In this article, we propose a way to replace test pits in the exploration of placer deposits of the cryolithozone. The idea is to take an additional volume of samples from a pre-drilled exploration well by expanding its trunk in a given interval using a specially designed and patented device for local expansion of the borehole section (Patent for Invention No. 2792482 dated November 15, 2022). Thus, by using a drilling expander, it is possible to obtain an additional volume of samples from the well, while the well expansion is performed only in a certain area of the well. If the diameter of the well expansion is 1300 mm or more, then using an expander will allow extracting from a given well interval the same volume of samples that is obtained during the construction of a test pit. This method will make it possible to replace construction of a test pit in the exploration of placer deposits of the cryolithozone, which are characterized by a high proportion of manual labor and require significant financial resources and time.

The article considers the features of the petrographic and geochemical compositions of the Mesozoic igneous rocks of the Polovinkinskaya depression from earth bores K1, K2, K3, located within the central part of the Aldan-Stanovoy shield, on the boundary of the Tynda and Nimnyr terranes within the Amginskaya zone of tectonic mélange. Based on the relationship of rocks, as well as on the features of the petrographic composition, the following sequence of introduction and formation is assumed: 1) gabbro; 2) hornblende-augite andesites. This is confirmed by the values and variations of the petrochemical composition. According to the petrochemical and geochemical characteristics, gabbros are close to the tholeiitic series. Andesites belong to the calc-alkaline petrochemical series, latites of the shoshonite type. The presence of such rocks as gabbro and andesites is typical for mature island arcs and active continental margins, which does not contradict the existing ideas of predecessors. Similar in geological structure objects are gold-producing gabbro-tonalite-granodiorite-granite (GTGG) massifs of the Urals, which are supra-subduction formations on the active continental margin of the Andean type. The presence of rocks of the GTGG formation within the Polovinkinskaya depression serves as a favorable factor for noble-metal ore-generating processes.

As a result of a thorough analysis of geophysics data and deep drilling, it was established that the most likely zones for the discovery of new oil and gas reserves are localized in the north and center of the Pre-Verkhoyansk trough, as well as in the southeastern part of the Siberian platform along the Aldan-Maya trough. The high content of hydrocarbons in the formation waters of productive layers indicates large-scale processes of gas formation and active vertical and horizontal migration, which contributes to the creation of a favorable environment for the formation of free gas. Particular attention is drawn to deposits in Jurassic deposits, formed due to the secondary capture of gas flows during intense vertical and inter-reservoir movement. The key reservoirs for future discoveries are the sandy-clayey Permian deposits under the clayey strata of the Lower Triassic Nedzhelin Formation. Most proven gas reserves are associated with large, high-amputation swell-like uplifts. Modern geological structures and the hydrodynamic potential of the region determine optimal conditions for the migration of hydrocarbons. It is proposed to designate the Kitchanskaya, Yakutskaya and Munskaya zones of expected oil and gas accumulation as priority objects in the central part of the Pre-Verkhoyansk trough and adjacent territories of the Vilyui syneclise. The article examines the oil and gas potential prospects of the Aldan-Maya trough. Here, buried landforms play a key role in geological structures and determine the prospects for the generation and migration routes of hydrocarbons, in the structure of lithological-stratigraphic traps. The industrial significance of deposits contained in Riphean sediments has been confirmed in adjacent territories, in particular within the Berezovskaya depression.

Brief results of geological exploration for oil and gas within the Lena-Anabar trough and Anabar-Khatanga saddle are presented. The extremely low and uneven level of geological and geophysical study of the territories under consideration and the need to study the Middle Paleozoic complex of sediments are noted. Based on the published and archive information, a brief overview of lithological and stratigraphic descriptions of sections and features of the geological structure of the Middle Paleozoic deposits of the studied territory is made. A paleogeographic diagram of the Middle Paleozoic rift complex of the Laptev plate and the adjacent territory were constructed. The data indicating the oil-source properties of the Devonian deposits within the Anabar-Khatanga saddle are presented. On the basis of geological and geophysical data, an assumption is made about the presence of saliferous deposits in the section of the Kyutyungda graben. The possibility of realizing the oil-source potential of the Vendean-Cambrian deposits in the lower part of the section of the Kyutyungda graben is indicated. The prospects of oil and gas content of the southern part of the Laptev Sea shelf related to the Middle Paleozoic deposits are predicted.

The article describes a method for eliminating the problem of freezing of the hydraulic system of the URB-2A2 drilling rig when drilling exploration wells in the freezing conditions of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). During the study, we analyzed the long-term experience of industrial companies engaged in drilling operations in Yakutia. In this regard, in the regions of the Far North, an important task is to develop innovative methods aimed at improving the working conditions of workers and the quality of technologies for protecting the hydraulic systems of drilling rigs operating in the harsh climate of the region.

As a measure to prevent and combat freezing of the hydraulic system, we propose insulating the hydraulic equipment of the drilling rig using heat-insulating materials. Based on the diagnostics and calculations, we were able to develop an effective way to solve the problem of freezing of the hydraulic system. This method does not require significant changes in the existing equipment and does not entail large financial costs. At the next stage, we will test the proposed method for solving the problem in the conditions of the Far North on the URB-2A2 self-propelled drilling rig.

The study deals with the history of exploration of the subsoil resources of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), its huge and diverse geological and mineralogical potential. The authors analyse the existing museums devoted to geology and mineralogy, and put forward the idea of the necessity to create a large museum reflecting the history of geological exploration and development of mineral resources in the republic. The urgent need to create a mining and geological museum in Yakutsk, reflecting the history of geological exploration and development of mineral resources in the republic is emphasised. The concept of the museum as a powerful centre of scientific and educational education and a space of cultural exchange of society, based on axiological basis, is defined. Its mission as propaganda and popularisation of knowledge about the Earth, preservation of unique geological fund of the republic, orientation and self-identification of the person in the world of values is characterized.

The relevance of gas hydrates studying is defined to their potential role as an alternative energy source and an important element in the research of climate change. The main purpose of this literature review is to systematize existing methods for detecting gas hydrates, as well as to analyze their effectiveness and applicability in various conditions. The research objectives include the assessment of modern technologies such as seismic sensing, geophysical methods, chemical analysis of samples, the use of remote sensing data, and various modeling options. A number of publications based on such databases as GoogleScholar, GeoRef, and ResearchGate on methods for detecting gas hydrates, with an emphasis on their technological aspects and practical applications were found. The used methods include comparative analysis, meta-analysis of data, and evaluation of field research results. As a result, it was revealed that the most effective methods are represented by combinations of geophysical methods that allow to increase the accuracy of localization gas hydrates localization. Moreover, remote sensing methods are becoming more popular as an effective tool for identifying sources of methane emissions, usually associated with hydrate deposits. The main findings show that despite the advances in gas hydrate detection, there is a need in developing more sensitive and cost-effective technologies. The prospects for further research include the integration of new sensor technologies and modelling to improve the accuracy of predictions of gas hydrate deposits. The areas of future researches may cover both theoretical aspects and practical implementation of new methods in the field.

The paper contains the results of the study for taiga landscapes in the Maya River basin, obtained during field surveys, by describing facies, and using cartographic materials. For the first time a map on landscape facies of the Maya River basin was compiled. As a result, a landscape map of the Maya River basin was compiled with the allocation of 10 mapped landscape units by combinations of plant association groups. A map of landscape facies was drawn up for the key site of the Krestyakh area and facies in the vicinity of the Ust-Yudoma settlement were described. The ecological framework of the study area is defined by typical medium taiga larch shrub-greenmoss forests. The Maya River basin is characterised by a high resource significance of the valley-river part of the basin geosystem, which experiences a high anthropogenic load. The obtained materials may become the basis for more detailed landscape analysis of taiga geosystems of Central Yakutia and the foothills of the Dzhugdzhur Ridge, for planning decisions on territorial development.

The article presents the results of long-term studies of water erosion of soils from meltwater runoff in agricultural landscapes of the southeast of Tomsk Oblast. Soil erosion is one of the main processes that contribute to the destruction of the soil cover and negatively affect environmental and food security. Therefore, the study of dangerous processes of soil degradation under the influence of precipitation washout is a relevant scientific area, which is reflected in the program of fundamental scientific research in the Russian Federation for the long term. The assessment of the intensity of soil erosion in the Basandaika River basin was carried out on the basis of long-

term studies using an integrated approach, including semi-stationary and route observations. It was found that the intensity of snowmelt and the development of soil erosion in the study area depend on a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors, such as slope exposure, steepness, microrelief, agricultural background, soil freezing depth, snow cover thickness and density. It was found that the highest intensity of soil erosion is observed on southern slopes, especially in years with active snowmelt on harrowed fallow land. Thus, the highest value of soil erosion for the period from 1988 to 2024 on southern slopes of agricultural lands was observed near forest belts and reached 40-80 m3/ha for fallow land, and 0.5-3 m3/ha for stubble and grass. Alternating strips of stubble and fallow land on arable land significantly reduces the intensity of erosion. The values of the modules of maximum soil erosion of a given annual probability of exceedance for different key areas were determined. Such studies are necessary for developing recommendations for optimizing agrotechnical measures and models for predicting the development of soil erosion in the context of global climate change.

Relevance: green areas (especially in an urban environment) perform many ecosystem and social functions to maintain and improve the condition and quality of the environment of settlements, as well as the comfort of the population living in them. Green spaces in urban areas require monitoring and inventory using special software, remote sensing and global positioning materials, geographic information systems and technologies. The purpose was to create a map of green spaces in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk (using the pilot area of the Yugra State University (YuSU)). The tasks were to develop and implement the GIS database “Green Necklace of the YuSU”; design and create a preliminary map of green spaces on the territory of the YuSU. Methods: a review and analysis of literary and Internet sources on the topic being studied, processing of satellite images, geoinformation mapping. Result. GIS databases “Green Necklace to the YuSU” was developed and created, a preliminary map of the university’s green spaces was designed and compiled. Conclusions. The results obtained may be useful in the future for the administration of Khanty-Mansiysk in municipal services planning, organizing and conducting activities to make an inventory of green spaces in settlements and expand their area.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, there are massive shrinking of the stand, which are caused by the effects of pathogens, insects, fungal infestations, as well as the spread of bacterial diseases of trees. The development of remote monitoring systems for forest ecosystems is extremely important for the management of forest resources and making informed decisions regarding the conservation and restoration of forests. The purpose of this study was the development of a software module for automating the identification process of dead trees based on Earth remote sensing data. The analysis of various detection and segmentation strategies, including traditional computer vision methods and neural networks based on artificial intelligence, made it possible to choose object detection as the main method due to its effectiveness in labeling and the ability to quantify areas of tree damage. The combination of the object detection method with high-resolution images obtained using UAVs proved to be the most effective for accurate detection of dead trees.