The modern conditions, the received results and possible prospects of short-term forecasting of strong earthquakes are analysed. On examples of concrete researches it is shown, that such forecast with a required detail, accuracy and reliability is not carried, and is not expected in the future. It is fundamental consequence of nonlinearity of the seismic geodynamic systems functioning deterministically-chaotically in the fractal geologic medium. Effectiveness of forecasting in the form of attitude of number of successfully predicted earthquakes to number of registered ones on some certain area is not above several percent. Frequent messages about ostensibly reached almost 100%-s’ of effective short-term forecasting are denied by absence of adequate reliable methods, and by steady extension of the list of the not predicted seismic catastrophes.

Structural and geomorphological researches of the most part of the East European platform revealed arch-block style of the latest dislocations. 3D geodynamic modeling showed direct correlation (To =0, 26) of the basement structures with the modern relief surface that demonstrates direct geodynamic basement influence on the cover structure of the platform. The calculated newest tension field for the territory of Central Russian Height, Klin-Dmitrov Ridge, Meshersky and Oka-Donskoy depressions allowed to establish the sites closed to mechanical destruction and are seismodangerous.

In the carbonate sections organic-rich clay interlayers on the Cenomanian and Turonian boundary were indicated. They were formed as a result of the periodic formation of anoxic conditions in the basins. A section of the Cenomanian and Turonian boudary sediments at the river Biyuk-Karasu (Central Crimea) was investigated. Dark organic-rich intercalations with light colored carbonate clays formed during the period of ocean anoxic event (OAE2) were identified. These interlayers contain large amount of type II organic matter and are oil source strata. The mineral composition is similar, but intervals differ in the organic matter concentration. 

A section of the Upper Carboniferous and overlying Jurassic sediments in the area of the buried karst depression in the northwestern part of Moscow was studied. According to conodont zonality, it was revealed that, in the section of the karst depression on the Voskresensk Formation altered by karst processes, the Perkhurovo Formation directly lies. It was shown that the missing in the section Neverovo Formation is associated with the origin of landslide deformations in the Middle Jurassic (Kudinovskoye) time — the movement of a block of Perkhurovo limestones, which are located hysometrically higher on the slope of the karst paleodepression.

The study of secondary changes of acidic effusives with reservoir properties from the top of the Western Siberia pre-Jurassic complex (Tomsk Region) was produced. Lithological, petrographic and mineralogical features of these rocks indicate their change by low-temperature hydrothermal solutions, while weathering products, which are widely spread at the top of the basement, have not been clearly defined. Reservoir properties of studied rocks were formed probably due to fracturing and leaching.

The most prospective section intervals in the Bazhenov formation (Tutleimskoy) and Abalak formation are composed of interbedded siliceous and carbonate rocks. Based on the core analysis, genetic typing of carbonate rocks was performed to improve the quality of their prediction, the most promising of them for finding of oil-saturated reservoirs are identified.

Armalcolite (Mg,Fe)Ti₂O₅ is characteristic mineral of titanian basalts of the Moon, as well as lamproites, other alkaline magmatic Earth rocks, impactites and other formations. It is widely represented in island-arc low-alkaline plagiolherzolites and olivine gabbro-norite-dolerites of the Early-Bajocian Pervomaysk–Ayu-Dag complex of mesozoids in Rocky Crimea, specifically, in the littoral Balaklava cliffs near Sevastopol. Crystals of cumulative Mg-olivine contain the inclusions of alumomagnesiochromite and Mg alumochromite in the center and the inclusions of alumochromite partly replaced by chromespinels of the 2nd generation (Ti-Al ferrychromite and chrometitanomagnetite) in the external zones. Chromespinels of the 1st generation are moderately chromic and ferrian (f = 4555), contain 8–14 mass.% Fe₂O₃ and up to 1,2% TiO₂; that sharply distinguishes them from chromespinels of alpinotypes ultrabasic rocks. Chromespinels of the 2nd generation are more ferrian (f = 5875) and contain up to 26 mass.% Fe₂O₃, 2,5–9% TiO₂ and up to 1,8% V₂O₃. The typical basic trend from ferrian alumomagnesiochromite to chrometitanomagnetite is characteristic for Balaklava chromespinels. Tabular armalcolite crystals are up to 0,60,2 mm included in intercumulus magnesian bronzite and augite, anorthite and bytownite. Balaklava armalcolite contains 63–66 mass.% TiO₂, 6,9–8,4% MgO, 9,9–11,7% FeO, 13–18% Fe₂O₃, up to 1,5% Al₂O₃ and V₂O₃, up to 0,7% Cr₂O₃. The armalcolite formulae is (Mg_0,38–0,45Fe²⁺_0,30–0,34Fe³⁺_0,36–0,49V_0,04–0,05Al_0–0,06Cr_0–0,02Ti_1,73–1,77)₃O₅; in minals, molar %: 38–45 MgTi₂O₅, 31–36 Fe²⁺Ti₂O₅, 23–27Fe³⁺₂TiO₅. Rare baddeleyite with 1,6–3,1% HfO₂(ZrO₂:HfO₂ = 57–30, av. 44) and zirconolite associate with armalcolite. Zirconolite contains 4–6,5 mass.% Y₂O₃, 4–8% REE₂O₃, from traces up to 4,5% ThO₂, <0,5% UO₂, 0,7–1,4% HfO₂ (ZrO₂:HfO₂ = 47–25, av. 38). The distribution of lanthanides in Balaklava zirconolite is Ce = Nd > Dy > Gd > Sm, Yb, Er, Lu, Tb > Pr. The zirconolite formulae is (Ca_0,7Y_0,2REE_0,1)Zr(Ti_1,6Fe²⁺_0,3Fe³⁺_0,1)₂O₇. The recent formations are ilmenite-I with 5–8 mass.% MgO and 0,3–0,6% MnO, titanomagnetite, hydroxyl-fluorapatite, ilmenite-II, poor in Mg and enriched in Mn. Armalcolite is partly replaced by ilmenite-II. Perhaps, an existence and preservation of armalcolite and zirconolite within the near surface basic intrusions of the Crimean Mountains is caused by poor development of late magmatic processes.

At a temperature of 700 ᵒC, a pressure of 100 МPa, a water content of 10 wt.% аnd the addition of 1 wt.% Ta and Nb, a series of experiments were carried out in the peraluminous part of the haplogranite high fluorine system SiO₂-Al₂O₃-Na₂O-Li₂O-F. Two types of equilibrium phase associations were obtained: 1) an aluminosilicate melt — topaz — quartz — an ore Ta-Nb mineral, 2) an aluminosilicate melt — a salt alumina fluorine melt–cryolite. The maximum content of Ta and Nb in the silicate melt of the first type is about 0,29 and 0,35 wt.%, respectively. In the silicate melt of the second type, the content of these metals increases almost fourfold (1,27 and 1,21, respectively), without reaching the saturation of the Ta-Nb ore phase.
A similar change in the total amount of Ta and Nb in genetically related highly evolved rocks is observed for topaz and cryolite granite massifs in the province of Piting (Brazil).

The Salmi batholith’s successive felsic rocks differentiates are represented by a series: biotite-amphibole granite-rapakivi, biotite granite, highly differentiated granites (Li-siderophyllite granite and zinnwaldite Li-F granite). In this series of rocks a gradual increase in content of Ta and Nb and a decrease in the Nb/Ta ratio is seen. A regular change in the separation factors of Ta and Nb between mica and the total composition of the rock is observed as well. When comparing Li-siderophyllite granites and Li-F granites, the latter have a sharp decrease in the separation coefficients Kr_{Ta, Nb}. This decrease is due to the fall in content of these metals in Li-F granites zinnwaldite and associated with the appearance of columbite in these rocks. The study of rock samples from the Salmi batholith suggests that the change of the Ta and Nb content in the mica of deeply differentiated granites and the corresponding decrease in the K_r value of these metals may be a diagnostic indication of the presence of columbite mineralization in the rock.

The analysis of the connection of groundwater recharge in the basin of a small river with the current and expected climatic changes in the European territory of Russia is carried out using the catchment basin of Zhizdra river Kaluga region as an example. The analysis was based on the modeling of the processes of transformation of moisture on the earth surface and moisture transfer in the aeration zone. The results of global climate predictions for five models of the general circulation of the atmosphere and ocean (GCM) from the CMI5 family were applied for the forecast in the second half of the 21st century using the LARSWG5 forecast weather conditions generator. The simulation results show that despite the fact that all the GCM used predict a warming in the region at 2–6 ᵒC, the difference in the predicted recharge is still significantly large, which is associated with the difference in the predicted dryness index.

This paper describes complex geophysical studies conducted on an asar body in the Kaluga region. In particular, the anomaly of the apparent polarizability is studied. Complex interpretation of geophysical data, comparison with drilling results, as well as measurements on drill samples made it possible to define the nature of the anomaly and confirm the presence of areas with a high percentage of magmatic gravel and cobble within the sand-gravel deposit, which are characterized by high values of electrical polarizability.

Experimental study of kinetics of dissolution of hypso anhydrites at 25 ᵒC made it possible to formulate model of the process in the form of a balance equation for the kinetics of dissolution of gypsum, anhydrite (first and second orders, respectively) and kinetics of precipitation of gypsum (second order). The processing of the experimental data were carried out on the basis of the solution of the Riccati equation. When taking into account the common-ion effect on the solubility of gypsum and anhydrite, the calculated values turned out to be more comparable with the experimental ones.