During the entire period of volcanism in Siberia the biota was diverse. Dominants among the plants are Acrostichides, Boreopteris, Cladophlebis, Cordaites, Dzergalanella, Elatocladus, Lepidopteris, Madygenia, Maria, Mertensides, Neocalamites, Osmundopsis, Paracalamites (?), Parajacutiella (?), Pecopteris, Phyllotheca, Pleuromeia, Pursongia, Quadrocladus, Rhipidopsis, Todites, Tomia, Tomiostrobus, Voltzia (?), Yavorskyia. Within the Conchostraca the dominants were Bipemphigus, Echinolimnadia, Falsisca, Limnadia. Neither the beginning of trap volcanism (Vishkilian), nor the increase of tuffs eruptions (Lebedev time), nor increasing lava effusions by reducing the ejection of tuffs (Hungtukun time), nor complete replacement of the tuffs eruptions by lavas (Putorana time) result in an reduction of the biotic diversity in the volcanic area. On the contrary, the diversity was steadily growing. In the Induan (Otoceras boreale phase) the diversity decreased, but it was outside the volcanic plateau. The biotic crisis by the model of A.S. Alekseev on the volcanic plateau is absent. Therefore, a direct link in the changes in biota at the Permian-Triassic boundary and volcanism is unlikely.

The stratigraphie distribution and systematic composition of the Middle-Upper Devonian remains of antiarchs from the sediments of Central Kazakhstan are analyzed. Central Kazakhstan ichthyofauna contains mainly endemic taxons of antiarchs. The first remains of them appeared in this region at the Givetian. Pterichthyodids (Stegolepis, Sherbonaspis) and Dianolepidids (Tenizolepis) were widespread at that time. Bothriolepidids (Bothriolepis) and Asperaspidids (Asperaspis) also occured in the Givetian, but not so widely. Bothriolepidids (Bothriolepis) are only known antiarchs from the Frasnian and Famennian (Late Devonian), when the diversity of antiarchs decreased.

On the example of a number of gold-ore fold belts of Central Asia, Russia’s East, Pacific Rim and other regions it is shown that since the Paleozoic, the dominant position in the control of the placement of the largest gold deposits is taken by the systems of the second order transverse and sub-transverse faults, adjacent with the longitudinal regional faults. These transverse faults naturally arose at about equal distance from one another, which is called «the step of the maximum tectonic deformations.» It seems appropriate to begin the search for the mineral ore deposits along the specified transverse faults.

The detailed researches established that the columnar structures of the ferromanganese stromatolites - are the bacterial mats, formed by the interchanging of the fossilized bacterial layers, aggregates of trichomes of thread bacteria, glycocalyx layers. Oncolites appeared in a result of active integration of the bacterial layers with the sediment (precipitate) and assimilation of the petrogenic components.

The article gives the comparison of the slope stability calculation results using different types of soil properties distribution in the slope massive. Four models of soil properties distribution in the landslide hazardous slopes are considered: the way used in domestic engineering geological practice - soil properties parameter values are set within outlined geological items; the abroad practice way - soil properties normative values are set within selected lithological types; proposed to consider the new approaches - the values of soil properties are set discretely within the outlined geological items; values of the properties of soils are specified discretely in a massif. The analysis of the slope stability general assessment using different principles of soil properties distribution shows that they have influence on the sliding surface position and the coefficient of slope stability value. Therefore the slope stability problem correct solution must be performed with the substantiation of soil properties distribution model in the slope massive.

The joint change in variations of magnetotelluric field of the Earth and un-tidal variations of gravity, registered at the territory of Bishkek Geodynamic Polygon, are considered. There is a clear relationship of these variations. During the pulsations of the gravity the magnetotelluric field intensity decreases. Since the pulsations are associated with the meteor streams, the meteor showers can be assumed to weaken the density of charged particles flying from the Sun.

The problem of coal mining and its processing into the high-effectual and ecologically clean fuel - synthetic gas and synthetic liquid fuel - has been investigated. The main technology of coal processing such as obtaining coal-water fuel, hydrogenation and gasification has been considered. An analysis of foreign and domestic experience for chemical methods of coal redistribution is presented. The products are the synthetic gas and synthetic liquid fuel (petrol, kerosene, diesel and jet fuel). The authors suggest an integrated coal processing technology: hydro-jet borehole technology and underground coal gasification for thin coal seams and low grade coal processing. It is also advisable for distant regions and areas with poor infrastructure. There is a possibility for creation mobile and compact complexes for coal chemical processing.

The review of the published works on the electrodynamics of the present natural electromagnetic field that is observed on the Earth’s surface is suggested. We discuss the problems of applied geomagnetism which arise in the interpretation of the data of the two international geophysical years (IGY), that is, of 1933 and 1957/58 as well as of the data of the Word Magnetic Survey of 1964/65. This paper elaborates the results obtained in the authors previous papers that were published in 2012 in the journal «Geologia i Razvedka» in Discussions. The refinements have been made owing to grounds, suggested in those publication’s: grounds of the effects of Van-Vleuten-Benkova, Chetaev, Larmor, Maxwell’s equations for force and non-force fields.

The existing classical infiltration and elision concepts of natural reservoirs’ fluid-dynamics are critically analyzed. The pulsation-overflow-injection paradigm is presented as the imperative in the formation of hydrocarbon accumulations - «there are no subsequent synchronous hydrocarbon migration and accumulation without the emigration of syngeneic underground water and creation of empty pore-fracture volumes in the traps».

The residual hydrocarbons of coal dust and coals of Osinnikovskaya mine (Kuzbass) which are allocated from the dust and coal, as well as their fractions by the size, are investigated at thermal influence (under the temperatures of 150-250 °С). The presence of residual hydrocarbons at coal dust and their essential enrichment by the heavy hydrocarbons is established. The coal dust is shown to inherit residual hydrocarbons from the coals which formed it. Presence of the residual hydrocarbons at the coal dust, enriched with heavy hydrocarbons, creates a potential danger of fire and explosions in coal mines.

The experience of the foreign industrial countries with the institutional regulation of the innovation development, is useful for use in domestic mineral resources sector. The characteristics of the national qualifications system as a tool for achieving balanced development of the labor and educational services markets are given. The main goals and principles of the formation of national systems of qualifications in the sector of mineral-raw material complex are considered, that implement the requirements of the National Council under the President of the Russian Federation on vocational qualifications

The capabilities of the different forms of tests using for the current control of the objective assessment of the student’s knowledge in general stratigraphy are analyzed. The brief data on the pedagogic control and tests matter is given. The meaning of the control cards for statistical processing and analysis of the tests results is considered. The efficiency of the test control system for the organization of the self-control for the learning and fixation of the achieved knowledge as well as the realization of the control of self-educational activity of the students. The most difficult material is concluded to be the material, concerning principals of stratigraphy (15,4% of the correct answers) and it’s methods (21,2%). The best knowledge is shown in the branch of different aspects of the stratigraphy’s history (29% of the correct answers). The maximum troubles are established to be erased by the tasks for the correspondence, concerning the classification of the stratones. Within the concrete methods of the dissection and correlation the most difficulties are connected with isotopic investigations and cyclic stratigraphy. The consequent progress in the material studying, concerning the stratigraphic methods, is revealed. The gradual regress of the results in the tasks for the repetition of the material is found which can be connected with the significant increase of the factual material for the remembering.

The distinguishing of the natural-archaeological systems, possessing a lot of differences from the natural-technological systems, causes the necessity for the correction of the methods and methodology of the engineering-geological research according to the features of the investigated objects. In particular, the quantitative monitoring of the natural-archaeological systems is justified for the needs of preserving the archaeological sites under their museumification in conditions of natural landscapes. The qualitative monitoring of the rate of the processes destroying the natural-archaeological systems is feasible in rescue works.

The results of the research of processes in hydraulic systems of hydraulic drilling rigs of geological exploration boreholes are analyzed in the paper. The functioning of the flow throttling valves and pressure shift under many different schemes of connection and different regimes of operating is considered. The various patterns of the flows of the hydraulic fluid through the local resistances are revealed. The evaluation of the flows patterns of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic borehole system is done, as well as the dividing into the different areas and subareas and its application in regulating equipment. The instructions of their usage in the feed mechanisms of the hydraulic drilling rigs are worked out.

An efficiency criterion of boring technologies efficiency estimation is considered, simultaneously taking into account a 1 m drilling cost or a 1 day well installation cost and a day labor productivity. The foundation of the criterion is given and a general formula for this criterion is suggested. The example of the calculation with the use of the formula is presented.

The paper considers the technological features of rock-destroying instruments (drill bits, drill crowns) of PDC series, concerning their vibration during drilling in rocks, variable in mechanical properties. A factor is presented, which characterizes the expediency of the installation of rock-destroying instrument of anti-vibration incuts. The rational area of the usage of the bits and crowns of PDC series with anti-vibration incuts is revised.

Competitive features of the geological industry are formulated, the attention is focused on the need to improve its knowledge-intensity and innovativeness. The role of the industry’s state corporation as a factor of development of integration processes is shown. As the actual tool for improving these processes, recommendatory law standards are proposed to be more widely used. The latter are most adequate in relation to the development of the integration of such intellectual fields as science and vocational education. Recommendations on the improvement of the relevant regulators, involving the development of the effective organizational and economic mechanisms of the integration between stakeholders.