Vol 74, No 3 (2019)

The history of the formation of multi-level geological education at Moscow State University is presented. The features of independently established educational standards and curricula at the Department of Geology of Moscow State University are considered. The difficulties encountered in the formation of the structure of educational standards, curriculum development, and transition to the system of credits are analyzed. Questions of the formation of the structure of the educational process in Master’s studies based on the Master’s programs rather than on the profile of training, as in a Bachelor’s program are raised.

Faults in Quaternary deposits that were established during field investigations indicate that seismic events with magnitude of at least 5 occurred in the Northern Ladoga region in recent time. Computer modeling data showed that the modern seismicity of this territory is associated with neotectonic activation of the Precambrian faults under the conditions of NW-directed compression. Topographic analysis allowed us to distinguish faults that confine the Ladoga Lake basin and belong to active neotectonic structures.

Based on a detailed integrated petromagnetic, lithological, and micropaleontological study of the Mikhailovtsement reference section of the Moscow syneclise (Ryazan Region), the fluctuations in the Middle Russian Sea level in the Callovian–Early Oxfordian were reconstructed. According to the variations of petromagnetic parameters through the section, seven petromagnetic intervals corresponding to different stages of the paleobasin evolution were established. These stages are correlated with sea level fluctuations established on the basis of changes in the rock lithology and the ostracod complexes. In general, the character of sea level change in the Callovian–Oxfordian that was revealed during the study of the Mikhailovtsement section is in agreement with the global trends.

The Bazhenov formation is one of the most famous and promising shale formations in Russia. The ambiguity of the ideas about its geological features, which is caused by the complex and heterogeneous structure of the stratum, has been noted many researchers. In this work, the Bazhenov Formation is united with its stratigraphic analogues as the Bazhenov high-carbon formation (BHCF). The main characteristics of its integration and distribution over the area, as well as the geological structure are considered. As an unconventional hydrocarbon reservoir, the BHCF has properties of an oil-source rock, one of the main characteristics of which is organic matter, that is, its type and maturity. The results of studying the organic matter by different methods at the microlevel, as well as their integration with larger-scale studies, are presented. The need for detailed consideration of organic matter in the BHCF is justified by the fact that it has a mixed composition and, as a consequence, a different maturity and spatial distribution in a rock.

Testing of modern innovative field methods of engineering geocryological research, master classes by leading specialists of engineering geocryological surveys, and verification of the measurement equipment for thermal field ground massif research were carried out during the Zvenigorod Winter Educational Scientific Geocryological Field Practice for the fourth-year students and the Day of Science and Innovation at the Zvenigorod Biological Station of Moscow State University. The necessity for integration of innovative methods has been shown.

This article describes a method for calculation of the parameters of a point source from the gravity field measured on a sphere. Conclusions about the conditions for the practical application of the method developed are drawn on the basis of a comparison of the results of spherical source coordinates and mass estimation by a field given on a plane and on a sphere.

This work presents the results of a detailed petrological study of olivine gabbro transformed to a different extent during the eclogite facies metamorphism. The textural features of cumulate crystallization in the rock at the magmatic stage are presented. Due to the significant transformations during eclogite facies metamorphism plagioclases were replaced by a fine-grained aggregate of high-pressure mineral paragenesis. Corona textures are developed along the boundaries of plagioclase (felsic) domains at the contacts with (Fe, Mg)-minerals during eclogite facies events. Mineral thermobarometry and phase equilibrium modeling provide P–T metamorphic conditions in relatively narrow temperature and pressure ranges: T = 680 ± 60°C and Р = 2.2 ± 0.4 GPa. This is in a good agreement with the previously established formation conditions of eclogites and garnet–amphibole peridotite from the same complex.