Introduction. The article presents the prospects of uranium mineralisation in the Trans-Urals. The study area lies in the southwestern part of the Western Siberian Plate and belongs to the West Siberian uranium-bearing belt. The belt controls the paleovalley type uranium infiltration mineralisation of the Mesozoic age. The data obtained from the anomalous geochemical area (AGA) of the Dolmatovsky and Khokhlovsky uranium ore regions are used as a reference with suitable geochemical characteristics.
Aim. The aim of this study is to identify and forecast new uranium ore regions that are promising for the discovery of industrial deposits of paleovalley type uranium.
Materials and methods. The research was conducted while establishing the geochemical bases on a scale of 1 : 1 00 000. Over 2000 samples of soils and bottom sediments were evaluated on a 10 × 10 km grid. The uranium active forms and other 56 elements were detected in the samples. The analysis was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the FSBI “IMGRE” analytical centre.
Results. Besides the known Dolmatovsky and Khokhlovsky uranium ore regions, 31 AGAs with uranium specialisation were identified based on the geochemical data obtained in a well-developed and accessible site. Their prospectivity was assessed according to a set of geological and geochemical criteria. As a result, six new promising areas for discovering industrial uranium deposits were identified, and a significant increase in uranium reserves is expected in the well-known Khokhlovsky region.
Conclusions. The practical implication of the study is the forecast of the expansion of the uranium raw materials base around the known deposits with finite raw materials reserves.

Introduction. Available information on the occurrences of high alkaline magmatic rocks fixing the position of the western flanks of the southern branches (Gobi Altai and Gobi Tien-Shan) of the Central Asian Late Paleozoic continental rift system in the territory of the North-West of Chingiz (the eastern part of Central Kazakhstan), the Kendyktas-Chu-Ili-Bet-Pak-Dal uranium-bearing province of the Southern Kazakhstan and the Chatkal-Naryn zone of Tien-Shan (Uzbekistan) is reviewed. Data on the confinement of uranium mineralization to these occurrences and its paragenetic relationship with the Late Paleozoic alkaline volcanic-plutonic association is provided.
Aim. To study the uranium mineralization of Late Paleozoic alkaline magmatism to clarify metallogenic representations and justify prospects for the ore-bearingness of the western flanks of the southern branches of the Central Asian continental rift system.
Materials and methods. The largest part of materials was obtained in the process of geological surveys and prospecting works of various scales in the regions of Central Kazakhstan in the period 1965–1985 with the participation of the author. Published materials concerning the subdivision of magmatic formations in the uranium ore fields of Southern Kazakhstan and the Chatkal-Naryn zone were also used.
Results. Subvolcanic bodies of comendites and small masses of alkaline granites of the Late Paleozoic were identified across the area of uranium ore occurrences in the South-Western Chingiz and some deposits of South Kazakhstan confined to Devonian volcanic structures, which indicates their relationship with the southern branches of the Central Asian continental rift system. Rare-metalalbite, uranium-phosphorus and uranium-molybdenum formations are confined to alkaline rocks. Rare-metal mineralization is closely associated with alkaline rocks, while uranium mineralization occurred after the introduction of the most recent microgabbrodiorite and lamprophyre dikes. Similar correlations of rare-metal and uranium mineralization with alkaline granites and of microgabbrodiorite and lamprophyre dikes are observed in the uranium deposits of the Chatkal-Naryn zone located among the early Permian bimodal trachybasalt-trachyolite formation.
Conclusion. The establishment of ore mineralization on the western flanks of the Gobi Altai and Gobi Tien-Shan branches in the territory of Southern and Central Kazakhstan allows these areas to be distinguished as metallogenic zones, promising in terms of rare-metal and uranium mineralization.

Background. Hydrogeological analysis is necessary for a comprehensive forecast of oil and gas deposits in any region. Early in the development of petroleum hydrogeology in the 1940–1970s, conditions for hydrocarbon (HC) accumulation were actively examined at depths of about 1–2 km, where meteoric waters often occur. However, for a long time, there was no interest in exploring petroleum basin infiltration systems despite the colossal hydrocarbon resources in West Siberia, Alberta (Canada), the Norwegian-Danish oil and gas basin (Norway) and Jungar Banner (China), which are associated with an infiltration hydrodynamic regime (IHR). The resumption of research into hydrocarbon systems controlled by IHR is advisable for theoretical and advanced applications in the exploration of hydrocarbon deposits, including non-structural hydrocarbon accumulation. This is essential for oil and gas fields with a long well production history, where the resources of hydrocarbon deposits associated with anticline structures have largely been exhausted.
Aim. To elaborate on the influence of IHR on the HC accumulation processes, the evolution and preservation of these accumulations in the Northern part of West Siberia.
Results. The authors discussed features of the infiltration system of the Northern part of the West Siberian hydrogeological basin and proved its unity within the onshore and offshore regions. It was shown that a specific feature of this basin consists in an internal discharge zone associated with the Gulf of Ob in modern plans. Based on analysis of hydrodynamic potentials within the Albian-Cenomanian complex, local accumulations of hydrocarbons, formed in the absence of control from the structural factor, were revealed.

Introduction. East Siberian Sea shelf refers to the Novosibirsk-Chukotka prospective oil and gas province. The definition of the East Siberian shelf as a prospective oil and gas province and its division into areas is based, along with the structural and geological prerequisites, on the identification of numerous bitumen occurrences in the Paleozoic, Triassic and Jurassic sediments of the Novosibirsk Islands.
Aim. To construct spatio-temporal digital models of sedimentary basins and hydrocarbon systems for the main horizons of source rocks, as well as to carry out their detailed analysis based on the available information about the oil and gas content, the gas-chemical composition of sediments, the characteristics of the component composition and evolution of source rocks within the studied prospective oil and gas province. The conducted research made it possible to study regional trends in oil and gas content, features of the sedimentary cover formation and the development of hydrocarbon systems in the area under study.
Materials and methods. The materials of production reports obtained for individual large objects in the water area were the source of information. A basin analysis was based on a model developed by the Equinor specialists (Somme et al., 2018) [8, 9], which covered the time period from the Triassic to Paleogene inclusive and took into account the plate-tectonic reconstructions performed by Dor’e et al. in 2015. The resulting model included four main sedimentary complexes: pre-Aptian, Apt-Upper Cretaceous, Paleogene, and Neogene-Quaternary.
Results. The calculation of numerical models was carried out in two versions with different types of kerogen of oil and gas source strata corresponding to humic and sapropel organic matter. The key factor in controlling the development of hydrocarbon systems was found to be the sinking rate of the basins and the thickness of the formed overburden complexes.
Conclusion. The conducted analysis allowed the most promising research objects to be identified. The main foci of hydrocarbon generation in the Aptian-Late Cretaceous and Paleogene complexes were identified, along with the area of their most probable accumulation. Significant hydrocarbon potential is expected in the Paleogene clinoforms of the Eastern Arctic. This complex is currently underestimated, thus requiring further resource assessment study. A detailed mapping of its interior structure should be carried out.

Introduction. The application of geographic information system (GIS) technologies is a promising technology for mapping and evaluating landslide hazards. At present, satellite-based terrestrial sensing is widely used. Satellite images make it possible not only to identify individual landslides, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, but also to identify those locations where landslide processes have manifested, are manifesting and may manifest themselves in the future.
Aim. Mapping of the present landslide propagation in the territory of the Norak region of Tajikistan using satellite imaging and GIS.
Materials and methods. In the course of the study, maps of landslide propagation were compiled both automatically and manually. An analysis of the results of previous studies and interpretations of satellite images was conducted. Digital models of the relief, as well as topographic, geomorphological, engineering and geological maps, were investigated.
Results. A detailed map of landslide phenomena was compiled in the GIS format and a database of landslide phenomena was created for the first time for the territory of the Norak region of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Conclusions. The conducted zoning showed that, out of the total landslide number, 24%, 36%, 10%, 18% and 12% correspond to very small, small, medium, large, and very large landslides, respectively. The landslide processes are developed across the area of 2601×104 m2, which accounts for the 4% of the total area of the district. The results demonstrate that the approach used in this study may be applicable to the landslide hazard assessment in hard-to-reach and poorly studied regions.

Introduction. The state of the terminological base used in the field of two-dimensional seismic surveying in the period 1933–2015 is analyzed and proposals to revise some key concepts are made.
Aim. An analysis of the existing terminological base of the procedure of two-dimensional seismic surveying and the formation of a new base on the basis of a system approach.
Materials and methods. An analysis of the terms used in educational, reference and normative literature on seismic surveying published in 1933–2015, followed by a critical analysis of the revealed terminological bases.
Results. The investigated interval was divided into three stages on the basis of the state of terminology applied in seismic surveying. The first stage covered the period from 1933 to 1959, when the fundamental concepts of seismic surveying technology were passing the stage of formation. The quantity of terms at that time was small, many of them were characterised by unwieldiness or uncertainty of the described concept. In the period 1960–1992, the forming terminological base was presented in a state standard. The third stage was characterized by a slow pace of terminology development, when a number of publications showed a return to outdated or unsuccessful terms. The author identified the most stable terms, their unified names and definitions, and provided recommendations for their use. The following definitions of key concepts were proposed for revision: placement removal (distance), taking into account the variety of observation systems used in 2D seismic surveying; new terms inherited from the practice of 3D seismic surveying and group theory, including receiving line, placement removal, template, template step, order. A classification of templates was considered.
Conclusion. The state of the terminological base in the field of two-dimensional seismic surveying, including its shortcomings and problems, was analyzed. It is proposed to improve the current terminological base by adding new terms and revising the existing definitions.

Background. Structural and geodynamic studies are conducted in the region of the middle flow of the Don river.
Aim. An identification and evaluation of neotectonic structures, determination of geodynamic conditions for their formation and an analysis of intensive exogenous geological processes in connection with the need to ensure the safety of the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant (NPP) located in this area, the largest in the central part of the Eastern European platform.
Materials and methods. According to the concept of deep geodynamic systems, the lithological, structural-geomorphological and neotectonic conditions of the territory were studied. Field observations and publications based on geological survey data were the factual material for the studies.
Results. Various types of uplifts and troughs, geodynamically active zones and lineaments were identified. The formation of structures is associated with deep (intracortical) stresses of compression and tension, under the influence of which the tectonic-gravity and suffosion-karst processes negative for the territory of the nuclear power plant are activated. Among the ancient Precambrian faults of the crystalline basement, the latitudinal Sudzhen-Ikorets and submeridional Semiluki-Lipetsky faults are active. The latter is considered as a geodynamically active zone. At the NPP site and in its vicinity, the zones of increased fracturing and permeability were identified, which is consistent with the buried forms of the relief — paleo-reliefs of the Don river and its tributaries. These zones are found to be deeply embedded in the Cretaceous and Devonian carbonate rocks, which is the reason for the increased leaching of these rocks and the removal of fine particles from the fluvioglacial strata. A quantitative assessment of summary and step-by-step amplitudes and speeds of neotectonic movements was carried out.
Conclusion. The territory of the Novovoronezh NPP is geodynamically calm, the movement speeds (both calculated and according to instrumental measurements) are relatively low; however, these movements activate exogenous processes, which in turn negatively affect the stability of the Novovoronezh NPP site.

Introduction. The development of modern equipment and technologies for geological exploration and mining processes raises the problem of ensuring the reliability and durability of mechanic units operating under the conditions of elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of aggressive external environments. In this regard, there is a need to create functional coatings with unique physical, mechanical and operational properties.
Aim. To improve the performance of electrospark coatings based on an analysis of a cause-andeffect diagram and a regression study of the technological modes of processing steel units of geological exploration equipment (on the example of hydraulic cylinder rods of drilling pumps).
Materials and methods. To harden the steel surfaces of hydraulic equipment parts, the technology of electrospark deposition (ESD) was used on an IMES-1001 mechanized installation using carbide electrodes and various gas media. In order to identify causal relationships between the factors affecting the hardened surface and to establish the most important factors affecting the quality of the formed coating, the Ishikawa diagram method was used and a regression analysis was performed. The adhesion activity of the obtained coatings was assessed by atomic force microscopy on a Solver PRO scanning probe microscope in a semi-contact air scanning mode using NSG10probe sensors with a resonance frequency of 219 kHz and a radius of curvature of the probe tip of 10 nm. When determining the strength of the adhesive interaction of the probe and the surface at one point, the absolute error was 15 nN. Tribological tests were carried out on a 2070-СМТ-1 standard friction machine according to the “disk-shoe” scheme.
Results. The obtained cause-and-effect diagram showed that the technological modes of an electrospark deposition installation comprise a determining factor affecting the quality of the formed layers and coatings. In order to identify those process parameters that had the greatest effect, a regression analysis was carried out. The capacitance of the unit capacitors was found to have the greatest impact on the adhesion force formed by the ESD coating. Therefore, in order to reduce the strength of the adhesive interaction of surfaces and, as a result, increase their wear resistance, it is necessary to increase the capacitance of capacitors while reducing the voltage and processing time when implementing the ESD technology. On the basis of tribological tests, it is concluded that the minimum wear rate of coatings can be obtained by alloying the steel surface in an oxygen environment with a carbide electrode based on tungsten carbide with additives of elements that form unlimited solid solutions with the surface material and perform the role of fluxes (Ni-Cr-B-Si).
Conclusion. Due to strict requirements to the performance of metal surfaces of units that enter into frictional interaction during the implementation of mining and exploration processes, there is a need to improve existing technologies for creating functional (wear-resistant) coatings.