We present the results of geophysical survey of the burial mound necropolis Gnezdilovo-12, which has been completely destroyed by ploughing. The results of geophysical data interpretation are compared with the results of archaeological excavations, XIX c. maps and surface artefacts distribution, showing good correlation between the datasets. For the European part of Russia the investigation of Gnezdilovo-12 is one of the first examples of full-scaled geophysical survey of the destroyed burial site, which enabled the confident interpretation of the site structure and 3D reconstruction of the burial mound landscape.

The characteristics of mineral composition and features of metasomatic rocks of gold ore deposits of the Auminzatau mountains in the Central Kyzylkum are identified. The corresponding stages of ore mineralization are associated with certain types of metasomatites, which are their typomorphic features and reflect the features of the evolution of the stages and stages of a single mineral-forming system, which can be used as search criteria.

The paper presents the general characteristics of the Zun-Ospa gold deposit. The mineral composition of ores is given. According to mineralogical studies we have been established two stages of mineralization: the first stage (hydrothermal), which was divided into four stages and the second hypergenic. The data of microprobe analysis of the mineral phases that make up the ores of the deposit are presented. We described gold in two generations, which are different both in composition and associations.

The solubility of crystalline and precipitated calcium fluoride in seawater and brines of the first stages of its evaporative concentration (before the beginning of gypsum and halite setting) was experimentally studied. It was established that in the entire studied range of salinity, seawater and its derivatives are strongly undersaturated by the calcium fluoride, which excludes its spontaneous precipitation in drying isolated sea basins. A necessary condition for the formation of sedimentary fluorite is the entry into the drying sea basins of significant amounts of dissolved fluorine from external sources, which can be river runoff, volcanic emanations, and hydrothermal solutions.

The article considers the problem of technogenic impact on the waters of the upper aquifers in the territory of oil and gas fields of the Tatar arch. It is substantiated that the change in the chemical composition of the waters of the Upper Permian (Kazan and Ufa) aquifers, which removes them from the domestic and drinking water supply (HWS), occurred as a result of the development of oil and gas fields. The paper presents the results of an analysis of the causes of pollution of aquifers due to leaks in production wells, ruptures in pipelines and improper disposal of oil sludge.

The paper presents the results of seismicity monitoring for the main seismically active regions of Russia: the Caucasus, the East European Platform, the Arctic, Altai and Sayan, the Baikal and Transbaikalia; Amur and Primorye; Sakhalin, the Kuril-Okhotsk region, Yakutia, Northeast Russia and Chukotka, Kamchatka and the Commander Islands in 2022. For each region, catalogs of the most significant and perceptible earthquakes are given with the parameters of hypocenters and magnitudes obtained from the processing of instrumental observations. The manifestation of the macroseismic effect from the majority of tangible earthquakes (with I≥2.5 points on the SSI-2017 scale) that occurred on the territory of Russia is analyzed. The materials presented in the manuscript are for informational purposes for specialists in the field of seismology and seismotectonics. It is designed to promptly (before the release of thematic review collections devoted to earthquakes in Russia) to acquaint readers with the available overview information on the seismicity of Russia in 2022.

The features of the transformation of andesites of the East-Pauzhetsky thermal field under the influence of the argillization process are studied on a number of samples of various degrees of alteration taken from boreholes and from outcrops near the object under study. The main patterns of changes in composition and physical-mechanical properties of andesites are revealed. A schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal field in the section has been compiled, according to which three horizons are distinguished from bottom to top, showing an increase in the degree of hydrothermal transformation — altered andesites, metasomatic breccias and hydrothermal clays.

This article presents original data on the content and distribution of major and rare earth elements into the waters phases from 26 mud volcanoes within the Kerch-Taman region. According to the chemical composition of the studied mud volcanic waters are represented by Na-Cl and Na-HCO3-Cl types, and the Cl/Br, Na/Cl, and Y/Ho ratios specify three main genetic groups of volcanoes. It was found that the rare-earth element contents in the aqueous phase of mud volcanoes are low (fractions of μg/L) and are distinguished by negative cerium anomalies and positive europium and holmium anomalies. The highest REE concentrations are observed in mud volcanoes located within the oldest Cretaceous sediments in the area of fault influence. As the distance from the Mesozoic source ΣREE sharply decreases. It has found that the free CO2 content in the aqueous phase regulates the REE content in waters and the value of cerium and europium anomalies.

The method of sample decompounding and silver sulfide precipitation for determination of the isotopic composition of sulfur by isotope mass spectrometry has been tried out and improved. The analytics and methodology of preparing test samples for analysis are described, task variations are indicated. The validity of the developed method of sample preparation was verified by a comparative analysis of various methods in three laboratories using internationally certified standards.

The focus in study of the central part of Nepsko-Botuobinskaya anteclise is concentrated on the subsalt oil and gas bearing horizons of group B (Osinsky, Upper Ust-Kutsky, Lower Ust-Kutsky, Preobrazhensky horizons) and V (terrigenous formations of Vendian age). However, higher, in the Lower-Middle Cambrian carbonate-halogen deposits, there are also promising horizons of group A (Kelorsky, Atovsky, Khristoforovsky, Balykhtinsky), oil and gas presence of a sufficient amount of the Angara-Lena stage, the northern part of the Nepsko-Botuobinskaya anteclise and adjacent structures.

The paper examines the results of geochemical studies of oil samples from the Osinsky horizon (layer B1) and the nameless dolomite layer located between the salts in the lower part of the Upper Usolskaya subformation, previously considered gas-bearing at best. The conducted studies by the method of chromatography-mass spectrometry and comparison of the geochemical parameters of oils from different reservoirs show the similarity of hydrocarbon fluids of the Upper Usolskaya subformation and lower productive horizons, which makes it possible to attribute them to a single oil and gas bearing system.

The paper presents the results of the Bazhenov formation rocks organic matter on the territory of the Frolov oil and gas region of the West Siberian basin investigations. The maceral composition of the sediments is represented by bituminite and alginite, removed vitrinite, as well as bioclasts: onychites and calcespheres organic matter. The investigation is focused on bioclasts. The petrographic characteristics, their change in the process of maturation evolution are described, qualitative parameters to access the degree of bioclasts maturity are established, and the initial formula for converting the onychites reflection index to the equivalent of vitrinite reflection index is proposed.

The paper presents the results of the closed system hydrous pyrolysis isothermal kinetic experiment on a source rock sample from the Bazhenov shale formation. After 48 hours of thermal exposure at a temperature of 350 °С 80% of the kerogen generation potential relative to the original sample was transformed into hydrocarbons. Organic matter changes during laboratory modeling of maturation, controlled by pyrolytic parameters, follow the same trends as in natural source rocks. The kinetic spectra of kerogen activation energy destruction show a heterogeneity of organic matter inside the rock. At the constant frequency factor, a decrease in low-energy bonds and an increase in the release of hydrocarbon compounds from 53 to 54 kcal/mol are observed. Calculated changes in hydrocarbon compounds formation at different activation energies depending on maturity level are different from experimental ones, which indicates the influence of maceral composition and necessity to take into account a variability of individual components in basin modeling.

Changes in the bearing capacity of frozen soils under various scenarios of warming in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) by 2050 are considered. Deformations and destruction of buildings and engineering structures in the Russian Arctic will develop gradually. Taking into account the climatic scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5), in aggregate, 1/3 of the AZRF territory will experience a decrease in bearing capacity by more than 15% by the middle of the century; the Arctic coast of the European North of Russia, Yamal and the Gydan Peninsula are in the danger zone.

The article presents data on the history of the discovery of oil and gas deposits within the central and northern parts of the Volga-Ural oil and gas basin. On the basis of published scientific and stock literature, the evolution of geological thought on the issue of identifying oil sources is traced. A special role is assigned to the history of studying the geological structure and oil and gas potential of the Riphean-Vendian (Precambrian) complex. The work contains data on scientific schools of the past and present.