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Data on geophysical fields and petrophysical heterogeneity, parageneses and the thermodynamic conditions and age of their formation, and fluid inclusions were used for the genetic reconstruction of petrophysical zoning at the Blagodatnoe gold-sulfide deposit. Petrophysical associations of the pre-ore and ore stages of the deposit formation are clearly reflected in anomalies of the magnetic and natural electric fields and the aureoles of radioactive elements. At the early pre-ore stage (752 Ma), reduced solutions with high activity of K, enriched in U, Th, and, probably, Au, were supplied to intensely foliated tectonic zones. Their interaction with initial metasedimentary rocks gave rise to contiguous zones of quartz-muscovite and chlorite metasomatic rocks. Accompanying graphitization led to a high electrochemical activity of the metasomatic rocks, which generated anomalies of up to -300 mV in the natural electric field; the most intensely carbonized zones became enriched with U (up to 6.5·10^–4%) and, probably, Au. The quartz-muscovite metasomatic rocks accumulated Th and K (up to 29·10^–4% and 4%, respectively), whereas the chlorite metasomatic rocks accumulated rock-forming elements (particularly Fe), which led to the compaction of these rocks and the acceleration due to gravity in local positive anomalies. The nonmagnetic character of the fresh pre-ore metasomatic rocks suggests the predominantly pyritic composition of early sulfides. At the ore stage (698 Ma), the minerals were deposited from H₂O–CO₂–As–S solutions at 560 to 315 ºC. The activity of these solutions caused a redistribution of radioactive elements and a high petrophysical differentiation of the ore-bearing structure. The amplitudes of the anomalies above this structure vary from 500 to 80 nT in the magnetic field and from –130 to +10 mV in the natural electric field. It has been found that the hydrothermal fluid hardly affected the polarization properties of graphitized rocks at the maximum temperatures but caused an intense removal of U and the development of magnetic pyrrhotite after pyrite. The temperature decrease in the mineral-forming system was favorable for the formation of siderite. Carbonaceous schists subjected to carbonatization lost their electrochemical activity. The binding of carbon dioxide in the solid phase influenced the migration capacity of trace elements and their zonal distribution. With this evolution of the solution, Th accumulated at the lower levels of the mineralized zone, whereas the upper levels of the deposit became enriched with U. Productive gold–arsenopyrite–pyrite–pyrrhotite paragenesis with anomalous magnetic susceptibility evolved at the ore stage. The late galena–sphalerite–chalcopyrite paragenesis (365 Ma) was of strictly local occurrence and reduced the magnetic susceptibility of ores.

The effect the metal casing of a vertical borehole may exert on transient electromagnetic (TEM) responses has been studied in a field experiment. Eddy currents in the casing affect transients only slightly at early times, but the casing effect predominates at late times. Therefore, early-time TEM response measured near a borehole can provide information on shallow subsurface. The late-time TEM signals induced by the eddy currents in the casing show exponential behavior b·exp(–t/τ). The time constant τ refers to the rate of eddy current decay in the casing; the amplitude b is M₁₂· M₂₃ · L^–1 · τ^–1, where L is the casing self-inductance, and M₁₂ and M₂₃ are the mutual inductances between the transmitter loop and the borehole and between the borehole and the receiver, respectively. Both M₁₂ and M₂₃ are controllable, while M₂₃ is especially important for survey applications: by reducing it, one can reduce the casing effect on the TEM data.

Much experience has been gained lately in the use of a radial current source, the so-called circular electric dipole (CED), as a transmitter in transient electromagnetic (TEM) surveys. CED is a source of alternating transverse magnetic (TM) polarized field, a surface analog of a vertical electrical line in VES. In the course of two recent decades, the method has been developed theoretically and tested through the field practice. The respective published results are expected to provide an idea of TEM soundings with the optional use of either TE or TM mode. In this paper we report some new theoretical aspects and share our field experience of surveys with an CED system.

We consider data of study of the parameters of magnetoacoustic emission performed on pyrrhotite from magnetite and pyrite ores from the deposits of the Urals. It is shown that the difference in signals is mainly due to different types of domain structure which forms during the crystallization of pyrrhotite as pinacoids or prisms. Five types of pyrrhotite are recognized depending on the parameters of magnetoacoustic emission. This information can be used as typomorphic features of pyrrhotite of different geneses.

In the autumn of 2010, contrasting dispersion aureoles of atomic mercury were revealed in the northern Sea of Japan, in the vicinity of the Vityaz’ and Alpatov Rises. Based on the elimination method, the assumption is made that the aureoles resulted from the supply of mercury from hydrothermal or water-gas bottom sources through the sea water column, either in gas bubbles or as a result of diffusion and turbulent mixing. It is inferred that gas-mercury measurements can be used in geological research in sea water areas.

We present results of a two-year research experiment on the processes involving iron-manganese bacteria at different biogeochemical barriers. Analysis of experimental samples was carried out on a scanning electron microscope (EVO-40HV, Carl Zeiss) and an X-ray diffractometer (Rigaku MiniFlexII). It is shown that goethite can form in vitro in the presence of iron-containing groundwater and iron-manganese bacteria.

A suite of mantle peridotites sampled in the Kamchatsky Mys includes spinel lherzolite, clinopyroxene-bearing harzburgite, and harzburgite. Mineral chemistry of olivine, chromian spinel, and clinopyroxene show strongly correlated element patterns typical of peridotite formed by 8% to more than 22% partial melting. Clinopyroxene in the Kamchatka peridotites is compositionally different from that of both abyssal and suprasubduction varieties: Clinopyroxene in lherzolite is depleted in LREE relative to abyssal peridotite and that in harzburgite has very low LREE and Sr unlike the subduction-related counterpart. These composition features indicate that the rocks ultra-depleted in basaltic components originated in the vicinity of a hotspot, possibly, proto-Hawaiian plume, which provided high temperature and melting degree of the MORB source mantle at mid-ocean ridge.

The contents of biogenic components in 1511 samples of the Baltic Sea sediments (depth range 0-5 cm) are studied, and maps of their distribution are compiled. The sediments contain ≤13.03 % Corg, ≤1.33 % N, ≤ 9.0 % SiO2 am, ≤5.0 % CaCO3, and ≤1.45 % P. The maximum and elevated contents of components are found in the mud of the sea deeps. The more fraction <0.01 mm the sediments contain, the higher are the contents of components. Four facies types of carbonaceous mud, precursors of shales, have been recognized: (1) shallow-water (lagoon) lime sapropel, (2) carbonaceous mud of the shallow-water Gulf of Finland, (3) carbonaceous mud of the middle-depth Baltic Sea, and (4) laminated carbonaceous metal-bearing mud. The latter type of mud is strongly enriched in manganese and ore-forming trace elements, which points to its formation in the stagnant environment. In composition the Baltic Sea mud is similar to petroliferous mudstones of the Bazhenov Formation in West Siberia and to ancient black shales.

The paper describes Lower Jurassic (horizons J ₁₆ and J ₁₅) and Achimovka (Neocomian clinoforms) reservoirs in the area of the Nyurol’ka megadepression and its framing (42,000 km ²). The total thicknesses of seven Achimovka sedimentary cycles are mapped. The thermal history of the Togur and Bazhenov parental sediments in the sections of 39 deep wells is reconstructed by paleotemperature modeling. The geotemperature criterion is used to identify paleosources of oil generation, starting from the Jurassic. The distribution of the relative density of the resources of the generated Togur and Bazhenov oils is estimated and shown on sketch maps. The Lower Jurassic reservoir is divided into zones depending on the distribution of the relative density of the Togur oil resources, and the Achimovka reservoir, of the Bazhenov oil resources. The top-priority oil search zones are proposed.

We present new data on the structure of deep horizons of the sedimentary cover of the South Kara syneclise, based on an integrated interpretation of data from modern seismic prospecting and data on the geologic structure of the adjacent folded areas. A network of seismic base profiles reprocessed with up-to-date programs is used to determine the structure of the wave fields of the pre-Jurassic sediments of the South Kara syneclise. The interpretation of the wave fields with the use of the network of seismic base profiles shows that the wave fields of the Pai-Khoi-Novaya Zemlya monoclise and the Novaya Zemlya-Taimyr terrace are fundamentally different from those of the South Kara central area of basins and uplifts. We substantiate a new structural and tectonic zonation of the northern West Siberian Plate, with areas of Hercynian and Early Cimmerian consolidation. The geologic evolution of the South Kara syneclise and adjacent areas in the Late Paleozoic-Early Jurassic is considered. The studies show that the Hercynides of the northern Taimyr Peninsula occupy the deepest central part of the South Kara syneclise, including the North Siberian step. They are separated from the coeval sediments of the surface part of the northern West Siberian Plate by the Early Cimmerian folding of the Yamal-Pai-Khoi saddle, which joins the Early Cimmerian West Taimyr folded area to the Early Cimmerides of Pai-Khoi and Novaya Zemlya. The Permo-Triassic rifts distinguished in central West Siberia have no shelf extension. Areal structural studies along the surface of the acoustic basement and analysis of wave fields showed that the structures of the South Kara syneclise were semiconcentric and concentric intermontane basins and troughs in the Permian and Lower-Middle Triassic. They formed at the orogenic stage of evolution of the Hercynides. In the Devonian-Carboniferous, the South Kara syneclise was an intracontinental block structure. It is presumed that elevated blocks consist of carbonate sediments, whereas the separating troughs consist of bathyal terrigenous sediments. The Hercynian folding, which affected mainly deep-water sediments, was followed by an inversion of the troughs, their uplifting and disintegration. The intermontane basins which formed instead of carbonate shelf in the Permian were filled with sediments from the uplifts which formed instead of the troughs. A well-grounded conclusion is made about the hydrocarbon potential of the pre-Jurassic basement of the South Kara syneclise. The layered seismic record of the pre-Jurassic sediments suggests their heterogeneous composition, i.e., the presence of sand and clay series (reservoirs and caps). The pools might be of the arch-bedded and lithologic (traps which formed in the case of the toplap of beds onto the eroded surface) types or be localized along the line of pinching-out of the Triassic sediments. The largest number of Paleozoic structures is concentrated on the Rogozinskii and Vilkitsky arches, in the Monskaya and Matusevich saddles, and in the northern Rusanov-Skuratov arch.