The article presents the comparison of the geological-mineralogical and geochemical parameters of the existing gold ore fields that are being developed by GV Gold, with the purpose to identify the gold mineralization distribution patterns for each field. To achieve the above goal, the following has been accomplished within the frames of the work. The deep drilling data have been studied and analyzed to reveal the geological-structural features of the fields; the ore mineralogical composition has been determined; new promising sites have been revealed (‘blind’ ore deposits not identified at the prospecting stage). A consolidated database for the factual data on all the fields has been created. The data has been processed by means of computer modeling and 3D-analysis (GIS packages Micromine and Leapfrog). Based on the analysis results, non-outcropping ore bodies have been defined. These ore bodies mainly occur in weakly metamorphized carbonaceous terrigenous and terrigenous-carbonate rocks, and are flat-dipping zones sub-consistent with ore-bearing rocks of gold-quartz-sulfide mineralization. The study has revealed that the Ugakhan field has a cascade structure complicated with dislocation faulting systems. As a result, new ore sites and potential ore-bearing blocks have been discovered. All the above has given a significant increase of the field’s mineral resource base (25% in terms of resources in gold equivalent). For the Golets Vysochaishy field, the ore zone has been expanded to east-south-east and north-west of the site. The study has confirmed the assumption of the presence of a gold ore site (more than 5 tons) within the Ugakhan formation carbonate rocks that the previous researchers considered unpromising in terms of precious metal mineralization.

The aim of the work has been to study the composition and formation conditions for the Nadezhda prospect, Eastern Sayan. The study has been conducted for the ore bodies represented by low-sulfide quartz veins. Mineralogical, isotopic, geochemical and fluid inclusion studies of the ore bodies have been carried out. It has been found that the prevailing mineral is pyrite, while chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, tellurides (altaite, petzite, calaverite, melonite, krennerite, telluriumbismuthite, pilzenite, stuetzite, and volynskite) are less frequent. Native gold is present as veinlets and irregular grains in quartz and pyrite, cloddy and hook-like gold forms occurring as well. Intergrowths of gold and telluride minerals are commonly occurring. The fluid inclusion study has defined the temperature range of mineral formation (285-255 °С). The values of the sulfur isotopic compositions in the pyrite and equilibrium fluid correspond to those of mantle sulfur. Based on the geological position and mineralogical-geochemical characteristics, it has been established that the Nadezhda prospect is an analog of the Pionersky gold field, i.e. its southeastern extension.

Tarim basin is usually regarded as a rigid tectonic block that resists the northward expansion of the Tibetan plateau that is associated with ongoing northward motion of the Indian plate. The structural complexity of its tectonic boundaries with adjacent units inferred from seismological studies suggests, however, that this simple view of a static block under north-south compression needs revision. Here, we demonstrate (from Global Position System data) that Tarim basin is rotating clockwise (at a rate of 0.461°/Myr) around a (virtual) vertical axis within the unit. This rotation logi-cally results from the asymmetric nature of the India-Asia collision zone as inferred from seismological studies and can explain the otherwise puzzling pattern of lithospheric interactions along the Tarim basin borders as well as the diachro-nous seawater retreat and the closing of the westerly moisture pathway that results in aridification and desertification of Tarim.

Materials all over the world are doing opening-closing movement. The thermal (heat energy) derived upward movement of material can be defined as opening, while the potential gravity of derived downward sinking movement be defined as closing. Opening-closing movement obtains the synchronized unity between vertical and horizontal opening-closing and the properties of interdependence, mutual opposition and transformation. So that, under the control and regulate of rotating movement it transforms all Earth material, tectonics and energy etc. from the state of disorder to be ordered, and finally built up the dynamically stable equilibrium system of opening-closing-rotating tectonics. Therefore, the unceas-ingly cyclic evolution of formation, destruction and renovation of the dynamically stable equilibrium system is the only basis and effective method for the research on the working of the Earth’s interior. For that, we have delineated 8 vertical-ly opening-closing tectonic cycles and the Earth crust spherical opening-closing tectonic cycle. And preliminary estab-lished the 4-dimensional working system of the Earth. The establishment of the dynamically stable equilibrium system is fulfilled in accordance with the 4 long term standing natural laws, such as, the gravity or mass balancing criteria, the min-imum internal energy principle in crystallization, geometric preferred orientation growth principle and principle of horizon-tal material homogeneity. Among them gravity balancing is the leading law. Nearly at about 4.0 Ga mantle lithosphere was formed as a lid covering the hot Earth and preliminarily built up the stable opening-closing-rotating tectonic system which made the Earth entering the evolution stage of dynamically stable equilibrium system. After that, each important geological event (lose balance) is not thing but poking a hole or tearing a fissure to destruct the balance of the Earth. The rotating movement and opening-closing movement will soon restore it to a new balance and thus formed an open-ing-closing cycle. Till now Earth has passed 5 megacycles. Plate tectonics studied the regularity of how did the litho-spheric mantle be poked and how did it be restored only for the youngest 4 cycles and then summing up as a theory. Therefore, it is restricted both in time and space and is unworthy to be titled as “global tectonics”. Earth is a living body, the working system in which including inner structure and its function is rather perfect, including: opening-closing movement, rotating movement and the lose balance movement to compose the movement system; Geo-fluids functioning as “blood”, Earth nucleus is the “ heart” for storing and supplying ”blood” and the mantle plumes connecting “bloods” comprised the “blood” system. Taking gravity balance as a criteria, the Earth’s dynamic equilibrium system is composed of: 4 gravity balance surfaces, 4 opening-closing transforming zones and the 2 mass balance lines on the surface of the sphere. Because the transformation of opening and closing has the function of spontaneous form-ing and self-adjusting, therefore, the interdependence, mutual opposition and transformation of opening and closing are the major dynamic mechanism and major motivation for the working system of the Earth’s interior. The essence of the change is the transformation of thermal energy to potential energy. The driving mechanism of the transformation is the destruction of opening-closing equilibrium by lose balance movement. The internal cause is the supercritical explosion induced by high temperature and pressure fluid and the external cause is mainly impact process.

The Gorikhinsky granite massif is located in the marginal part of the Khentei highlands (Mongolian-Transbaikalian folded system, Central Mongolia). The massif is composed of coarse-grained weak-porphyry leucocratic granites, granite porphyry, and pegmatites. In the rocks of the massif, rock crystal deposits have been discovered. In certain pegmatite bodies, in addition to smoky quartz and morion crystals, the study has found the presence of fluorite, topaz, biotite, tourmaline, beryl, garnet, and allanite. The accessory minerals are cyrtolite, xenotime, zircon, sphene, rutile, apatite, cassiterite, etc. Thus, the study of the geological structure of the above object is of interest not only from a scientific but also from a practical point of view. The research data have become the basis for setting areal gravimetric work to determine the features of the massif’s geological structure. The work has been performed by the standard procedure using Scintrex Autograv CG-5 gravimeters. The height of the observation points has been determined by Trimble 5700 GPS devices. The RMS accuracy of the gravitational anomalies calculation as well as the density of the observation network meet the technical requirements for 1:100000 scale gravimetric surveys. Using the results of the gravity survey, a map of gravity anomalies in Bouguer has been compiled. Based on the interpretation of the map, with the use of the methods of mathematical statistics, quantitative characteristics of the shape and size of the body have been defined and a three-dimensional model of the massif has been built. For the purpose of the transformation and inversion of the gravitational field, the variance and regression methods of mathematical analysis have been used. The maximum thickness of the granites is 3.5 km; the area of the earth's surface projection is twice that of the granite outcrop. The obtained estimates are confirmed by the results of solving the inverse problem of gravimetry using the method of model selection. The article concludes that the use of the regression and variance analysis methods of mathematical statistics in the studies of the morphology of the intrusive bodies has proved most effective. The information on the shape and size of the massif will be used in concluding on the prospects of the massif’s metallogenic trend.

The article presents a study of the low-frequency dispersion of the geological formations’ electromagnetic properties in transient measurements for the offshore areas with a depth of not more than 100 m. The research methods include calculation and analysis of the transient signal change, the finite difference of the transient signal, and the ratio of the two as a function of the electrical probe immersion depth. The probe consists of a source (a horizontal grounded electric line 500 m long) and a receiver (a three-electrode electric line 500 m long). The study has compared the values obtained at the submerged probes with those obtained at the surface probes. The values for the conducting and polarizable conducting models, obtained at the probes located at the same depth, have been also compared. The base polarizability has been included by introducing frequency-dependent electrical resistivity by the Cole-Cole formula. The calculations have shown a uniform distribution of the transient electric field in the conducting medium at the late stage, the transient signal being the same for the probes located at different depths. For a polarizable model base, the distribution of the transient signal at the late stage is non-uniform, the non-uniformity being a function of the distance to the base. Based on the calculations, it can be argued that with the sea depth of up to 100 m, the low-frequency dispersion of the geological formations for the given model is manifested at the electrical probe with the source length of 500 m on the entire depth range.

The purpose of the study has been to build a petrophysical model of the Kovykta field caprock based on the analysis of the relationship between its petrophysical parameters (natural radioactivity, velocity, specific electric resistance) and lithological characteristics. The geological structure survey and stratigraphic boundary referencing have been conducted for the Parphenovsky horizon on the section crossing the Kovykta field from south-east to north-west. The composition and porosity analysis for the main rock types of the Parphenovsky horizon has been conducted on 47 samples taken in the Kovykta wells 1, 2, 4, 13, and 24. Based on the well-logging data and the laboratory studies of the core, a statistical analysis of the radioactive, electrical and acoustic properties of the Parphenovsky gas horizon caprock has been conducted. The study has shown a sufficiently reliable stochastic relationship between the lithological composition of the horizon caprock on the one hand, and the natural radioactivity parameters, electrical resistivity and the layer velocity on the other hand. The differences detected in the physical parameter distribution for the central and Khandinsky sections indicate that the horizon’s caprock formation on these sections took place in different facies environment. In this connection, the sections should be considered as two structurally independent tectonic blocks with different capacity and petrophysical characteristics.

With the start of the large helium-rich petroleum deposits exploitation in the Siberian platform south, a problem of long-term helium storage arises. Some researchers propose to use reliable underground storage facilities for this purpose. Geological bodies such as rock associations can be used as natural reservoirs for injecting and storing the helium reserves. The saliferous sediments within the natural reservoirs are of particular importance due to their capacity to keep helium for a long time. To determine the paleofacial conditions for the accumulation of the saliferous impermeable layers, the archive and published data on drilling and geophysical studies of the Eastern Siberia fields have been used. The article presents the research results on the cap rocks’ lithological composition and thickness, as well as on the conditions of their formation as areal impermeable beds within the natural reservoirs of the Siberian platform south. The Lower Cambrian deposits of the Usolie suite, a part of the Vendian-Cambrian oil-and-gas complex, can be considered as an areal impermeable bed of this kind.

The objective of the study is to increase mining productivity and economic efficiency by introducing new technical-and-technological solutions for extracting and transporting the rock mass in the open-cast development of steeply dipping ore bodies, in particular at kimberlite deposits. The article analyzes the known technological schemes and mining equipment for extracting and lifting the rock mass from the lower horizons of deep quarries. A promising way to improve the technologies of developing steeply dipping ore bodies is to use sink zones with high vertical ledges. The author proposes a technology for kimberlite deposit completion using a mining equipment complex that includes an advanced milling machine and a cable hoisting system. The milling machine is equipped with a packing assembly that ensures continuous loading of soft containers with the rock mass without stopping the milling process when сhanging the containers under loading. The cable hoist system consists of three winches mounted on the day surface of the quarry, and a telpher with a gripper. The system lifts soft containers from the work platform of the deep zone to the transfer point at the intermediate horizon of the quarry, from where the rock mass is delivered by dump trucks to the surface. The proposed technical-and-technological solution enables non-stop extraction when completing the ore body. The lifting process has a low specific energy intensity and provides a minimum current overburden ratio, which enhances the efficient mining of the remaining reserves.

The use of information analysis procedures in solving complex problems is one of the main stages in the design of the information system for a studied phenomenon. It means that for the systematic evaluation of the parameters of different nature, the system’s objectives are structured. One of the decision-making methods in the study of multi-criteria problems is the hierarchy analysis proposed by the American scientist T. Saaty. According to Saaty, the method "is a closed logical construction that, by using simple rules, ensures analysis of complex problems in all their diversity and leads to the best solution." The method consists in decomposing the problem into simpler parts with further expert evaluations of the components and mathematical processing of the expert judgments. This article illustrates the capability of the hierarchy analysis in considering the problem of the cuttings transport along the borehole of a controlled directional well with a large deflection of the vertical. The problem is modeled as a hierarchy that is considered complete when each element of a specified level works as a criterion for the elements of a lower level. The relative importance of the criteria is defined using a paired comparison matrix that allows us to estimate the true weight of each element and determine the degree of its importance. The modelling has defined the matrix eigenvector that indicates the importance order of the compared objects in quantitative terms. The maximum eigenvalue of the matrix approximately equals to the matrix order, which (based on the requirements) allows us to classify the matrix as homogeneous. The given algorithm of the hierarchy analysis application allows us to estimate the weights of the influencing factors and the generalized characteristics of the variants for the problems of cuttings removal when drilling directional wells.

The study aims to develop flow diagrams for producing tamping foams and for plugging wells with foams when isolating trouble zones in well drilling. The research methods include laboratory studies as well as bench tests and running tests of the plugging flow diagrams. The study shows that the geological conditions of hole boring are complicated with tectonic disturbance zones and hydrothermal processes. As a rule, such zones are characterized by intense rock fracturing and fragmentation, as well as by the presence of clay breccia and rock cuttings. The thickness of the hydrothermally disturbed zones varies from one to tens of meters. These zones cause cleaning fluid circulation loss, collapse of the well walls and narrowing of the borehole in the process of well drilling. The author has investigated and analyzed the flow diagrams for producing foams by air-mechanical mixing of the resin solutions and acid hardener, meeting the plugging requirements. With the account of the geotechnical conditions and the technological specifics of well plugging, possible flow diagrams of feeding the foam to the well have been substantiated. Six plugging diagrams have been analyzed, and rational areas of their use have been proposed. Based on the experimental work conducted, a foam-generating complex PGK 01 has been developed. The complex includes a foam-generating installation PGU-60, wellhead equipment, borehole equipment, and aerators (compression chambers). The use of the complex PGK 01 makes it possible to drill a well in foam and when eliminating the complications, in solid foam. The flow diagram based on the mixing of resin and acid solutions with subsequent foaming has proven to be the most feasible and reliable in technological terms. The hardenable foam samples obtained by foaming the resin solution with further spraying the acid hardener solution into the resulting foam show a more uniform structure due to the increased stability of the foam and better mixing of the solutions. The use of the structured foams in well drilling ensures high technical-and-economic performance of the drilling process by reducing the time and cost of well construction.

The article presents the study on the features of the thermal water phenomena in the Khangai consolidated uplift and the issues related to the conditions of their distribution. The data from the previous studies on the geological, hydrological, and hydrogeochemical aspects of the Khangai thermal waters have been collected. In accordance with to the geological-structural principle, hydrogeological zoning of Central Mongolia has been conducted and hydrogeological districts have been defined. Structural-tectonic, hydrogeological, geothermal, and gas conditions of the Khangai hydrothermal system have been studied. Thermal water reserves of certain hydrothermal deposits have been estimated. The research results on the main hydrogeological structures of Khangai and the conditions for the formation of the thermal water sources and deposits form the basis for assessing the country’s heat-and-power resources. The assessment performed for the first time, is essential for the national economy. The study has substantiated the prospects for the use of the fissure-vein waters.

The article presents the materials that have been collected, processed and prepared for publication by the students participating in the international Sino-Russian scientific educational field expedition “Baikal as the world’s pearl, 2019” organized by Nanjing University and Irkutsk Research Technical University. For the purposes of the field studies, samples of the recent sediments of different genesis have been taken. The further office studies have been conducted using the laboratory equipment of the training research divisions of the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, and the School of Environment, Nanjing University. As a result of the factual material processing, the comprehensiveness of the data has been evaluated, and the directions for further studies have been defined, which will allow to deepen and expand the scientific concepts of the history of the paleogeographic and climatic conditions of the West Transbaikalia sediments formation. The work has been conducted under the supervision of Professor R.M. Lobatskaya (Irkutsk National Research Technical University) on the Russian side, and Professors Wei Li and Zhouchuan Huang (Nanjing University) on the Chinese side.

During the training geological excursions in the delta area of the Yangtze River, China, samples of natural gemstone raw materials such as agates, have been collected. The present study has been carried out with the objective of investigating the agates and comparing them with those of the Siberian deposits and other deposits worldwide. Criteria for the comparative evaluation of the agates and their suitability for design purposes have been determined; the artistic features and the history of the use of agates in creating jewelry and stone-carved artworks from antiquity to the present have been studied. The research and analysis of the gemstone raw material samples and artworks has been based on the methods of the visual analysis of the color and texture features, the theoretical studies of scientific literary sources, and the art history analysis of agate jewelry and stone-carved artworks. As a result of the study, the ways of using agates in modern jewelry design have been outlined.