The article answers two topical questions: the time of the main submergence to the ocean depths, the age and extent of rifting. It is shown that the Arctic Ocean was formed simultaneously across the entire Arctic Basin, regardless of the sign of Recent structures. The submergence began in the Oligocene and increased sharply from the Middle Miocene. Different stages of basin submergence to oceanic depths, which determined morphology of modern slopes, have been identified. It is shown that the horst and graben system recorded all over the Arctic Basin, occurred at the orogenic stage of the growth of elevations, broken in the course of orogenesis into intermontane and piedmont depressions and troughs. A huge time gap between the submergence to the ocean depths (Middle Miocene) and the formation of the horst and graben structure has been established. Grabens’ dimensions are very modest and do not correlate with known rifts.

Five ostracod assemblages were identified while studying the stratigraphically most complete Permian-Triassic Boundary located in the southern and central Moscow Syneclise. Assemblage I is identified in the lower part of the ostracod Wjatkellina fragiloides – Suchonella typica assemblage zone (AZ), which corresponds to the lower part of the Nefyodovian Regional Stage, of the Vyatkian. Assemblage II is characterized by high taxonomic diversity and corresponds to the upper part of the Wjatkellina fragiloides – Suchonella typica AZ and the lower part of the Suchonellina perelubica – Suchonella rykovi – S. posttypica AZ. Its affinity with the Nefyodovian or Zhukovian regional stages remained unclear. Assemblage III is determined from the renewal of the taxonomic composition of associations and belongs to the upper part of the Suchonellina perelubica – Suchonella rykovi – S. posttypica AZ and the Zhukovian Regional Stage. Assemblage IV is identified from significant change in the taxonomic composition and the predominance of Darwinula and Gerdalia representatives in the associations. It is confined to the lower part of the Darwinula mera – Gerdalia AZ and the lower part of the Vokhmian Regional Stage. Assemblage V is characterized by a reduction in the abundance of Gerdalia and an increase in the diversity of Darwinula. It corresponds to the upper part of the Darwinula mera – Gerdalia AZ and the upper part of the Vokhmian Regional Stage.

Fluid-explosion structure, including carbonatite, explosive ultramafic rocks of the dyke complex and alkaline metasomatite, has been identified in the Middle Timan. Fluid-explosion structure was formed due to carbonatite magmatism and its fluid derivatives.

The paper deals with geological, hydrogeological and geochemical factors affecting the trace elements (including gold) accumulation in chloride brines of the Bukhara-Karshi artesian basin.

Volcanic-plutonic belts in eastern Russia are a natural element of the Pacific folded frame, with which the largest copper-porphyry deposits are associated. Rather large Malmyzh and Peschanka deposits discovered in recent years in the Russian Far East give ground for high assessment of region’s prospects for copper-porphyry mineralization. Based on the analysis of regional and local factors of control of gold-copper-porphyry mineralization in areas of location of these reference deposits, the prospects of volcanic-plutonic belts of Russia’s eastern regions for this type of mineralization are estimated. It is emphasized that, along with the nature of intrinsic magmatism of the volcanic-plutonic belts, the composition and nature of the substrate on which these belts are superimposed are of importance in the distribution of copper-porphyry deposits of various types. Recommendations are given on the organization of exploratory and medium-scale regional works to discover gold-copper-porphyry deposits.

Results of a detailed study by various methods, including geoelectrochemical, of superimposed scattering halos in three pyrite-polymetallic deposits of the Rudny Altai, covered by allochthonous sediments having a thickness of tens and hundreds of meters are presented. It is shown that the chemical element scattering halos are formed as narrow subvertical jets with widened horizontal section area near the day surface. The relationship of anomalous metal contents with elevated carbon dioxide content, the decrease in values of pH and electrical resistivity of soils are recorded. The efficiency of the application of methods for the identification of superimposed scattering halos of deeply buried ores is confirmed.

The paper is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of creating the Department of Metallogeny and Geology of Mineral Deposits at VSEGEI and main stages of its development.