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New data on the mineral composition and the first data on the geochemical composition of ores of the Rogovik gold-silver deposit (Omsukchan ore district, northeastern Russia) have been obtained. Study of the regularities of the spatial distribution of ore mineralization shows that the deposit ores formed in two stages. Epithermal Au-Ag ores of typical poor mineral and elemental compositions were generated at the early volcanic stage. The major minerals are low-fineness native gold, electrum, acanthite, silver sulfosalts, kustelite, and pyrite. The typomorphic elemental composition of ores is as follows: Au, Ag, Sb, As, Se, and Hg. The content of S is low, mostly ≤1%. Silver ores of more complex mineral and elemental compositions were produced under the impact of granitoid intrusion at the late volcanoplutonic stage. The major minerals are high-Hg kustelite and native silver, silver sulfosalts and selenides, fahlore, pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite. The typomorphic elemental composition of ores is as follows: Ag, As, Sb, Se, Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu, and B. The content of S is much higher than 1%. The ores also have elevated contents of Mo, Ge, F, and LREE (La, Ce, and Nd). At the volcanoplutonic stage, polychronous Au-Ag ores formed at the sites of the coexistence of silver and epithermal gold-silver mineralization. Their specific feature is a multicomponent composition and a strong variability in chemical composition (both qualitative and quantitative). Along with the above minerals, the ores contain high-Hg gold, hessite, argyrodite, canfieldite, orthite, fluorapatite, and arsenopyrite. At the sites with strongly rejuvenated rocks, the ores are strongly enriched in Au, Ag, Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ge, Se, La, Ce, Nd, S, and F and also contain Te and Bi. The hypothesis is put forward that the late silver ores belong to the Ag-complex-metal association widespread in the Omsukchan ore district. A close relationship between the ores of different types and their zonal spatial distribution have been established. In the central part of the Rogovik deposit, epithermal Au-Ag ores are widespread in the upper horizons, Ag ores are localized in the middle horizons, and rejuvenated polyassociation Au-Ag ores occur at the sites (mostly deep-seated) with ore-bearing structures of different ages.

We studied the mineralogic and geochemical features of metasomatic rocks and ores from the Pogromnoe gold deposit, which is unconventional for Transbaikalia. The deposit, which formed in the Early Cretaceous, at the rifting stage of the regional evolution, is localized in the dynamoclastic strata of the Mongol-Okhotsk suture, along which the Siberian continent joined the Mongolia-China continent in the Early-Middle Jurassic. Gold mineralization occurs as two morphologic types of ores: stockwork quartz-carbonate-arsenopyrite-pyrite ores in altered volcanics (orebody 1) and veinlet-vein quartz ones (with disseminated sulfides) in altered carbonaceous shales (orebody 10). The host rocks of the deposit are the highly altered volcanosedimentary rocks of the Butorovskii Formation (Shadoron Group, J _2-3), which transformed into metasomatic (by composition) and dynamoclastic (by texture and structure) rocks. It has been found that the formation of the metasomatic rocks and mineralization proceeded in several stages. Propylites formed at the preore stage (J ₃); tectonic schists and albitophyres, at the late preore stage; and sericitolites and albite-carbonate-sericite-quartz metasomatic rocks (quartzites), at the synore stage. The ⁴⁰Ar/ ³⁹Ar age of the stockwork system of ore-bearing fractures and metasomatic rocks which formed at the late preore stage is estimated as 139.5 ± 1.8 Ma. The gold-bearing rocks at the deposit are the late preore and synore metasomatic rocks formed after volcanics with sulfide mineralization (gold concentrators are pyrite II and III and arsenopyrite I and II) and after altered carbonaceous shales (gold concentrators are vein quartz and arsenopyrite II). Gold grade is completely consistent with silicification, saturation with quartz-sulfide and sulfide microveinlets, and fine sulfide dissemination. By genesis, the Pogromnoe deposit belongs to objects which formed in shear zones with the contribution of gold-bearing mantle fluids. The authors presume that the sources of mineralization are the ore-producing granitoids of the Amudzhikan-Sretensk intrusive assemblage within the Aprelkovo ore-magmatic system (OMS) (Os’kina and Urguchan plutons). This is confirmed by Pb isotope compositions ( ²⁰⁷Pb/ ²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁶Pb/ ²⁰⁴Pb) for the pyrite and arsenopyrite of the Pogromnoe gold-bearing ores, which testify to the widespread occurrence of “mantle” Pb isotope signatures. The ⁴⁰Ar/ ³⁹Ar age of the ore-producing granitoids of the Aprelkovo OMS is 131.0 ± 1.2 Ma. Gold in the orebodies occurs in native form and is fine and very fine. By gold grade, the Pogromnoe deposit deserves very close attention as a new commercial type of gold mineralization in Transbaikalia.

The article analyzes correlation between the main types of social mobility of the Siberian peasantry in the 1920s. The article’s problem field deals with determining basic trends and results of social changes the country underwent under NEP conditions. This issue caused much controversy amongst the Russian and foreign researchers of the Soviet history. In the course of the research the author applied comparative-historical and statistical methods. The analysis is based on the theoretical and methodological framework of contemporary peasant studies. Identification of stages in dynamics of vertical and horizontal social mobility of Siberian peasantry along with description of their specifics during the given period have become the major outcomes of the research. The early 1920s were marked by the ascending trend of the Siberian peasantry’s vertical mobility owing to other groups of rural population and returning migrants from the urban settlements. In mid 1920s the peasant migration into towns (including the push-pull migration) resumed and increased. The share of other strata of rural community (handicraftsmen, public servants, intellectuals, workers) also increased owing to the influx of peasants. At the end of the decade rural-urban migrations increased sharply. The number of collective and state farmers, other workers of state enterprises rose sharply. At the same time increment of persons employed in handicraft industry slowed down. In 1920-1922 the main trend in peasantry horizontal mobility was transition to the less wealthy groups (“obednyachivanie”). In 1923-1927 social mobility again demonstrated an upward trend when the share of the middle class rose significantly at the expense of the poor. A comparison of the Siberian peasantry’s social structure in 1920 and 1927 shows that the NEP village of the mid-1920s was characterized not by the growing numbers of “middle” peasants (serednyaks), but by the “leveling” of peasants on the lower social layer. At the end of the decade the vector of social dynamics changed again. The share of the mid-sized farms grew while that of the wealthy ones fell.

The article considers the historical experience of transportation consumer cooperatives established on the Siberian railways. During the pre-revolutionary period there were both independent railway co-operative societies and those that were dependent on the State. During the period of «military communism» when market relations were restricted the consumer societies shifted from trade to distribution. Shares, dividends, voluntary membership reappeared in the co-operative practice only under the New Economic Policy (NEP). NEP’s positive momentum resulted in the increased business activity indicators of transportation consumer societies. Industrialization and collectivization in the 1920s-1930s led to sharp deterioration of the conditions of trade. The growth of turnover and profits slowed down, efficiency and quality of service decreased. The crisis was exacerbated by the declining state funding and goods flow after a number of reorganizations. In 1931 transportation cooperation turned into a network of «closed distributors» with rationing for its employees. In 1933 its functions and property were transferred to «departments of workers supply» at enterprises. Centralized distribution of funds, rigorous State and party control and financial dependence deprived the co-operation of independent status and determined its organizational absorption by the state trade. Theoretical ideas about inferiority of co-operative form of ownership as opposed to the state-public socialist property, as well as objective difficulties associated with far-flung network of sales outlets, some of which were loss-making, also played a significant role.

A problem of changing quantitative indices of infant mortality aroused interest among the officials of the People’s Commissariat of Health right after World War II. Several reports were devoted to this issue at the medical-sanitary conference in 1946. Its participants represented not only the central health-care agencies but also the regional bodies. In the course of the discussions they noted the effectiveness of health measures undertaken during the war. In response to such optimistic reports of his colleagues N. A. Semashko urged to pay attention to active migrations that took place within the region during the war. Modern views on this issue remain heterogeneous, there does not exist any one single concept. The author studies various approaches to interpreting changes of quantitative indices of infant mortality in wartime and reveals dominant viewpoints in research literature at different stages of formation of demographical knowledge about the Great Patriotic War. The paper shows factors that influenced decrease in infant mortality during the war based on a complex of statistical and narrative sources. The author studied indicators of monthly dynamics of postnatal mortality in 1941-19454; investigated causations of infant mortality for males and females in the age groups 0-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years; investigated specifics of interaction between the local health authorities and regional statistical agency concerning the problem of infant mortality and children’s health protection. The article reflects a peculiar attitude of the People’s Commissariat of Health towards a problem of rapid increase in infant mortality. The author substantiates an assumption that the reduction of infant mortality influenced the birth rate in the region.

The article presents data on 1,114 fighter pilots of the Soviet Air Forces compiled and systematized in the reference book «Aces of the Great Patriotic War» by M.Yu. Bykov. The paper «The Most Successful Ace Pilots in 1941-1945» (2007) analyzes the elite group of ace pilots in terms of their age, military ranks, time of their participation in combat operations, a number of downed Nazi aircrafts, government awards. The author defines types of Soviet fighters as well as aircrafts supplied under Lend-Lease by the allies on the anti-Hitler coalition. All ace pilots mentioned in the reference book were born in the early XX century and during the war were younger than 40 years old. Their contribution to the air space conquest was 23,974 (individually) and 3,315 (collectively) shot down enemy planes, in total 27,289 combat vehicles (24.5 by each ace pilot), or 48% of the hostile aircrafts downed at the Soviet-German front. 579 of 1,114 aces were honored with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, while 58 of them (every tenth) were awarded posthumously. Irretrievable losses in the group under study totaled 243 men (29 %) or about one third. At the beginning of the war the Soviet pilots flew I-15bis, I-16, I-153, MiG-3, LaGG-3 fighters. Since the summer of 1942 they had been replaced by Yak (Yak-1, -7, -9, -3) and La-5, 7 modifications. Domestic production provided the material basis for conquering air superiority by the Soviet Air Force. Only a small part (2 %) of fighters used by Soviet aces in the aircraft fleet was supplied under Lend-Lease.

The purpose of this article is to identify main factors that influenced the development and implementation of the idea of Siberian rear during the Cold War. The research is focused on the events of 1945-1946, when the Siberian region having undergone conversion took the path of industrial development and formation of new branches of industry including establishment of defense enterprises. During this period the idea of the Siberian rear in the state policy was connected with the necessity to create a strong economic potential of the USSR in the regions rich in natural resources and located in the central part of the country. In this regard, the level of industrial development achieved at the earlier stage of development was considered as a prerequisite for creating new industries of the USSR military-industrial complex including strategic nuclear arms. In the article’s problem field the Siberian rear during the Cold War is analyzed as an objective reality, which existed in the context of global geopolitical development and changing perception of wars as a means of resolving international conflicts and establishing a world order. The role of Siberian rear in providing the national sovereignty and state security after the World War II not only remained undiminished but even increased under conditions of permanent confrontation with the USA and West European states. During the Cold War both enterprises of the USSR military-industrial complex and large-scale scientific and industrial centers, greatly contributing to the country defense potential, were created in Siberia. The author comes to conclusions that Soviet experience of the Siberian region’s industrial modernization contributed significantly to civilizational development of the Russian state and retaining its sovereignty in the XX century.

Since the 1960s the process of urbanization in the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) has evolved from the extensive to the intensive phase. Distinctive features of the intensive phase included declining population growth rates, decreasing share of the urban population; lower scale of migrations from the rural settlements along with the increased inter-city migration. The number of administrative transformations reduced while urban population increased mainly in the largest cities. In this regard, it is relevant to study the intensive phase of demographic development of West Siberian cities within the framework of the urbanization transition theory. The objective of the paper is to reveal specific features of the demographic development of West Siberian population under conditions when social and political cataclysms were a thing of the past. In order to achieve this goal the following tasks are to be solved: to study West Siberian urban population dynamics; to analyze how migrations and natural increase affected its quantitative composition; to reveal the role of various settlements in formation of the urban settlements network. Materials of the All-Union Census and current population statistics were used as a source base. The study represents one of the first attempts to analyze West Siberian urban population dynamics in the context of Russian demographic processes applying historical-statistical and economical-geographical methods. As a result, it was concluded that in Western Siberia transition to the intensive phase of urbanization was characterized by the wave-like drop in urban population growth; considerable increase of population growth (in absolute indices) in large cities; the role of extensive factors remained significant due to the growing number and share mid-sized urban settlements.

It is impossible to study the history of Russian customs service in the XVII century without researching structure of customs administration. The low-level customs authorities rarely attract attention of historians. Most of them, cited in the article, discuss the issues related to the activity of ‘customs chambers’ (‘tamozhennye izby’). Therefore it seems interesting to highlight powers of commandants of the Selenginsky fort as low-level customs officials. Russian colonization of southern Buryatia immediately encountered serious difficulties. Russian people complained about poor conditions for agriculture. Arable lands were first plowed relatively late. Authorities tried to solve these problems by sending a variety of supplies to the fort. Warlike neighbors were another major problem that hampered the Russian colonization of Transbaikalia. The military tension affected administrative reforms, which resulted in creation of the independent Irkutsky “uyezd” including the Selenginsky fort. Despite their tense political relations since the 1670s the trade between Muscovy and China had experienced a surge, as satisfaction of some important Chinese needs brought tangible profits to the Russian merchants. The Fort on the Selenga River was founded on September 27, 1665. Commandants worked hard to strengthen the fort, so the town of. Selenginsk eventually became an important point of caravan trade with China. An official document confirming the existence of territorial authority of Russian customs service in Selenginsk Fort is ‘nakaznaya pamiat’ (Customs Charter) issued by the Irkutsk voivode I.A.Vlasov. It made a boyar’s son’ (officer, nobleman) Ivan Perfirev a newly appointed commandant of Selenginsky fort. In conclusion it is noted that 1) the fort Commandants could serve as the lower level customs officials; 2) it is established that Selenginsky Fort Commandant had had such powers since at least 1671; 3) the exact date of the first charter to the commandant of Selenginsky fort remains unidentified; 4) it is determined that the commandant of Selenginsky fort, perhaps in 1667-1681, served as a low level customs post of the Yeniseisk customs chamber; 5) in April 1681 he was brought under the responsibility of the newly appointed customs head in Irkutsk.

The article analyzes the Siberian merchants’ contribution into the establishment and development of archeology in Siberia; characterizes the state of archeological studies in the region during the given period. The presented data allow to confirm that the development of archeological research in the XIX - early XX centuries was mostly determined by the activities of individuals interested in the history of the region. Local studies were to some extent guided and coordinated by the activities of various scientific societies as well as by the regional museums established in the second half of the XIX century. However, the private initiative remained to be the most important factor in studying, popularization and preservation of the historical heritage of Siberia. The authors describe the merchants’ participation in formation of the unique archeological collections, many of which later were included to the fonds of both local and the largest and most famous museums in Moscow and St Petersburg. It is concluded that merchants played an outstanding role in the development of Siberian archeology. Thanks to the efforts of broad educated entrepreneurs many unique artifacts found on the territory of Siberia were preserved for science and included in the local and metropolitan museum collections. In the second half of the XIX century the Siberian archeology advanced to a qualitatively new level owing to the merchants who provided funding for the expeditions; due to publication of books of well known scientists and to the activities of regional museums and scientific societies. Special attention is paid to such bright representatives of Siberian merchantry who became known in the field of archeological investigations as Efim I. Malakhov, Mikhail G. Shevelev, Innokentiy P. Kuznetzov-Krasnoyarskiy, as well as to the descendants from this social group, who became professional scientists - Ivan T. Savenkov, Innokentiy A. Lopatin, Nikolaj M. Yadrintzev.