Mineralogical Sciences Research Articles

Developing the gemstone identification technology and building a database by using advanced analytical methods

Gemology is one of the mineralogical science and is facing a great challenge to identify various natural, synthetic and simulant gem materials, especially the geographic origin determination of high value gemstones is strongly required by gem trade and consumer. However, gemologist and research scientist in gemological laboratories must improve on their experience in identification skills, geological field studies, collecting available samples and establish an informative data base by combination of traditional gemological observations and advanced analytical instrumentations. It is very important to understand the new finding gemstone deposits and gemstone treatment procedures and development of advance sophisticated instrumentation to support the difficulties of gemological identification.

IN MEMORY OF PROFESSOR MYKOLA STEPANOVYCH OGNYANIK – AN OUTSTANDING UKRAINIAN HYDROGEOLOGIST

The article is dedicated to Mykola Stepanovych Ognyanik – an outstanding scientist-hydrogeologist, Doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences, Professor, head of the groundwater protection department of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. M.S. Ognyanik is a recognized specialist in the field of groundwater protection against man-made pollution, in particular, by light oil products. The article covers the main facts of the biography of M.S. Ognyanik, his scientific and pedagogical activities, and important scientific publications.

Order–Disorder Diversity of the Solid State by NMR: The Role of Electrical Charges

The physical explanations and understanding of the order–disorder phenomena in the solid state are commonly inferred from the experimental capabilities of the characterization techniques. Periodicity is recorded according to the averaging procedure of the conventional reciprocal-space techniques (RSTs) in many solids. This approach gives rise to a sharp trimodal view including non-crystalline or amorphous compounds, aperiodic crystals and periodic crystals. However, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy offers an alternative approach that is derived from the distinct character of the measurements involved at the local scale. Here, we present a sequence of progressive order–disorder states, from amorphous structures up to fully ordered mineral structures, showing the great diversity existing in the solid state using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. Some examples in glasses and products of their crystallization are used, as well as several minerals (including beryl-group and feldspar-group minerals) at magnetic fields up to 35.2 T, and some examples from literature. This approach suggests that the solid state is a dynamic medium, whose behavior is due to atomic adjustments from local compensation of electrical charges between similar structural states, which explains Ostwald’s step rule of successive reactions. In fully ordered feldspar minerals, we propose that the electronic structure of the elements of the cavity site is involved in bonding, site morphology and feldspar topology. Furthermore, some implications are derived about what is a mineral structure from the point of view of the NMR experiments. They open the possibility for the development of the science of NMR Mineralogy.

Manufacturing Relations of the Tripolye Settlement-Workshop Bodaki (based on the materials of the Cucuteni–Tripolye Bugo-Prut interfluve memory)

The manufacturing relations of the Tripolye settlement-workshop Bodaki, which specialized in the production of macro-blades from the high-quality Volhynian flint are researched by the authors of the paper. Thanks to the result of an analysis of the archaeological context, a technical and morphological study of flint and stone artefacts, as well as data from the geological and mineralogical sciences, a circle of sites of the developed period of the Cucuteni-Tripolye culture in the Bugo-Prut interfluve, which consumed flint products from the settlement-workshop Bodaki, was outlined. This is indicated by the absence of traces of processing of the Volhynian flint in their materials, the absolute similarity of the forms of the tools with the tools found in the Bodaki. Located in the upper reaches of the Prut, the Middle Dniester and the Middle Bug, they were quite far from the center of high-quality flint processing of the Volhynian flint. Despite this, the basis of their production complexes were sets of tools made from this raw material, while local breeds were used to a lesser extent. These data indicate a high level of organization of stone-processing production, the presence of well-established links between the Tripolye sites of the time of the BII, which made it possible to provide their economy with high-quality production equipment.

YELYZAVETA YAKIVNA KRAYEVA — AN OUTSTANDING MICROPALEONTOLOGIST OF UKRAINE (to 100th anniversary from the birth)

The article is devoted to Yelyzaveta Yakivna Krayeva, a worthy representative of the Ukrainian school of micropaleontology of P.A. Tutkowsky and O.K. Kaptarenko-Chernousova, senior researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences. Ye.Ya. Krayeva is a recognized micropaleontologist who made a significant contribution to the study of Eocene and Oligocene foraminifera of Southern Ukraine. She was engaged in the Paleogene biostratigraphy of the platform Ukraine and the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea by foraminifera, is the developer and co-author of the first Stratigraphic Scheme of Paleogene and Lower Miocene deposits of the South Ukrainian oil and gas-bearing region, is one of the authors of the unified Stratigraphic Scheme of Paleogene sediments of the platform Ukraine. There is given a bibliography of scientific works of Ye.Ya. Krayeva.

МИНЕРАЛЫ – СИМВОЛЫ «КАМЕННОГО ЦВЕТКА»

The article tells about the minerals, which in different years became the symbols of the exhibition – fair of stone products "Stone Flower", and describes their main characteristics. Photographs of the doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences Grigory Yurievich Ivanyuk are used.

Effect of high-power electromagnetic pulses and dielectric barrier discharges on physicochemical and flotation properties of perovskite

The methods of FTIR, SEM–EDX, microhardness test, electrokinetic potential and contact angle measurements, as well as the sorption and flotation experiments are used to study the influence of high-power electromagnetic pulses (HPEMP) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) on the structural, physicochemical and flotation properties of perovskite (Afrikanda deposit). The analysis of FTIR data shows that short treatment times (t treat = 10 t 0÷30 s) lead to opposite changes in the surface condition of perovskite: oxidation (hydration) of the surface in case of HPEMP and deoxidizing (dehydration) under DBD. According to SEM results, the surface of perovskite undergoes destruction as a result of HPEMP and DBD treatment. The surface of some areas of the samples is modified with the formation and opening of deep parallel cracks, most likely due to the polysynthetic twinning typical of perovskite crystals; the subparallel pyramidal protrusions are also observed in some surface areas. The determined morphological changes cause softening and a monotonic decrease in the microhardness of the mineral surface with an increase of the HPEMP and DBD (plasma) treatment times (ttreat = 0 t 0÷150 s) by ΔHVmax V = 27 x 7÷33%. The effect of HPEMP and DBD on the physicochemical properties of the mineral surface represents a shift in the electrokinetic potential towards positive values, an increase in the contact angle (t treat = 10 t 0÷30 s), as well as the improved adsorption of the collector and the higher flotation activity of perovskite by ~ 10–15%. The authors express their gratitude to Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences E.V. Koporulina and to Candidate of Engineering Sciences N.E. Anashkina for their help in the experimentation.The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Project No. 13.1902.21.0018, Agreement No. 075-15-2020-802.

PYATKOVA DINA MARKIANIVNA (To the 90th Аnniversary of her birth)

The article is dedicated to Dina Markiyanivna Pyatkova, the well-known scientist and researcher in the field of stra tigraphy and paleontology, candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences, senior researcher at the Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology of Mesozoic deposits of the Institute of Geological Sciences of NAS of Ukraine.

A.Zh. Mashanov (1906—1997): biography pages and scientific and pedagogical activity

The article analyses individual pages of Akzhan Zhaksybekovich Mashanov’s biography as well as his research and pedagogical activity. He was born in village No. 1 of the Karkaraly district of the Berkala volost; in 1924, as an excellent student, he entered the Karkaraly Pedagogical College, and later in 1934, the Kazakh Mining and Metallurgical Institute. A.Zh. Mashanov is one of the founders of geomechanics in the Soviet Union, the founder of Kazakh science fiction. He was one of the first Kazakh engineers-mine surveyors who had the degree of doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences. A.Zh. Mashanov developed and practically applied a new method for studying the structure of ore fields, which was subsequently applied in studying the structure of the vast majority of mineral deposits and the geological structure of individual regions. On the basis of archival documents and memoirs of students, many of which are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the authors consider the scientific and pedagogical activity of A.Zh. Mashanov, his great contribution to the development of a new scientific direction in mining, i.e., geomechanics. An extensive research outlook, knowledge of the Arabic language allowed A.Zh. Mashanov to open the great scholar Abu Nasyr Al-Farabi to the world community. A.Zh. Mashanov in his works was able to prove that the main primary source of science in Kazakhstan were the works of Al-Farabi. He created a scientific school of engineers-mine surveyors of Kazakhstan.

Activities of SB RAS scientific libraries for heritage preservation of Siberian scientists (to the 120th anniversary of T. T. Deulya birth)

Libraries of institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) conduct elucidative activities, promoting popularization of knowledge, advancemtnt of the ideas of scientists, propagation of the achievements of regional science through the creation of information resources of their own generation. The Central Scientific Library of the Irkutsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (CSL INTS SB RAS) maintains the electronic catalog of scientific publications held in its collections, as well as the Consolidated electronic catalog of publications from the collections of libraries of academic research institutes and institutions of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk region. The Central Scientific Library plans to create electronic memorial libraries dedicated to outstanding Siberian scientists.The article presents the results of biobibliographic studies, which made it possible to identify new materials about one of the initiators of the creation of the Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Irkutsk, Taras Timofeevich Deulya (1901–1974), Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Associate Professor of Irkutsk State University (ISU), scientist, teacher and public activist. In particular, the exact date of birth was established, the list of his unpublished works was discovered. Based on the collected material, the website will be created dedicated to the life and work of T. T. Deulya.

THE HISTORY OF MINERALOGY IN THE WORKS OF ACADEMICIAN YEVHEN LAZARENKO, HIS STUDENTS AND FOLLOWERS (To the 110th Anniversary of the Scientist's Birth)

The mineralogical science history occupies a prominent place in academician Ye. Lazarenko's scientific and pedagogical works: in monographic summaries of regional and genetic mineralogy, five editions of the textbook "Course of Mineralogy", the famous "Mineralogical Dictionary". A number of separate articles (individual or with co-authors) are devoted to the history of mineralogy in general and Ukraine in particular. Not all of the scientist's ideas were realized during his lifetime, but students and followers of Yevhen Kostiantynovych — representatives of the scientific mineralogical school that bears his name, a member of the Ukrainian Mineralogical Society, try to continue the work of their teacher. Various aspects of the history of the development of mineralogical research are covered in specialized publications — "Mineralogical Collection", "Mineralogical Journal", "Proceedings of the Ukrainian Mineralogical Society". They are discussed at scientific readings named after Academician Ye. Lazarenko, congresses of the Ukrainian Mineralogical Society and other scientific forums. The separate chapters in modern textbooks, educational aids, reference publications are devoted to the history of mineralogical development in Ukraine and in general; in recent years a number of specialized monographic publications were published.

К 90-ЛЕТИЮ И.О. МУРДМАА

On August 6, 2021, the chief researcher of the IO RAS, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Professor Ivar Oskarovich Murdmaa turned 90 years old. The main focus of I.O. Murdmaa is the study of bottom sediments of seas and oceans, their lithology, mineralogy, deposition processes, facies and formations, the theory of oceanic sedimentogenesis. He first distinguished marine volcanoterrigenous sediments and described the facies variability of modern sediments of island arcs. Ivar Murdmaa is known for his studies in mineralogy of oceanic sediments, processes of pelagic sedimentogenesis and associated iron-manganese nodules formation. Studying sediment formation in rift zones of mid-ocean ridges, he identified a new genetic type of sediments named edaphogeonus sediments, elaborated mineralogical criteria for their recognition and formation processes. In recent years I.O. Murdmaa is actively developing the theoretical concept of "sedimentosphere", paying special attention to a new direction – the study of the erosion-accumulative activity of bottom currents and the formation of contourites.

TO THE MEMORY OF MYKHAILO MYKHAILOVYCH IVANIK (April 20, 1937 — August 24, 2021)

The article is dedicated to Mykhailo Ivanik, the famous scientist and researcher in the field of stratigraphy and paleontology, marine geology, doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences, professor, head of the department of stratigraphy and paleontology of Mesozoic deposits of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

AL-FARABI’S LEGACY IN STUDIES OF AKZHAN ZHAKSYBEKOVICH MASHANOV (AL-MASHANI)

The article covers the contribution of Akzhan Zhaksybekovich Mashanov, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Professor, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, honored scientist of Kazakhstan, in the field of studying the scientific legacy of Abȗ-Nasr Muhammad ibn Muhammad A-Farabi. A.Zh.Mashanov was the first to explore the writings of the great Al-Farabi. Mashanov’s internal memo as of 15.11. 1960 addressed to the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, K.I. Satpayev, on the necessity to proceed with the research of the scientific legacy of Al-Farabi, gave a start to the development of Farabi-studies in Kazakhstan. Akzhan Zhaksybekovich not only proved to the global community that the birthplace of the Second Teacher in the city of Otrar, but also discovered the burial site of the prominent ancestor at the Bab-as-Sagir cemetery in Damask. The scientist could provide solid arguments and persuade academic circles of the USSR on the need to start studying Al-Farabi’s legacy in Kazakhstan, in the native land of the genius thinker. Thanks to his efforts, in 1975, the city of Alma-Ata hosted the international scientific conference dedicated to the 1100th anniversary since the birth of Al-Farabi.

Technological mineralogy as a framework for the integrated mineral mining : A case-study of the Upper Shchugor bauxite deposit

Technological mineralogy constitutes a significant part in the concept of integrated development of solid minerals resources. Aiming to evolve Academician Vaisberg’s ideas, the authors undertook assaying of Upper Shchugor bauxites described with the complex mineral composition, texture and structure, as well as with the high content of particulates. For the fruitful development of bauxites, it is required to implement the in-depth analysis using modern mineralogical research methods toward complete processing of mineral substance, extending the list of recoverable useful components and products with new properties, efficient waste management and optimization of process flow charts. Russian bauxite resources are concentrated in the Middle and South Timan. The lack of high-quality bauxites in Russia justifies the heightened attention given to the rebellious Timan bauxites which possess a complex material constitution. The ore-forming mineral and minerals of commercial relevance are assayed. The Upper Shchugor bauxites is the complex ore which features an increased content of rare earth elements and a variable content of iron oxides (0.6–47 %). The ore is composed of bauxite of three types: low-, medium- and high-ferruginous. The interphase boundary interactions in bauxite as a composite material, the composition and distribution of rare metal impurities are identified. The promising trends of bauxite processing technology with regard to the structural features of the material are discussed. The authors express their gratitude to the Analyst and Candidate Geological and Mineralogical Sciences Yu. S. Simakova and to the Geonauka Shared Use Center for the help in the research implementation.The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 21-47-00019, and by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Project No. 42061134018.

TO THE MEMORY OF VOLODYMYR MYKOLAYOVYCH SHOVKOPLYAS (October 15, 1929 — May 4, 2021)

The article is dedicated to Volodymyr Shovkoplyas, the famous scientist and researcher in the field of general geology, geochronology, paleogeography and stratigraphy of the quarter, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Professor, Leading Researcher of the Department of Anthropogene Geology of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

TO THE BLESSED MEMORY OF OLEKSIY MYTROPOLSKYI, THE OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER AND MEMBER OF NUMEROUS SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITIONS

The article is devoted to Oleksiy Mytropolskyi, one of the founders of the Ukrainian school of Marine geology; a scientist and researcher in the field of marine geology, geochemistry and geoecology, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Founder and Leader of the Department of Modern Marine Sedimentogenesis, Deputy Director of Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

A THOROUGH EDITION ON THE HISTORY OF MINERALOGY IN UKRAINE

Data on the history of mineralogical research and knowledge in Ukraine from ancient times to the 90s of the XX century are concentrates in the thorough final work and the prehistory, origin, formation and comprehensive development («golden age») of mineralogy in Ukraine are characterized in varying detail. It is shown that mineralogical researches acquire systemicity from the 50s of the XX century, thanks mainly to the activities of the Lviv Geological and Ukrainian Mineralogical Societie, Lviv University and M. P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation оf the NAS of Ukraine. The analysis shows that Ukrainian scientists in difficult conditions without their statehood, as part of various metropolises, developed the basic principles of mineralogical science, and therefore it, as soon as geopolitically it became possible, reached its apogee in the «golden age» of mineralogy. It was marked by significant fundamental achievements, which in the complex contributed to the compilation of various geological maps as a basis for the creation of the Geological Survey of Ukraine schemes for the distribution of fields of metallic and non-metallic minerals. The problem of discovering new minerals and publishing a modern monographic compilation of Ukraine,such as the multivolume «Mineralogical Encyclopedia of Ukraine», remains acute. The new modern edition on the history of mineralogy in Ukraine is timely and extremely necessary for specialists in the field of Earth sciences and other fields of science, so it can be used by scientists, teachers, geologists, historians, graduate students and students, as well as the general public community.

Women in geology. Olga Alekseevna Denisova (1893—1972)

The article presents the biography of O.A. Denisova (1893—1972), one of the first Russian female geologists involved in practical geology. In 1918, she graduated from the Natural Department of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Moscow Higher Women’s Courses. During her studies, she participated in field research in the Moscow Region, on Volkhov and Vychegda rivers under the guidance of A.B. Missuna. In 1923, she graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in geology. Since 1918, O.A. Denisova had worked as a researcher in the Moscow branch of the Geological Committee, since 1920 as a geologist in the Geological Department of the Special Commission for the Study of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. Later she was engaged in the study of deposits of building materials and hydrogeological surveys. O.A. Denisova began her activity under the supervision of A.D. Arkhangelsky. The article contains her previously unpublished memories about this famous geologist. O.A. Denisova taught geology and hydrogeology at universities and technical schools in Moscow. In 1936 O.A. Denisova was awarded the degree of Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences without defending a thesis, and in 1946 the All-Union Certification Commission approved her with the academic rank of Associate Professor at the Department of Geology. O.A. Denisova was awarded the medal “For Valiant Labour during the Great Patriotic War of 1941— 1945” (1946) and “In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow” (1948). The collections of rocks and minerals collected by O.A. Denisova during field work in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, are stored in the State Geological Museum named after V.I. Vernadsky of RAS.

Геологическое наследие В. Г. Оловянишникова

The article is dedicated to the memory of Vsevolod Georgievich Olovyanishnikov (Getsen), an outstanding researcher of geology of the European North-East, Candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences, who worked at the Institute of Geology from 1960 until the end of his life (1936—2006). The article analyzes his creative path and shows main scientific achievements in three most significant areas of activity: stratigraphy of Precambrian deposits, tectonics (geodynamics) and rock metamorphism.