation of the results of tracking the recovery level should be carried out in full compliance with the existing methodological recommendations.

The results of hydrogeochemical monitoring of the Sarmat-Meotis-Pontic sediments aquifer complex of the North Sivash artesian basin have been analyzed. The analysis based on a routine observations for 16 producing wells. The observations were made in the period from 2014 to 2017 years. A correlation and regression analysis has been made for definition of dependencies between changes in the concentrations of the normalized components. The results obtained allow us to evaluate the main factors of formation of the chemical composition of groundwater. At the present stage, metamorphosed waters are pulled up from the lower strata of the complex, that leads to an increase in the amount of mineralization. The formation of sulphate waters is primarily associated with the peculiarities of the geological structure, namely, the high gypsum content of quaternary deposits and the presence of hydraulic connection with the overlying aquifers. One of the reasons for the formation of sulphate waters is the anthropogenic impact associated with the close location of the acid accumulator containing sulfur tailing. The results obtained allow us to proceed to the next stage of the survey — the creation of a natural hydrogeological model of the research area and the carrying of the thermodynamic modeling.

It is known that in the insulator the area that has the main influence on the propagation of electromagnetic waves,is determined by the radius of the first Fresnel zone. But rocks are conductive medium. Examples of the results of calculations have been given, illustrating which area of the conducting space can have a significant impact on the re sults of the radio-wave method. In the given approach, each element A Vi of a conducting space, differing in electrical parameters from all other elements, is a source of a secondary electromagnetic field, similar to the field of an alternating electric dipole. The results of mathematical modeling can help to determine which area of the conducting medium under certain conditions has the main influence on the results of radio wave method. Simulation results can determine which region of the conductive medium has a major influence on the results of radio-wave method.

E.A. Moldavskaya was one of the first Russian women-geologists engaged in practical geology. In 1918, she graduated from the Moscow Women's Courses of Higher Education in geology and worked for about 40 years in the chosen profession. E.A. Moldavskaya controlled geological and engineering-geological researches in Moscow region, Volga region, Belarus. She was engaged in exploration and evaluation of ratovkite, limestone, clay, gypsum deposits, and compiled a summary «Mineral resources of the gypsum industry of the USSR». E.A. Moldavskaya supervised the theme «Assessment of the gas potential prospects in Moscow and Moscow region», took part in geological survey for thermal power plants and made the instruction on researches of constructional materials for construction of those plants. E.A. Moldovskaya was awarded by medal «For Valorous Labour in the Great Patriotic war» (1946), «In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow» (1948). The professional activities and biography of E.A. Moldavskaya have been considered for the first time.

The possibilities of using test tasks of various forms for the current control of the objective assessment of students knowledge of historical geology have been clarified. Brief information about the essence of pedagogical control and tests has been given. The value of control maps for the analysis and statistical processing of test results has been considered. The effectiveness of the test verification system for the organization of self-control over the course of assimilation and consolidation of the acquired knowledge, as well as the implementation of self-management training activities of students, has been proved. It has been concluded that the educational material that affects the history of the Earth in the Precambrian is the most difficult (10,0% of the correct answers), as well as the various aspects of the evolution of the organic world (10,1%), and alsothe information about minerals (11,5%). Students showed the best knowledge in the field of stratigraphic division of the studied intervals of geological history of the Earth (50,4%), features of the Paleozoic stage (42,4%) and various historical aspects (37,3%). It has been established that the maximal difficulties, regardless of the content, cause the tasks requiring systematic knowledge for compliance (9,4%). A small positive dynamics of students performance indicators has been revealed in the study of the material relating to different ages and different types of tectonic structures, as well as in the work with tests to establish compliance. It has been proved that the test control system makes it possible to make more systematic and effective conduct of classes, organize a self-control over the course for mastering individual topics and adjust the lecture material to improve the efficiency of training. Data on the results of the test control of educational work should be fully used for timely adjustment of educational trajectories of students at all stages of training in historical geology. They will be necessary for the development of initiatives in mastering the future profession, creative abilities, the ability to plan and predict the results of their independent actions and to solve non-standard tasks.