Mineralogical and geochemical indicators of anoxic sedimentation conditions in local depressions within the Sea of Okhotsk in the late Pleistocene-Holocene

This paper reports specific mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of deposits from the local depressions of the Derugin Basin. They were formed in an environment with periodic changes from oxic to anoxic conditions and show evidence for the presence of hydrogen sulfide in bottom waters. The deposits of this type can be considered as a modern model for ancient ore-bearing black shale associations. Compared with typical metalliferous black shale sequences, which are characterized by high contents of organic matter, the sediments described here are depleted in the elements of the organophilic association (Mo, Ni, Cu, Zn, V, and U) but have higher Mn contents.     

The first known natural occurrence of calcium monoaluminate,in a calcium‐aluminum‐rich inclusion from the CH chondrite Northwest Africa 470

Abstract— Natural calcium monoaluminate, CaAl₂O₄, has been found in a grossite‐rich calcium‐aluminum‐rich inclusion (CAI) from the CH chondrite Northwest Africa 470. The calcium monoaluminate occurs as colorless ～10 μm subhedral grains intergrown with grossite, perovskite, and melilite. Nebular condensation is the most likely origin for the precursor materials of this CAI, but calculations suggest that dust/gas ratios substantially enhanced over solar are required to stabilize CaAl₂O₄.     

Ozone content over the Russian Federation in 2013

The review is compiled on the basis of the results of the operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring in the CIS and Baltic countries functioning in the operational regime at the Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses the data from the national network of M-124 filter ozonometers under the methodological supervision of the Main Geophysical Observatory. The quality of the functioning of the entire system is under operational control based on the observations obtained from the OMI satellite equipment (NASA, the United States). The basic TO observation data are generalized for each month of the fourth quarter of 2013, for the quarter as a whole, and for the whole year. Some results of regular observations of surface ozone content carried out in Moscow region and Crimea are also considered.     

Ozone content over the Russian federation in the first quarter of 2011

The review is compiled based on the results of the operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring in the CIS and Baltic countries functioning in the operational regime at the Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses the data from the national network with M-124 filter ozonometers under methodological supervision of the Main Geophysical Observatory. The quality of functioning of the entire system is under operational control based on observations obtained from the OMI satellite equipment (NASA, the United States). The basic TO observation data for each month of the first quarter of 2011 and for the quarter as a whole are generalized. Preliminary estimates of a large ozone anomaly in the Russian Arctic region are under consideration. The information about the surface ozone observations in the central Russian region is also considered.     

Ozone content over the Russian federation in 2010

The review is compiled based on the results of the operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring system in the CIS and Baltic countries, functioning in the operational regime at the Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses the data from the national network of filter ozonometers M-124 type under supervision of the Main Geophysical Observatory (MGO). The proper operation of the entire system is under an operational control from observations with the OMI satellite (US NASA) equipment. Basic TO observation data for each month of the fourth quarter of 2010, for the quarter and the year as a whole are generalized. Peculiarities of the Spring Antarctic Ozone Anomaly development in 2010 are described. Basic results of regular observations of the surface ozone and other minor atmospheric gas components in the Moscow region in 2010 are also under consideration.     

An outstanding achievement in the study of Petrology of the Fossil Organic Matter in Russia

Publication of the Petrological Atlas of Fossil Organic Matter in Russia in St. Petersburg was one of the remarkable events in the history of studying the organic matter. The authors of the atlas (V.I. Vyalov, I.B. Volkova, G.A. Belenitskaya, O.V. Petrov, V.N. Volkov, G.M. Volkova, M.V. Golitsyn, A.B. Gurevich, V.M. Bogomazov, A.I. Ginsburg, L.Ya. Kizil’shtein, V.V. Gal’chikov, A.P. Zolotov, G.A. Ignat’ev, V.A. Kosinskii, V.G. Kolomenskaya, T.N. Molozina, G.M. Parparova, N.V. Pronina, G.V. Sokolova, and S.V. Shcherbakova) are workers from the All-Russia Research Institute of Geology (VSEGEI) and several other institutions. It is known that atlases of coals in different regions (Donets, Dnieper, Moscow district, Lvov-Volynsk, Kuznetsk, Karaganda, Chelyabinsk, Pechora, and Kama basins; Caucasus region), as well as the Atlas of Mesozoic Coals of the USSR, were published during a long period of coal-petrographic studies (1955–2001). However, as the authors of the monograph under review rightly point out, diverse coal-petrographic classifications and nomenclatures were used in different regions, the analysis of coal metamorphism was not sufficiently scrutinized, and so on. This circumstance, as well as regional approach to the compilation of previously issued atlases, publication of a great body of factual material in recent years, and results of the study of organic matter (OM) obtained using advanced investigation methods, necessitated the compilation of the Petrological Atlas of Fossil Organic Matter of a new formation. When assessing the atlas content, we should note a wide range of problems discussed therein. The first part of the monograph is devoted to the characteristics of coal/combustible shale basins and deposits, petroliferous basins, and interrelation of hydrocarbons and solid combustible minerals.     

Structural Position and Typification of Alteration Zones,Polar Urals: First Experience of Modern Space Sensing of the Earth

Doklady Earth Sciences - A new approach to statistical analysis of the data from the Landsat 8 spacecraft was developed for the first time for the territory of the Urals on the basis of the method...     

A photometric and dynamic study of comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) from observations at a heliocentric distance of ~4.1 AU

An analysis is presented for the photometric data on comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) from observations at a large heliocentric distance (~4.1 AU). Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) displays intense activity despite the relatively large heliocentric distance. The morphology of the comet’s coma is analyzed. The following parameters are measured: the color indices V-R, the normalized spectral gradient of the reflectivity of the comet’s dust S', and the dust production rate Afρ. A numerical simulation is performed for the evolution of the comet’s orbit after a close encounter with Mars. The most probable values are obtained for the Keplerian orbital elements of the comet over a hundred-year period. The comet’s orbit remains nearly parabolic after passing the orbits of all the Solar System planets.