Home – Home – Jornals – Humanitarian sciences in Siberia 2016 number

The article deals with the problem of Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in Dagestan (Northeastern Caucasus). The sites of Tinit-1 and Rubas-1 (upper assemblage) in the Rubas valley is characteristic of a watershed period between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic in this part of the Caucasus. The analysis of these industries makes it possible to infer that Levallois technique was gradually phased out, with its transformation focused on a more intensive use of technical volume of a core within the semi-volumetric blade technique. At the same time, lithic industries underwent changes in their toolkits: the Middle Paleolithic pointed forms were vanishing, the treatment of side-scrapers tended to become simpler, the number and variability of the Upper Paleolithic types increased, the isolated tool-markers (shouldered and carinated end-scrapers, truncated-faceted pieces, transverse multiple burins) came into use. In addition, the general typological composition of tools corresponded to a single function. The lithic industries discussed above demonstrate gradual change within the frame of a single strategy during the whole period of their existence, lasting about 15 ka (50-35 ka BP). Comparison of materials from the sites of Rubas-1 and Tinit-1 with collections obtained from the sites in the South Caucasus has revealed significant differences between them. Thus, during the early stages of their occurrence (80-50 ka BP), the Middle Paleolithic industries of the Dagestan showed a resemblance to the industries of the Zagros-Taurus type (including materials obtained from the sites in the South Caucasus), and later they became distinctly different from the assemblages discovered in the adjacent areas. This suggests that the Dagestan industries represented a local version of the Middle Paleolithic industries developed in the Middle East. Therefore one can argue that the development of later lithic industries occurred in the region on a local basis.

In 1961 A.P. Okladnikov discovered an outstanding archeological site on the shores of Lake Osinovoe in the Amur region. In 1962 and 1965 stationary studies were carried out. They resulted in several excavated dwellings which gave abundant data for characterizing the Neolithic culture. The result of the research was the allocation of late Neolithic Osinoozerskaya culture. Its tribes lived in this area in 3,000-2,000 BC and were a settled population, mainly engaged in hunting and fishing. In relation to the discovery of millet grains in the hearth dimple of one of the dwellings it was concluded that the inhabitants practiced crop farming. Despite the fact that over the last decade archeologists have studied several new sites, greatly expanding the range of sources for the analysis of Osinoozerskaya culture, it remains the least studied among the Neolithic cultures of the region. The problems associated with such controversial issues as its genetic link with the earlier Novopetrovskaya culture (in spite of the time gap of 4,000 years) and the emergence of agriculture, remain unsolved and require further reflection. In 2012, in order to gather new data on the culture, studies were continued on the periphery of the Neolithic settlement. There were pole-holes identified at the lower stratum of the occupation layer - they could have been designed for a light shed. The output is a collection of artifacts (pottery and stone), several of them were defined by use-wear analysis as a tool set including household items of daily use with frequent trimming and alteration, peculiar to dwellings and sites with a variety of human activities. Overall the excavated site is a mono-cultural one, which refers to the period of Osinoozerskaya culture and was used by the inhabitants for economic activity.

The article is based on the results of work with the collections kept in the museums of Fukuoka prefecture (Kyushu, Japan), and on analysis of a wide range of literature devoted to the phenomenon of elite female burials in Yayoi culture accompanied with large numbers of bronze mirrors. It is illustrated with the most significant data on Sugu-Okamoto, Mikumo, and Hirabaru necropoleis. The events which occurred on the Japanese Islands during III BC - III AD marked not only the shift from one culture (Jomon) to another (Yayoi), but also fundamental changes almost in all cultural components. These changes included replacement of subsistence economy with the producing one; emergence of new technologies and the upgrade of former ones; modification of burial ritual and social structure. All these changes were connected with a strong migratory impulse from the territory of Korean Peninsula. Yayoi culture was spreading across the archipelago from the territory of Kyushu, where the new forms of social organization (complex chiefdoms) headed by charismatic leaders appeared. According to historical records and archaeological data, women occupied a special place among these leaders. The authors use these data to interpret the role of mirrors in Yayoi society. Mirrors belong to the traditional shamanistic attributes among aboriginals in North and Eastern Asia. With the emergence and spread of metallurgy mirrors became part of prestige economy and served as indicators of a special status of the buried persons. The case of the elite Yayoi burials on Kyushu shows parallel development of several interesting processes: moving from the import of bronze mirrors to their manufacturing with the local or Chinese molds; emergence of items with hypertrophic parameters based on prestige technologies; empowerment of chiefs with the unique skills to master the “magic” of the mirrors, and gradual institutionalization of mirrors into one of the Sacred Japanese Treasures.

In 2014, in the Amur region near the Amur River on the site Ozero Dolgoe two submarine pits were excavated. On the present-day surface submarine pit № 16 was rectangular in shape with rounded corners (4,2×5 m), steep sides and a depth of 46 - 52 cm. The submarine pit № 17 is square shaped with rounded corners (4,6×4,8 m), with steep slope, depth 40-51 cm. The stratigraphic and planigraphic observations, structure of the burnt wooden frames at the bottom of deep pits № 16 and № 17, and the discovered artifacts allowed to suggest that these are funerary complexes of Mohe of Troitskaya group dated from the VIII century. However, AMS 14C analysis of coal samples from the pit № 17 allowed to obtain the new dates - 1760±40 years ago (MTS-17572), cal. ±1δ 230-340 BC, ±2δ 139-385 BC, or the first half of the III-IV century. Theses dates are different from the previously proposed ones, therefore the discrepancy of 400-500 years in dating requires additional carbon dating of samples, and additional study of similar depressions (there are 41 of them left on the site). Findings from a filling of a deep funnel pit № 17 include 95 kg of glandular wreckage of kritsa of various sizes (total weight 1.55 kg), 89 pieces of slag (weight 0.4 kg); 200 fragments of pottery vessels from at least three groups of Mohe of Troitskaya group; a piece of iron armor plates and possibly fragment of an iron boiler; 17 riverine pebbles, 7 pebbles splintered, 2 stone, and 7 stone chippings and flakes, about 240 burnt animal bones. They have developed into a complex of objects associated with the smelting of small portions of iron in ceramic vessels-furnaces. Similar vessels for smelting of iron and bronze were found at the of Mohe settlement of Aspen Lake. The presence of industrial waste in a depression on the surface of the terrace suggests that somewhere near to metal smelting there was a special area or workshop, which was periodically cleaned and freed from the iron manufacturing waste. Remains of iron production belong to Mohe of Troitskaya group, and dated IX-X centuries.

The article analyzes the collection of finds - iron objects of armament and horse harness from the Minusinsk Hollow. Judging from the good state of preservation and bent blade of a broadsword they could belong to the culture of the Yenisei Kyrgyz. The iron tip of a spear from the collection is distinguished by its original design. The tip has a rhombic shape with indentations on the sides. The similar tips of spears in the burial mounds of the culture of the Yenisei Kyrgyz did not occur in the past. Among the objects there is an iron broadsword with bent blade and detachable guard. According to design features, this finding relates to the third type of broadswords that were in the inventory of the Yenisei Kyrgyz warriors in the era of the High Middle Ages. A horse harness from the collection has iron bits, composed of two elements with the rings on the ends. There are also two damaged iron stirrups with flat loops and apertures for threading the leather straps. The embossing ornament is drawn on the surfaces of the loops, that reproduces a schematic image of a bird. Judging by the composition and form of the discovered objects of armament and harness from the Minusinsk Hollow, they could originate from the burial place of the Yenisei Kyrgyz warrior, buried in the uplands in the valley of Tes’ River in the end of the first millennium - the beginning of the second millennium A.D. The fact that among the weapons from the internment in the valley of Tes’ River there is a broadsword, whose blade was bent twice for ritual purposes, and a spear of infrequent form, this burial mound could belong to the professional Kyrgyz warrior - combatant. In the past objects with similar shape were found by archaeologists in the course of excavations of burial mounds of the culture of the Yenisei Kyrgyz people in the territory of Tuva.

An increasing amount of archaeological research on the monuments of Modern time in Siberia, along with publication of the received materials promoted the study of cult copper molding as a category of finds. On the basis of materials from the Ilim fortress V.I. Molodin has created a typology of crosses attributing them to the Old Belief or Catholic types. In regard to the Old Belief types of crosses it is stated that they can’t be identity marks of confessional appurtenance of their owners because the same crosses were used also by the followers of official Orthodoxy. The purpose of this article is to reveal signs of confessional distinctions on the basis of archaeological materials from the Russian complexes of Modern time. The author used materials of an archaeological monument of Izyuk-I (Omsk region). According to the written sources in the XVII-XIX centuries the majority of villagers in the settlement of Izyuk were Old Believers. The materials from a funeral complex showed that more than a quarter of collected crosses which were worn on the neck belong to the Old Belief types. They were classified by researchers as belonging to this type on the basis of analysis of their morphology and texts of prayers. It is possible that Old Believers also used other types of crosses as the texts of prayers could be missing or difficult to read because of low-quality molding. Another criterion could be position of hands of the buried, because according to the ethnographic data the arms of the Old Believers were folded in a certain way. The author comes to conclusion that certain groups of population can be attributed to various religious confessions only on the basis of a set of signs while the cult copper molding of the XVII-XVIII centuries can not be used as the defining feature. For this purpose it is necessary to analyze more profoundly an archaeological context, to correlate it with the available stavrografic materials and written sources. The pectoral cross found in one of burials is of special interest. The paper introduces for the first time into scientific circulation the copper Old Belief icon found in an occupation layer of the settlement with the image of Saint martyrs Quiricus and Julitta.

The article reports about identifying ways to preserve stability as well as to change the Russian location in Siberia during the XVII - early XXI centuries in the worldview aspect of the culture of life support. An important objective in this area is to study the structure of the location and to establish the laws underlying the choice of location and layout of settlements as one of the important elements of the culture of life support. This article discusses some of the principles underlying the selection of methods and programming ethnographic survey of Russian location in Siberia. Modeling method is used to organize the available data on location. To this end, one selects essential characteristics describing with a certain degree of approximation a settlement pattern. They include principles and features of a settlement, communications of the population, location and plan structure of settlements. Modeling allows to consider both the diachronic and synchronous transformations; to reveal worldview attitudes. Working with the model requires the collection of specific data in order to form the source base. Materials are collected and studied on the basis of various sources which include the principles and structure of the location, system of communications; settlements directly described and studied on the spot, informants’ tales about location and settlements, geographic and topographic maps etc. Much attention is paid to the specific ethnographic research methods: method of direct observation, polling method, interviewing.

The purpose of the article is not only to revive interest in a controversial issue of prevalence of exogamy or endogamy practices in the selection of marriage partners in Siberian villages, but also to substantiate the author’s position on this subject on the basis of new ethnographic materials of the early XX century. Of interest is mapping the circles of marital relations of the members of the Russian ethnos, especially Siberians, due to the fact that neither pre-revolutionary, nor Soviet ethnographers produced any comprehensive studies on this topic. Mapping the marital relationships allows to confirm or deny the data on the territory of settlement of ethnic groups (especially groups of Old Believers) obtained from the oral reports of the informants; to complement the whole wedding ritual complex with necessary materials. While historians on the basis of historical data concluded that exogamy was typical of the XVIII century, ethnographers based on field materials of the late XIX century wrote about the wide-spread endogamy, which contributed to isolation of certain ethnic groups (such as the Cossacks, peasants). Expeditions organized by the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences obtained field data that proves, regardless of the work of predecessors, that in the late XIX - early XX century representatives of specific ethnic and cultural (ethnographic) groups created local groups, whose members avoided intermarriages. Endogamous marriages were supported by the older generations of villagers. Hence, the tradition of matchmaking brides from neighboring and even remote villages reflected the commitment of the villagers to the custom of exogamy, while commitment to “our” brides from the culturally similar group points to endogamy. Persistence of these practices contributed to the preservation of ethnic and cultural groups in the southern part of Western Siberia through to the early 1930s when in line with the state’s policy of the “new life” the youth was oriented to take advantage of the right to choose their own destiny.

Issues related to the study of methods of social conflicts resolution remain understudied in the Buryat ethnographical literature. The purpose of the present research is to reveal traditions of handling the conflicts among the Buryats in the XVIII-XIX centuries. There were various types of social collisions: some of them were intergroup and even interethnic conflicts, while others were intragroup (including family conflicts). The author considers the latter type of collisions. The research is based on the literary and archival sources of the XVIII-XIX centuries. In a traditional society there were two possible ways of reconciliation: extrajudicial (when the aggressor admitted depravity of his or her action, apologized to his or her victim and received forgiveness) and judicial (held by the Court of the non-Buryat chiefs). Aggressors and their victims belonged to the local groups interested in the prompt resolution of conflicts. The Buryat courts had the estate character and were totally controlled by the “indigenous chiefs”, therefore all levels of this judicial system were aimed at achieving reconciliation. Investigation, judgment and execution were held by the “indigenous chiefs”. Proceedings initiated by the victims were usually completed by the lowest-level courts. Along with substantive examination of cases and carrying out of sentences (prescribing fines or even corporal punishment for the aggressor) the courts were instrumental in maintaining the peace and stability within the local groups. This social institute was sanctified by the traditional worldview that supported the authority of the court’s and the indigenous chiefs among popular masses. At the same time, according to the traditional beliefs the superiority of the mythical court of “white” sky inhabitants and spirits over the ordinary courts was generally accepted. For this purpose people continued the practice of taking oath near the “shaman stones”.

In this work, we discuss the possibilities to obtain more information content from atmospheric IR sounding through an increase in the instruments’ spectral resolution and the use of the polarization measurements of solar and thermal radiation. The disadvantages of the modern methods for accounting the molecular absorption spectra in both rigorous and fast (based on k -distributions) atmospheric radiative transfer models are shown. The approaches to eliminate these disadvantages are suggested.

It is shown that the regular part of the solution (RPS) remained after the separation of the anisotropic part of the solution (APS) in the small-angle modification of the spherical harmonics method (MSH) is a smooth quasi-isotropic function with some peaks in the angular distribution. The smooth part of the RPS without peaks can be determined in two-streaming or diffuse approximation. The first iteration of the resulting radiance angular distribution significantly refines the solution and allows restoring the specified angular peaks. Quasi-diffusion approach - the separation of APS by MSH, the definition of RPS in the diffuse approximation and refinement of solutions based on the first iteration, - is independent of the problem symmetry, and therefore can be generalized to the case of arbitrary medium geometry.

This paper deals with studying specific features of the laser pulse propagation and lidar return signals in remote sensing of clouds by ground-based and spaceborne lidars using Monte Carlo simulation. In particular, the paper describes the effect of "return signal sharpening" that makes a distant cloud boundary more visible. Moreover, the paper presents the results of stochastic simulation of the expanding solid torus of light that can be generated by a laser pulse in a cloud layer. A brief description of the software created by the author to simulate the lidar return signals is enclosed.

The problem of total ozone change rate estimation is discussed. The analysis of published data reveals contradictory facts. This paper is based on OMI satellite total ozone data for 2005-2015. The singular spectrum analysis is used for estimation of the ozone trends and seasonal variations. The trend analysis shows that ozone increased with a rate of 1.97% per decade in the Northern hemisphere midlatitudes; and 1.52% per decade in the South hemisphere. There was an anomalous decrease in ozone in the Southern hemisphere from August to December of 2015; a large ozone hole was formed. It is shown that one of the caused could be the circulation conditions: from the tropical latitudes to the South less ozone than usually was moved.

Numerical simulation of the spatio-angular characteristics of reflected solar radiation in broken clouds is performed in the spherical model of the atmosphere using statistical algorithms developed at IAO SB RAS. The regularities of the formation of brightness fields caused by the finite cloud size, their mutual shading and radiation reflection by neighboring clouds in selected cloud realizations are considered. The spatio-angular features of brightness fields in the realizations with small and medium cloud fraction mainly depend on the location of clouds relative to the viewing direction and direction «to the Sun».

For the purposes of atmospheric correction of satellite images the task of estimation of the distance from the center of a cloud gap is considered, at which the effect of clouds is negligible. The Monte Carlo method with backward scheme is used. The value of the gap radius is found, at which the effect of clouds changes the received radiance by 10%. Dependences of received radiance on the gap radius are found and explained.

Rapid growth of Earth satellite observation data over the recent years actualizes the problem of development of new technologies for effective data search, selection and processing within very large distributed ever-expanding archives. The paper describes the features of such technologies developed by Space Research Institute of RAS (IKI RAN). These technologies provide implementation of various data processing tools for satellite data analysis operating with distributed computing resources of remote sensing data processing and archiving centers. The paper shows their advantages and capabilities and gives the examples of developed tools for distributed processing of data from various satellite remote sensing systems. The examples given are provided to demonstrate the possibilities of described tools for various atmospheric and ocean surface phenomena analysis.

An analytical approximation of outgoing radiation spectra at the top of the cloudless atmosphere in the visible and near infrared spectral regions and a method for atmospheric correction, which is based on the former, are suggested. The parameterization of the contributions of individual radiation components and a quite simple optical model of the atmosphere are used for derivation of analytical formulas. The optical model of the atmosphere includes several (5-7) parameters that are essential in terms of the effect on the radiation transfer. There is no need in a priori information about atmosphere or Earth’s surface parameters in this method. In order to determine unknown parameters of the model by solving an inverse problem with an analytical objective function, only the data to be corrected (images) with the number of spectral channels no less than the number of unknown parameters are used. The method developed is primarily intended for the correction of hyperspectral or multispectral images, which are made along with measurements of the spectra of individual spatial zones in the images (a spectrometer which operates simultaneously with the imaging system). The approximation suggested is highly accurate, which was checked in numerous calculations of outgoing radiation spectra with the use of software for the solution of the direct problem of radiation transfer.

This paper deals with the development of tools for integrating data and software for thematic processing of Earth remote sensing data (ERS). An automaton model of organizing distributed data processing, ensuring the integration of heterogeneous distributed data and algorithms of thematic processing within the information system is presented. The approach is described by the example of the prototype of an integrated system including an atmospheric correction algorithm for calculating the corrections on the basis of a physical model of the formation of optical images of the Earth's surface.

Soil moisture determines water and thermal regimes of the soil and the surface boundary layer of the atmosphere. It is an important factor in hydrology, ecology, climatology, meteorology, and agriculture. Nowadays, soil moisture is mostly measured with satellite remote sensing systems. The data measured by a satellite during the warm period of 2011-2012 years has been compared with data direct measured at 5 networks of weather stations in the USA. The aim of this study is evaluation of the soil moisture satellite data, finding regularities, anomalies and their causes, and development of satellite data quality control procedure for data assimilation system. Satisfactory agreement between two kinds of data observed has been shown. Areas with good and poor dependence were identified. These results can be used in other regions with similar underlying surfaces and orography. Criteria for satellite data quality control procedures are proposed.

The approach to normalization of the vegetation index calculated from measurements of the spectroradiometer MODIS is discusses in the paper. To do this, the normalization involves additional spectral channels of a spectroradiometer, based on the calculated cloud and snow indices allowing one to build a cloud mask and to allocate time periods of the presence of clouds. The built model for vegetation index dependency on the temperature allows further improvement of the form of time series of the vegetation index. The results of the application of the proposed approach to the real measurements are discussed in the paper.

The article reports data of a lab test of directional hydraulic fracturing carried out on a block made of organic glass. A fracture across a hole is created by means of additional shearing stress applied to the hole walls within the interval of the fracture. It is found that seismic emission under hydraulic fracturing has no bearing on destruction of the model material but appears after the fracture completion.

The theoretically evaluated multi-disciplinary approach enables determination of stress state of a coal-rock mass in the area of coal cutting using a package of geomechanical and geophysical information. The approach is based on successive solutions of two inverse problems in the framework of a geomechanical model: coal-bed tomography and assessment of horizontal components of external stress field. The numerical experiments demonstrate resolvability of the inverse problems given appropriate monitoring system ensures sufficient seismic coverage of a coal-bed in the domain of steep spatial gradients of elastic waves and the presence of regular composition in the frequency range of the order of hundreds of hertz in the sounding signal generated by a cutter-loader and/or other coal-face work machinery.

The approach to numerical modeling of physical specimen loading considered by the authors using the discrete element method enables describing ability of rocks to accumulate and release elastic energy. The model specimen is a package of particles characterized by viscoelastic interaction with dry friction. The outer layer particles are connected by elastic springs. On the whole, the model specimen is an element of a medium capable of accumulating a part of energy of deformation in the form of internal self-balanced stresses. Numerical modeling of the specimen compression is performed, and the accumulated energy is assessed. It is shown that clusters form in the medium, and sliding along the boundaries of these clusters causes discontinuities in deformation curve. Also, the discontinuities are possible under stress relaxation after unitary dynamic effect on the specimen. There is a good agreement between the numerical and experimental results.

The scope of the studies embraces statistical and mechanical properties of surface of different kind crystals of salt rocks. Fractal dimension, hardness and elasticity moduli of such crystals are determined. The article gives estimates of fracture toughness and wettability of salt rock crystals as function of fractal dimension of the crystal surface microrelief.

Under computational investigation is the process of sequential growth of hydrofractures under conditions of plane strain. The working fluid is perfect and viscous. The authors analyze influence exerted on parameters and trajectories of growing fractures by spacing of the fractures, external compression field, fluid flow rate, fluid viscosity and leakage flow rate.

The process of crack propagation in coal face area is considered as an informative sign of coal and gas outburst hazard. In the known condition of crack growth at a certain distance from coal face, it is suggested to replace mechanical parameters by geophysical data through application of different evaluation approaches: actual stresses-by spectral-acoustic method relative to amplitudes of high-frequency and low-frequency components of acoustic signal generated by mining machines in coal face area; formation pressure-by analysis of methane concentration in mine air in coal face area; strength of the most folded coal bed-by measuring strength based on penetration depth of a steel cone. The author analyzes the influence of acoustic, strength and permeability and porosity properties of coal face area on limit value of geophysical pre-outburst crack propagation criterion.

Loading causes stress concentration around defects in rocks, which induces initiation and propagation of cracks. Physically, external loading shows itself in rocks as acoustic and electromagnetic emission, included infrared radiation. Experimentally, it is found that in specimens of geomaterials under uniaxial tension, temperature is minimum; under uniaxial compression, temperature grows; under triaxial stress, temperature is maximum. It has been succeeded to derive equations for temperature prediction in a material in the zone of main crack as function of failure load. The method to estimate stress state based on the data on infrared radiation in materials is developed.

Based on the experimental data on separation of stone blocks from rock mass, the author has developed an approximate analytical model to find energy input required to initiate main crack depending on mechanical properties of rocks, geometry of bench, diameter of drillholes and meterage drilled.

Under discussion is soil transport by negative pressure generated in horizontal rotating pipeline. Based on the relations between soil batch velocity, soil batch mass and diameter of the pipeline, the authors have developed procedure to determine the limit pipeline length. The rotary velocity of the pipeline is related with its diameter. Reliability of the proposed procedure results is experimentally proved.

Coordination of heating energy sector performance and legal regulations and standards in the area of air protection from toxic substances involves opportunity analysis of limestone supply as limestone is used as deoxidant in the process of sulfur removal from smoke fuses. The problem of supplying heat power plants with limestone reduces to location identification, i.e. selection of an open pit mine offering the lowest cost of transportation. The authors present a single-phase local model for evaluation of decision-making in management of limestone supply to heat energy sector plants in Serbia.

The presented geological and technical factors make it possible to differentiate coal reserves in South Yakutia based on their property of washability. The authors have constructed algorithm for processing of data of float-and-sink analysis and evaluated coal reserves differentiation criteria. The article describes model of optimization of concentrate yield and quality management and proposes matrix of composition of marketable products based on the market requirements.

The analytical results are given for application of stripping with direct dumping in open pit mines in Kuzbass. It is emphasized that this most productive and the least power-consuming technology loses its weight in the overall content of overburden stripping. The authors propose a method to determine rational boundaries for application area of stripping with direct dumping using slice re-excavation coefficient. The scope of the discussion comprises potential trends of the technology and use of draglines towards enhancement of open pit mining efficiency.

The authors inspect operation of ventilation system in a double-line subway tunnel. It is found that air flow rates required for tunnels and passenger stations differ greatly. For routine operation modes in subway tunnels, the authors evaluate longitudinal ventilation flow chart without station-to-station air chambers, which considerably decreases construction cost of subway ventilation infrastructure. Static pressure fluctuations on outside faces of trains that move in a tunnel in opposite directions are determined. For emergency operation modes of subway tunnel ventilation, under train fire in a tunnel, the authors evaluate a fore-and-aft chart of smoke removal. Toxic emission concentration due to smoke fumes on the way of a breakdown train evacuation is determined. It is proposed to install longitudinal screens in tunnels to ensure safe concentrations of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide on either way from a breakdown train to a station.

The authors have revealed analytical dependences for the length of a longwall and the background methane emission from a coal bed, mined-out void and wall rocks during a maintenance shift. The actual values of methane release in Kotinskaya Mine and methane concentration in a breakage heading of Kostromovskaya Mine, Belon, measured using air-and-gas control equipment are presented. The authors evaluate theoretical relationships for the cyclical behavior of methane release during a work shift in a production heading of a coal mine.

The article gives a report on integrated experimental research into targeted change of chemical and phase composition of surface and increase in contrast of physicochemical, electrical and electrochemical properties of tantalite, columbite and zircon under treatment by acid product of water electrolysis-anolyte (pH < 5) and by muriatic solution (HCl, pH 3-3.5). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high resolution spectroscopy and chemical and electrophysical techniques reveal the mechanism of structural-chemical surface transformation of tantalite, columbite, zircon and feldspar under leaching in acid solutions; this surface transformation mechanism consists in activation of dissolving of iron- and silicate-containing surface films and high-rate oxidation of iron atoms in surface layer of tantalite and columbite, with transition of Fe(II) in Fe(III) and surface destruction of zircon, with formation of acid-vacant defects of the type of SiO₃^2-, SiO₂⁰ under influence of anolyte.

Monomineral and compound fractions, ore material and concentrates are used to study effect of basic processing factors on mineral separation. The key criteria are determined to choose a method of selective extraction of minerals and their species in various cycles of a process flow chart. Such key criteria include: degree of activating effect of copper minerals on other sulfides; multifunction role of iron compounds; medium pH values; combination and concentration of depressing ions of modifying reagents; ratios of selective collectors in their combinations; scientific principles of flow chart designing; principles of concentration and recovery of minerals in different processes of dressing.

The data of experimental research into mechanical properties of limestone, hornfels and sandstone cores after treatment by accelerated electrons show that the irradiation changes the strength and deformation characteristics of the tested rocks. In limestone and hornfels, uniaxial compression strength and elasticity modulus decrease, and ratio of P- and S- wave velocities changes; in sandstone, tension strength decreases, while uniaxial compression strength, P- and S-wave velocities and dynamic Young’s modulus grow. Modification of the minerals after accelerated electron irradiation opens ways of creating efficient energy-saving technologies for pre-treatment and processing of composite ore.

The research is aimed at revealing optimum physicochemical conditions for waste processing at coal-firing heat-power plants. The efficient technology has been developed for integrated extraction of amorphous silica, alumina, English red and other useful components.

The development of a new approach to a distributed information system for bio-diversity appraisal in mining regions, with the use of data storage technologies, cloud computing services and mental processing and analysis of multivariable data is in process. It is suggested to adhere to a cardinally new solution in such system engineering and to add the architecture of such system with NoSQL MongoDB and GeoNetwork components that essentially offload the geoinformation system when retrying special calculations and user requests.

The three-component polyurethane composition is developed to create impervious screens in rock mass by hydraulic fracturing technique. Formulas for working fluids and their injection charts are given. The article describes a lab test and the test data on polymer setting time versus activator concentration and on effect of the fluid composition on the permeability of a porous medium at the limited flow rate of reagent per unit area of the screen.