The angle of the mantle wedge and rate of subduction of the eastern part of the Black Sea paleolithospheric microplate under the lithosphere of the Russian Platform (Crimean-Caucasian region) is assessed based on new data on convective heat efflux from the mantle wedge to 2D anomaly of the heat flow observed in the rear of the Mountainous Crimea and in the Caucasus. Ascending convective movements in the mantle can carry up mantle calc-alkali magmas (with the metals in them) to the day surface, and, so, ore deposits probably have to be confined to the zones in the lithosphere, which are located above Karig-Richter convective flows.

The Central Asian and Pacific Mobile Belts abut against each other almost at a right angle in the Far East of Russia. Interaction of these belts can be traced back to the end of the Precambrian, and yet primarily early Mesozoic (Upper Triassic-Jurassic) formations and features widespread in Lower Priamurye make their detailed analysis feasible. As of now, they are assigned (depending on the approach to tectonic zoning) to either the Ulban (Mongol-Okhotsk fold system) and Badzhal-Gorin (Sikhe-Alin fold system) tectonostratigraphic zones or the Ulban and Badzhal terranes. The data provided in the up-to-date State Geological Map of the Russian Federation, Scale 1:1,000,000, (3rd ed.) are very much in evidence for the formation of early Mesozoic deposits in a single sea basin within Lower Priamurye, with similar stratigraphic sections, lithology, folding, and metamorphism. It is proposed that an area of Interference of the Central Asian and Pacific Mobile Belts of the mobile belt rank be identified in the Russian Far East in the course of tectonic zoning.

The research focuses on the comprehensive analysis of petrological, geochemical, and isotopicgeochronological characteristics of the Chara-Sinsk dike swarm, which is mapped in the middle reaches of the Lena River. Intrusions of the Chara-Sinsk dike swarm frame the Vilyui rift from the southeast. The intrusions are dikes, small sills, stocks, and chonoliths. Their petrological composition varies from dolerite and gabbrodolerite to syenite. In general, in terms of the distribution of petrogenic, trace elements and REE, the studied rocks have a significant similarity with Middle Paleozoic intrusions of the Vilyui rift, in particular, with the Vilyui-Markha dike swarm. The results of isotopic dating of the zircon by the U-Pb method showed that the formation of the Chara-Sinsk dike swarm occurred during a relatively short time interval of 364–374 Ma. The obtained isotope dating results fully correspond to the time interval (357–379 Ma) of Devonian dike magmatism in the large Yakutsk-Vilyui igneous province.

One of byproducts of the ongoing VSEGEI project of compiling the GIS Quaternary Map of Russia is the sketch map of loessoids, i.e. silty rocks, also called loess and loess-like deposits. This illustrated essay is an explanatory note to the sketch map. The information is derived from standard national geological maps, scale 1:1,000,000, of the last two generations and complemented by literature data. The mapped targets are loessoid units, including southern carbonate loess with paleosols, loess-like silts of northern terrains, intercalations of loessic sediments with waterlain facies in Siberia and icy silts in the Arctic. The loessoid formations are classified according to the wide stratigraphic ranges: 1 – the Upper Pleistocene, 2 – the Middle Pleistocene plus the Upper Pleistocene, 3 – the late Lower Pleistocene to the Upper Pleistocene and 4 – the entire Pleistocene. Numerous paleosols reflect an intermittent subaerial process independent of water accumulation agents. They serve as important markers in Quaternary climatic stratigraphy.

Polygenetic deposits of the Kaspa Fm. are widespread within the Minusinsk depressions and their mountain border in the southern part of the Krasnoyarsk Region. They have been studied by many geologists during geological surveys and exploration. Slope rocks, which are considered to be products of re-deposition of areal and linear weathering crusts, lacustrine-alluvial and polygenetic deposits of complex genesis were included in this formation. The interest in studying the formation deposits is caused by the regular revision of the lower Quaternary boundary; therefore, researchers of the Quaternary pay particular attention to the investigation of the Lower Quaternary sediments. In addition, some prospects for bauxite - and manganesebearing deposits are associated with sediments of this formation, and in areas of gold placers, with gold potential.

The paper discusses the hypothesis of the link between the Ponto-Caspian Basin and the Barents Sea in the Pleistocene through the central part of the Russian Plain along the paleo-Don and paleo-Volga river valleys. Based on field data and paleontological investigation, the authors arrived at the conclusion that this hypothesis is invalid.

The paper describes geotechnical conditions of the city of Bendery, taking into account their genetic characteristics and the degree of impact on recent geological processes. Geotechnical studies were carried out to obtain comprehensive data on geotechnical conditions for compiling the map of geotechnical zoning and the map of seismic microzoning of Bendery. Methodological materials of this study are available in statutory documents, educational publications. The authors identified general physical and geographical features of the urban area. The process of the formation of the current relief of the urban area and adjacent areas is described. The base map of the depth of the first aquifer from the surface in Bendery was compiled. For construction purposes, conclusions were drawn regarding the GC of certain districts of Bendery.

For the first time, the authors present data on the gold content of metasomatite from the Enganepe Ridge, the Polar Urals. Pyrite-sericite-quartz, pyrite-sericite and sericite metasomatites occur after rhyolite and basalt. The relationship between gold grade and post-magmatic processes of near-fissure low-temperature metasomatism is shown. Native gold in the metasomatite is moderately fine (800–900 ‰); typomorphic impurities are represented by silver and mercury. Similar gold was previously found in placers. Potential of the area for native gold and possible genetic type of gold deposits is discussed.

Intraplate tectonics and manifestations of magmatism are associated with deep plumes and asthenospheric uplifts (upwelling). The related magmas are represented by layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions, continental and oceanic flood basalts, basic dike swarms, and A-type anorogenic granitoids, to which intraplate or anorogenic ore systems are confined. They can be considered as magma-associated Ni-Cu-PGE, Cr in maficultramafic rocks; magmatic-hydrothermal ore systems confined to anorogenic A-type magmas (greisen Sn-W and Fe-oxide-Cu-Au); hydrothermal ore systems formed in thermal fields associated with the introduction of plume-derived melts into the continental crust. These hydrothermal ore systems include epithermal, igneoussulfide, and exhalation ore deposit types.

In four places within the Middle Timan a new mineral phase thorium phosphate was found in the form of individual grains and their aggregates. The phase turned out to be Xray amorphous. The chemical composition and some physical properties of the two varieties of the new phase have been studied. The grains of the thorium phase from the Ichetyu occurrence are characterized by high calcium, iron, sulfur, carbon contents that suggests wide isomorphism in both the cationic and anionic parts of this compound: (Th, Ca, Fe) · · [(PO4) (SO4) (CO3)] × nH2O. The CHIME method was used to estimate the transformation age of this phase in the Ichetyu occurrence. It turned out to be unexpectedly very young – 52.7 ± 6.1 Ma (Early Paleogene). It is assumed that this is the time of exhumation of the primary bedding of the Ichetyu conglobreccia layer, which became accessible to saline meteoric waters and their interaction with the unstable radioactive phase of the thorium phosphate, which resulted in the complication of its composition.