Subject. A systematization of Late-Paleozoic magmatic formations of the Magnitogorsk zone of the Southern Urals in the process of an accretion of the Magnitogorsk paleoarc to the margin of the East European continent (EEC) with formation in Famenian and Carboniferous active continent margin of South-Uralian accretionary-collisional belt was given in the work.
Materials and methods. A generalization of published and manuscript materials characterizing magmatism and ore-mineralization of Magnitogorsk zone for the Devonian-Carboniferous-Permian time carried out, additional investigations of chemical composition of rocks (XRF, ISP-MS) characterizing process of accretion, subduction and plume activity, microelement distribution in them was made, the composition of rock-forming and accessory minerals (EPMA) was studied.
Results. It is found that the South-Uralian accretionary-collisional belt was beginning to form in the late phase of the development of the Magnitogorsk island arc in the process its collision with EEC margin with formation in the Frasnian and Carboniferous of active continental margin. The products of Late-island-arc volcanism are represented by the porphyrite formation and in the eastern frame of the arc - by subalkaline monzonite-shoshonite-latite volcanic-intrusive association with intermediate characteristics between the subductional and interplate formations. Synchronously with them, in the backarc setting, picrite and meymechite volcanics − derivatives of a mantle plume are formed. In process of substitution of tectonic-magmatic regime from island-arc to margin-continental intraplate-type mantle series were forming. During this period, hot asthenospheric diapirs (plumes) were rising to the bottom of new-formed (accreted) margin-continental lithosphere. Along with the magmatic associations of intraplate type and rock series of intermediate geochemical type, this geodynamic situation in the Southern Urals is characterized by a presence of great volumes of mantle-crust granitoids of gabbro-tonalite-granodiorite-granite type, that were formed with a manifold manifestation of anatexis in a time interval of 365-290 Ma.
Conclusion. On the whole the originality of Magnitogorsk zone geological history in the Devonian and Carboniferous, peculiarities of magmatic complexes formed here due to various geodynamic settings, are making this zone an extraordinary interesting and important object to study of processes of plume-lithosheric and mantle-crust interaction.

Research subject. Anomalous sections present in the oil- and bituminous-bearing Bazhenov Formation (BF), in the central areas of the West Siberian basin, are considered to have emerged due to the injection of plastic pulp masses from the sedimentation slope into weakly lithified basal deposits. The aim of this research was to evaluate the as-emerged rocks by analyzing their composition and structure at the macro- and micro- levels.
Materials and methods. We investigated reference well sections in the Imilor deposit to elucidate the interaction of the rocks with sandy-clay landslide pulp, their volumetric weight, ductility or brittleness, caused by the presence or absence of a continuous mineral frame.
Results. According to core and well logging data, nine regional packs were distinguished in the BF stratotype. The maximal depth of the natural hydraulic fracturing of the rocks is explained by their high bulk density. The lateral movement of the main slump mass is found to have occured on the stratigraphic level of the first and second BF packs, since these layers possessed zero-buoyancy with regard to the injected pulp under their approximate equality in terms of bulk density. The traces of such active movements were revealed in rock samples from the walls of horizontal cracks in the form of clay intrusions having a thickness of about 0.1 mm and strict orientation of all micro-crystals along the walls and the flow. It is shown that inclusions of the rocks under investigation (bazhenits) in BF are generally characterized by their initial stratigraphic sequence, which is confirmed by the sequential disintegration of proto-bazhenit plates during the process of BF up-floating on a growing sedimentation slope. During the disintegration of the lithified and non-lithified layers of radiolarits, the former crumbled due to alternating loads, while the latter - mobile radiolarites - were represented by the hydraulic fracturing liquid, along with quicksand.
Conclusion. A detailed petrographic study of core samples from intact deposits of the Bazhenov and George Formations and their anomalous sections have allowed their layer-by-layer comparison to be confirmed the landslide hypothesis and to be derived the information on the degree of lithification of the BF strata during the formation of its anomalous sections.

Research subject. In this research, we set out to investigate polyhalite-containing rocks of the Southern Urals. The purpose of this study was to characterize the patterns of formation and transformation of polyhalite-containing rocks, as well as to identify conditions leading to their destruction.

Materials and methods. We studied available literature and archive materials on the southern Urals, as well as core samples. Samples for thin sections were taken from the core of polyhalite-containing rocks. The sections were manufactured (where possible) in 2 mutually perpendicular cuts relative to the axis of the monolithic core sample. Considering a high solubility of salt minerals (halite) and the possibility of converting other minerals in aqueous media (e.g., polyhalite into gypsum due to the leaching of K and Mg cations herefrom), thin sections were manufactured in anhydrous liquids (kerosene, transformer oil). In order to determine the mineralogical composition, as well as the structural and textural features of the polyhalite-containing rocks under study, a petrographic analysis of the thin sections was carried out optically using a Polam-213 microscope. Geological sections were built using Corel Draw 13. To this end, geophysical data (gamma-ray logging) and lithological composition were studied.

Results. It is found that pelitomorphic sulphate clusters transform into polyhalites followed by their further recrystallization into crystalline accretions. The diagenetic nature of this process is presumed. The location of polyhalite mineralization in the rocks under study confirms the effect of the basin bottom paleorelief on the intensity of polyhalite material accumulation. Conditions determining further destruction of these rocks were formed in local areas under the influence of various geological processes.

Conclusion. The results of our research can be used for predicting zones rich in polyhalites in the southern Cis-Urals.

Research subject. This article presents data on the nature of rock deformations in the Bazhenov suture zone. The data was obtained by 40Ar/39Ar dating of mica samples from schists and blastomylonites, which were collected acrossan area extending approximately for 100 km along the Bazhenov suture. This suture separates the Eastern zone of the Middle Urals dipped under the cover of the West Siberian plate from exposed geologic structures of the Urals.

Methods.The character of the deformations was studied by means of direct geological observation. The age of the deformations was determined by mica dating using the 40Ar/39Ar method.

Results. The deformations were found to have occurred in several phases. The initial phase, which led to the formation of a band of blastomylonites and rocks showing a varying degree of schistosity with a width of over 10 km in particular areas, is likely to have had the character of left-lateral fault. The upper age limit of this deformation phase is determined by the intrusion of the subalkaline rocks of the Petukhovskii complex (280 Ma), which had not been affected by any deformation processes. The subsequent type of deformations had been left-lateral strike-slip faults of submeridianal strike and subvertical dip, which were represented by low-thickness (usually about 10 cm, rarely up to 0.5 m) zones of intensely deformed rocks cutting the schistosity of the previous phase at an acute angle. The final phase of the deformations is shown to be a sloping fault. The dislocation planes of this type were represented by slickensides and chlorite incrustations. Despite the apparent polychronicity of the deformation processes, which were established within the Bazhenov suture zone by our geological observations, 40Ar/39Ar age dating identified only one event. The average value of five conducted tests was about 251 Ma. Apparently, this age should be associated with the most recent geological processes having occurred at temperatures sufficient to fully overload the K-Ar isotopic system of the studied rocks, such as the deformations caused by strike-slip dislocations.

Conclusions. The strike-slip fault dislocations dated in this work occurred approximately 25 Ma after the completion of the tectonic activity in the Serov-Mauk fault zone, which is located to the west of the Bazhenov zone. In addition, the time of these dislocations very nearly coincides with that of the formation of the grabens of meridional strike at the base of the West Siberian plate, which took place about 250 Ma ago. This supports apreviously made conclusionon the similar character of the geological development of the eastern border part of the Urals and the adjoining basement of the West Siberian plate. 

Research subject. This article presents the results of a study undertaken to investigate the systematics of rare-earth elements (REE), Y, Th, U and Mn in the Upper Devonian conodonts of the Western Ural region of the foreland fold of the Southern Urals (Askyn and Makarovo horizons, Kukkarauk, Ryauzyak and Lemezinsky sections).

Methods. The conodonts were isolated from carbonate rocks using the conventional method of their dissolution in organic acids, mainly formic acid. Sample preparation and mass spectrometric analysis were carried out in the class 1000 and 10 000 cleanroom facilities of the Zavaritsky Institute of Geology and Geochemistry. A PerkinElmer ELAN 9000 quadrupole ICP mass-spectrometer was used to determine the concentration of the trace elements under study. Sm and Nd isotope ratios were measured from a 3% nitric acid solution by a Thermo Fischer Neptune Plus multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometer. The long-term reproducibility and accuracy of the measurement procedure were evaluated using a standard Merck Nd solution based on the NIST Nd2O3 and yielded 143Nd/144Nd = 0.511720 ± 15 (1 SD, n = 40).

Results. The established features of PAAS-normalised lanthanide distributions in the conodont bulk samples (10.4–21.8 mg), Ce-anomalies, high REE values (173–1211 ppm) and a number of other parameters indicate the leading role of late diagenetic processes in the formation of conodont REE systematics. This is also evidenced by the Y/Ho values (≈26–32) specific for the studied conodont samples.

Conclusions. In general, the distribution of lanthanides in the conodonts suggests that this process was mainly controlled by a lithogenic (from 90 to more than 99%) REE source. The εNd (t) (–4.0…–2.8) values characteristic of the cono donts of the Askyn and Makarovo horizons suggest that their Nd isotopic composition was either formed under the influence of the open ocean (island arc basin), characterised by a significant share of radiogenic Nd, or due to the entry of radiogenic waters of the ocean into the shelf zone at the peak of the marine transgression that took place in the region under consideration in the Famennian. 

Research subject. This articles presents the data obtained in the course of 75 analytical studies on a wide range of minerals (amphiboles, pyroxenes, garnets, spinels, olivines, anorthites, corundums, epidotes, apatites, clinochlore, dolomite, calcite, zircon) contained in igneous and metamorphic Southern Urals rocks. In addition, information is provided about the content of trace elements, including rare earth (REE) ones, in these rocks. The data on the content of trace elements in some minerals are presented for the first time (höegbomite, sapphirine, zoisite, clinozoisite, gedrite, cummingtonite, anthophyllite, potassium-magnesiohastingsite).

Materials and methods. A petrographic analysis of rocks containing the minerals under study was carried out. A particular attention was paid to petrographic analysis of rocks containing the minerals under study was carried out. A particular attention was paid to “fresh” rocks, containing the mineral under study which rarely occur in the Urals. These rocks feature inclusions of serpentinite melange in the form of plates and lenses among the metamorphic strata (schists, gneisses, and amphibolites) and are characterized by the preservation of primary structures, relative chemical homogeneity, as well as the presence of simultaneous growth surfaces between most minerals. Of particular research interest were minerals from rocks, the composition of which had been relatively poorly studied (pyroxene-amphibole anorthite gabbro and gabbro-amphibolites, scapolite rocks, hornblendite, gedrite-cummingtonite-anthophyllitic crystallo-schists and amphibolites, ore-less carbonatites). The composition of mineral samples was determined using a scanning microscope REMMA-202 M equipped with an energy dispersive console and a mass-spectrometer Agilent 7700x (ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS methods).

Results. Petrographic characteristics of the rocks containing the minerals under study are given. The geographical coordinates of locations, where mineral sampling was performed, are provided. The content of trace elements is shown to vary greatly within related species of minerals (amphiboles, garnets, pyroxenes, olivines, epidotes, spinels, mica, etc.), with the fluctuations being independent of the alkalinity of host rocks or their geological nature.

Conclusions. For the first time, a significant role of zoisite and clinozoisite in the process of concentrating trace elements, including REE, has been revealed. The role of apatite as one of the main mineral concentrators of REE has not been confirmed either in the main and ultrabasic rocks, or in some calcite-dolomite carbonatites. 

Research subject. This paper reports the results of a series of experiments carried out to study the mineral and geoche mical features of 10 Chelyabinsk meteorite fragments. In addition, these fragments were analysed in terms of their chemical composition.

Materials and methods. The fragments under study were represented by light-grey granular rocks of the chondrite structure having either isometric or elongated shape. Their surface was largely covered with a black-brownish fusion crust with a thickness of approximately 1 mm. The petrogenic components of the meteorite and the content of rare elements were studied using the methods of chemical silicate analysis and ICP MS respectively. All measurements were carried out using an Agilent 7700x quadrupole mass spectrometer produced by the Agilent Technologies company. The composition of sulphides and metal particles was determined by electron probe microanalysis (PCMA) usinga JXA8200 microanalyzer (Jeol, Japan).

Results. The chondri and cementing matrix are found to be primarily composed of olivine and orthopyroxene. The inter-chondruli matrixis shown to consist of a pyroxene-olivine aggregate with inclusions of plagioclase, apatite, fused glass and ore minerals (tenite, kamasite, troilite, rarely pyrrhotine, pentlandite, single grains of chromite and ilmenite). The concentration of the majority of rare and ore elements in the Chelyabinsk meteorite samples is established to be close to their average values for LL-chondrite. When normalizing to coaly chondrite, the substance of the meteorite fragments and the average LL-chondrite were closest to coaly chondrite in terms of the content of siderophile elements (Mo, Ni, Cr, Co, V and Cu). At the same time, the studied meteorite fragments are shown to contain a significantly lower (nearly by one order) concentration of chalcophyle elements (Zn, Pb and Sn) with regard to С1.

Conclusion. A comparison of the obtained and published analytical data (ICP MS) has allowed us to make a conclusion on the geochemical heterogeneity of different meteorite remainst hat were scattered over a wide area of the Chelyabinsk Region. The acquired evidence suggests the differentiation of meteorite substance at early stages of the formation of terrestrial planets, which is likely to have occurred due to impact processes. 

Research subject. The Novo-Akhmirovskoe lithium-bearing deposit in the East Kazakhstan region, which is represented by an intrusive layer of topaz-zinnwaldite granites, is located within of the Kalba-Narym-Koktogai lithium-tantalum raremetal-granite belt. Being part of the Altai collision system, this belt is considered unique in terms of its length (more than 1000 km). Ores in the Novo-Akhmirovskoe deposit are represented by massive to low porphyry leucocratic granites composed of quartz (30–40%), albite (25–40%), microcline (15–35%), lithium mica varying in composition from zinnwal dite to lepidolite (up to 10%) and topaz (up to 5%). According preliminary estimates, the Novo-Akhmirov deposit is factually a poor lithium deposit with the Li2O content of 0.2–0.4 wt % and the estimated Li2O reserves of 110 thousand tones. Despite the favourable infrastructure and close proximity of this stock to Ust-Kamenogorsk mining and chemical-metallurgical enterprises, its ore-generating potential has not been sufficiently studied.

Materials and Methods. In this research, we obtained new data on the geological structure, age, mineral composition and formation conditions of topaz-zinnwaldite granites in the Novo-Akhmirovskoe deposit. In addition, a comparative analysis of these ores with the topaz-biotite granites of the Black Sopka massif (0.6–0.7 wt % Li2O in protolitionite) and spodumene granite porphyries of the Alakha stock (Li2O = 0.9–1.1 wt %) was conducted.

Results and Discussion. It is concluded that the development of this unique nonpegmatite lithium-bearing deposit requires deep exploratory drilling, mineralogical and technological research of core samples and reconsideration of economic efficiency parameters. 

Research subject. In this work, we investigated the crystals of pyrite, one of the key gold-bearing minerals, from the Berezovskoe (the Middle Urals) deposit using modern research approaches.

Materials and methods. Samples for the analysis were collected from the ladder sulphide-quartz veins and related berezites in the Ilinskaya, Pervopavlovsk and Vtoropavlovsk dykes of the Berezovskoe deposit. The ores were studied using the methods of optical microscopy, X-ray microanalysis (PCMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and LA-ICP-MS. The latter method was largely used to examine pyrite. Along with pyrite, the materials under study included faded ore, galena, and such rare occurring minerals as aikinite, cosalite, tetradymite and tsumoite.

Results. According to the point and profile analysis, as well as grain mapping, the main impurity elements in the stu died samples are found to be Co, Ni and As. The distribution of these elements has shown a zonal character: the amounts of Co and Ni tend to increase and that of As tends to decrease towards the grain centre. In the pyrite samples, Cu, Zn and Pb occur either in the form of their sulphide micro-inclusions or as evenly distributed admixtures. The pyritic ore of later genera tions in the Pervopavlovsk dyke is established to contain gold in amounts of up to 22 g/t, with Au being zonally distributed. The goldbearing variety of pyrite is characterized by abnormally low contents of Co and Ni, as well as by an increased content of As (up to 8000 g/t).

Conclusion. A common character of the distribution of main impurity elements in the pyritic ores in the studied dikes indicates similar conditions of their crystallization. The presence of late-generation pyrite with fine gold in the Pervopavlovsk dike evidences to a heterogeneous distribution of gold mineralization therein, likely due to the multistage character of the latter. This may also be an indicator of the concentration of ore columns, which fact requires further elucidation.