Northern Urals Research Articles

ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ МЕСТНОГО ФОНОВОГО СОДЕРЖАНИЯ НЕКОТОРЫХ МАКРО- И МИКРОЭЛЕМЕНТОВ В ПОЧВАХ ПЕРМСКОГО КРАЯ

According to the V.I. Vernadsky law, chemical elements are distributed unevenly in natural objects. Knowledge of the content of chemical elements in a particular area helps in solving various environmental problems. As a result of economic activity, there occurs anthropogenic transformation of the natural environment, including changes in the geochemical properties of landscapes. For an objective assessment of the anthropogenic impact when studying various territories, it is necessary to take into account the background content of macro- and microelements. Since there is a constant anthropogenic impact on the natural environment, the data on background content must be updated. The article presents the results of the content study conducted for some macro- and microelements (Sr, Pb, As, Zn, Ni, Co, Fe2O3, MnO, Cr, V, TiO2) in landscapes in the Perm region. To determine the content of these elements, the method of X-ray fluorescence analysis was applied. As a result, the geochemical specialization of the region and its natural areas (Northern Urals, Western Urals, Middle Taiga, South Taiga, Mixed Coniferous-broad-leaved Forests and Kungur forest-steppe) was determined, geochemical series were constructed, accumulating and dispersing elements were identified. The local background content of the studied elements was determined for each natural area and also the Perm region as a whole. The data obtained can be used to assess the anthropogenic impact on the natural environment.

New Vagrant Bird Species of the Northern Urals (the Komi Republic)

New Vagrant Bird Species of the Northern Urals (the Komi Republic)

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC IN THE DOMESTIC TRAVELOGUE

Historical and geographical information about the Arctic were being accumulated gradually. The starting point here can be considered the ancient myths of Hyperborea as the northern ancestral home of mankind. However, only in the X century the Europeans (Normans) were in the circumpolar part of the world. The Russians came to the Arctic in the XII century and established themselves in the territories called “Pomor’e” (the lands from Karelia to the Northern Urals). Active promotion of our ancestors on the Asian coast of the Arctic took place in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Further study and development of this region unfolded in the XIX-XX centuries. The modern historical stage – the time of intensive development of the Arctic. Many successes have been achieved by scientists, engineers, prospectors, and numerous enthusiasts. The names of the most outstanding Arctic conquerors have not only received scientific and public recognition but are also immortalized on geographical maps in the names of seas, straits, islands, bays, coasts, capes, cities, towns and other objects.Despite the harsh nature, the Arctic was and remains an integral part of the world’s Ecumene. This testifies to the indissoluble unity of man with the surrounding reality, connections with which have no restrictions. In fact, there is a constantly expanding and deepening dialogue of people with the external environment and among themselves. The result of this existence is the comprehension of man himself and his being. The most important condition for this communication is the ability of the individual to master and learn the world, appreciate the surrounding space and exchange exchange the received information. At the same time, the feeling of life’s reality occurs not so much in the given mode, as in the field of active communications.Mass and individual tourism, which has covered the whole world, is now a widespread communicative practice instead of former trips and expeditions. Travelogue as a genre of stereoscopic narration of experiences and a special type of reporting has become a cognitive response of modern “wanderers” to the impressions received from their trips. The authors of the article analyze the content of this concept in the research meaning and experimental application to the Arctic.

THE MOUNTAIN TUNDRA PLANT COMMUNITIES RESPONSE TO INTRODUCTION OF JUNIPERUS SIBIRICA BURGSD. IN THE URALS

Changes in the species composition and structure of high-mountain vegetation of the Urals are described and characterized in connection with the introduction of Juniperus sibirica. About 60 plots (relevés) of mountain tundra communities were studied in the Northern Urals: Zyryanovka Mountain (N60°57ʹ, E58°58ʹ); Kvarkush Ridge (N60°08ʹ, E58°44ʹ), and the Southern Urals: Northern Nurgush Mountain (N54°48ʹ, E59°08ʹ); Poperechnaya Mountain (N54°39ʹ, E58°39ʹ). Common geobotanical methods were used. Study plots were chosen to represent different abundances of J. sibirica. The structure of tundra plant communities dominated by J. sibirica departs from other groups of plant communities in the dendrogram. Tundra areas without J. sibirica or where its contribution was up to 30–40 % did not have any regularity in the distribution. Changes in the ratio of vascular plant ecological and coenotic groups were measured, showing significant differences between Northern and Southern Urals. Northern Urals: on Zyryanovka Mountain a significant increase happened in the percentage cover of mesophytes, while on the Kvarkush Ridge the percentage cover of psychrophytes declined greatly. Southern Urals: the percentage cover of mesophytes declined significantly on Mt. Nurgush. The ratio of coenotic groups of vascular plants in the mountain-tundra communities changed the most notably in the Northern Urals: on Mt. Zyryanovka the percentage cover of marginal tree species significantly increased while the percentage cover of high-mountain species decreased; the Kvarkush Ridge experienced a significant decline in the percentage cover of high-mountain species. Data about vascular plants species common for tundra communities in the Northern and Southern Urals, and about the composition of endemic and relict species are presented.

Mineralogy of the Vorontsovskoe gold deposit (Northern Urals). Part 1: history of study, mineral assemblages, list of minerals

This work is the frst paper in a series of publications dedicated to mineralogy of the Vorontsovskoe gold deposit in the Northern Urals. The deposit is unique for both Russia and world with regard to the diversity and originality of Tl–Hg–Mn–As–Sb–S mineralization. Based on available literature and our data, we compiled an exhaustive list of 209 mineral species of the deposit, including eight new minerals found by the authors: vorontsovite, ferrovorontsovite, tsygankoite, gladkovskyite, luborzakite, pokhodyashinite, gungerite and auerbakhite. In addition, 40 and 89 minerals are found for the frst time in Russia and the deposit, respectively. Systematic studies of ores revealed nine main mineral assemblages, seven of which are confned to carbonate breccias. They contain more than 70 rare sulfdes, tellurides and sulfosalts including 30, 12 and 9 minerals, where Tl, Hg and Mn are species-defning elements, respectively. In this paper, we characterize the history of study of the deposit, its geological position and structure, ore types, mineral assemblages, and analytical methods.

Naive geography: geoconceptology and topology of geomental maps

The article presents the study of the geospace mental representations and their variability depending on the regional point of view. The research material comprises about 500 naive maps of Russia, created by informants of seven Russian regions: Moscow, St. Petersburg (capitals), Siberia (Barnaul, Biysk), Southern, Mid- and Northern Ural (Orenburg, Ufa, Perm) and Kaliningrad. A geoconcept, as a set of collective ideas about a geographic object, synthesizes images of a geographic location (topos), its name (toponym), ideas about it and its spatial parameters (length, coordinates, location relative to other geolocations). The paper raises the problem of the topology of the mental space, and describes the method and results of constructing computable metric models of geomental spaces. The use of modern means of processing and analyzing naive maps allowed to detect spatial dependencies between geoconcepts, their probable localization zones, and position relative to each other on the geomental map space. Modeling of geoconcepts was carried out on the example of the analysis of the collective regional representations associated with the capital (Moscow). Noticeable differences were found in the regional geoconcepts of Moscow, which makes it relevant to conduct research on the regional variability of the geoconcept systems of the country's common space.

Physicochemical Modeling of Ore Formation at the Gold and Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Northern Urals

Physicochemical Modeling of Ore Formation at the Gold and Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Northern Urals

Microbially Mediated Organomineralization in Paleozoic Carbonate Ooids

This article reports the first results of studies on microbially mediated organomineralization in carbonate ooids from the Paleozoic sections of the Timan–Northern Ural region, which were formed in different environments and had different original mineral composition (calcite, Mg-calcite, and dolomite). Using a scanning electron microscope, mineralized microbial biofilms preserved in various forms and the modified morphology of primary grains under the effect of organic acids were identified. The interrelation between microbes and organomineralization has been established, which was observed in the form of conserved nuclei of the amorphous phase of calcium carbonate on the surfaces of mineralized biofilms, including EPS relics in the composition of ooid crusts. Carbon and oxygen isotope data showed the difference in Paleozoic ooid formation from saline lagoons to open shallow sea. The Raman spectra revealed the state of structure order of carbonaceous materials (CM) ranging from amorphous to weakly ordered carbon in ooids, which enables the data on the isotope composition of ooid carbonates to be considered corresponding to their primary composition and the environmental conditions under which they were formed.

Concentration of Black Carbon in the Near-Surface Atmosphere in the Pechora-Ilych Natural Reserve: Measurements and Merra-2 Reanalysis

The concentration of black carbon (BC), measured in near-surface air on the territory of the Pechora-Ilych State Natural Biosphere Reserve (PISNBR) on the western side of the Northern Ural Mountains, far from sources, is presented for two years (December 2017–November 2019). The temporal variations in BC concentration throughout a year and the location of its main sources are analyzed. The average values for two cold and two warm half-years were 128 and 62 ng/m3, respectively. The BC concentration in near-surface atmosphere was compared with MERRA-2 reanalysis data. On a monthly scale, the anomalous increase in BC concentration during short-term smoke aerosol transport across the observation area is more clearly revealed from the reanalysis data, rather than by values measured at a single point. Daily monitoring allows us to detect the specific dates of such situations.

Рукописная Этнографическо-географическая карта А. Регули и её роль в Уральской экспедиции Русского географического общества

The article puts the fi rst hand-written original of Northern Urals Ethno-Geographic Map by A. Reguli into scientifi c circulation. The circumstances of its admission to the Cartographic Fund of Russia in connection with preparation of the Ural Expedition by the Russian Geographical Society are considered. This preparation was accompanied by active gathering information on the Ural region. It was obtained from archival documents. There are some interesting facts about arranging the expedition and the interaction of the Society members, such as representatives of the RGS Ethnographic Commission with A. Reguli. The author describes the goals of Reguli’s ethnographic and philological researching in Northern Urals and the conditions of mapping this region. А detailed description of the Ethno-Geographic Map’s contents is given. The analysis of the sources used at the map compilation was performed, and the value of its further use was estimated. Information on existing projects dedicated to the scientifi c heritage of A. Reguli is provided.

The results of environmental and climate management systems implementation in the Ural gold mining industry (by the example of Gold of Northern Urals CJSC)

Introduction. The article evaluates the results of modern implementation of environmental and climate management systems in a gold mining organization. A SWOT analysis was carried out and recommendations were developed for adjusting and clarifying the content of the main management areas. As an information base, only public information resources and information provided by the organization in the course of interaction during educational program implementation were used Research aim is to assess the implementation of environmental and climate management systems in the Ural gold mining industry Methodology. The paper analyzes and evaluates environmental and climate management systems based on the use of SWOT analysis tools and geographic assessment of spatial and temporal changes. The spatial risks of safe ecological development of the organization are systematized, taking into account the immediate geographical environment. Results. A set of measures has been developed to correct and change the main management decisions of the environmental and climate management systems of the Ural gold mining organization. Conclusions. A satisfactory cumulative assessment of the results of environmental and climate management systems implementation in the organization is given; a set of measures has been developed that, in general, can be used in the regional industry; critical conceptual comments were formulated on the content of the current management KPIs.

Structure of the Pre-Paleozoic Formation of the Central Ural Uplift in the Northern and Subpolar Urals and Its Relation with Gold Production

Structure of the Pre-Paleozoic Formation of the Central Ural Uplift in the Northern and Subpolar Urals and Its Relation with Gold Production

Expansion of Juniperus sibirica Burgsd. as a response to climate change and associated effect on mountain tundra vegetation in the Northern Urals

Shrub expansion into arctic and alpine tundra is one of the prominent vegetation changes currently underway. We studied the expansion of shrub vegetation into high elevation tundra in the Kvarkush Range of the Northern Ural mountains, Russia. Age structure analysis of the dominant shrub Juniperus sibirica Burgsd. seems to support ongoing upslope advance of shrubs, a process particularly active in the second half of the 20th century. We found a close connection between the expansion of shrub vegetation and the general change in climatic conditions of the cold season (months with mean air temperature below 0°C from November to March). In general, the greatest influence on the distribution of J. sibirica is exerted by the climate conditions of the beginning (November–January) and the end (March) of the cold season. With increasing elevation, the correlation coefficients between the establishment of J. sibirica shrubs and the precipitation of the beginning of the cold season increased, and reached maximum values at the top elevation level of the study area. However, the upwards shift of J. sibirica into typical mountain tundra does not lead to changes in the ecological structure of vegetation at this stage, but simply a decrease in the area of mountain tundra.

Разнообразие горных тундр с преобладанием в напочвенном покрове лишайников в пределах западного макросклона Приполярного и Северного Урала

В статье приведены данные о разнообразии сообществ горных тундр с преобладанием в напочвенном покрове лишайников ключевых участков Приполярного (хребты Малдынырд, Юаснырд, горы Баркова, Еркусей) и Северного (горный массив Тэлпозиз) Урала. Дана характеристика их структуры, видовой насыщенности, приведены списки доминирующего комплекса видов. Проведена NMS-ординация сообществ, позволившая выделить группы описаний, соответствующие синтаксонам, и показавшая высокую степень зависимости распределения выделенных групп от высоты расположения сообществ. Выявлено 12 синтаксонов лишайниковых тундр ранга ассоциации.

Evolution of the Vagran Gold-Bearing Placer Cluster (Northern Urals) and Prospects for Revealing Bedrock Mineralization

Abstract—More than 10 t of gold have been mined within the Vagran placer cluster (Northern Urals), and the identified primary sources are limited to single noneconomic ore occurrences. Our research has established the heterogeneity of placer gold, which reflects the multistage history of the cluster’s development and the diversity of bedrock mineralization owing to which placer deposits were formed. In the structure of the placers, three age stages are distinguished, reflecting the Post-Paleozoic history of the Ural fold belt’s development: (1) Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic peneplanation, formation of areal weathering crusts, disintegration of primary gold sources and formation of linear erosional–structural depressions, which accumulated material from the displaced weathering crusts; (2) orogenic Pliocene–Quaternary stage of tectonic activation and erosion of primary sources and intermediate gold accumulators; (3) the formation of the modern topography, hydronetwork, and alluvial placers. In morphology, chemical composition, and internal structure of grains, five types of native placer gold have been identified, three of which reflect the structure of the main primary source, which is now almost completely eroded; the fourth bears traces of hypergene changes that occurred at the stage of peneplanation and in the development zones of erosional–structural depressions. The fifth type, which has typomorphic features of near-provenance gold, characterizes the mineralization exposed at the final stage of development of the morphostructure of the Ural belt of tectonic–magmatic activation. Reconstruction of the stages of development of the Vagran ore-placer cluster makes it possible to assess the existing placer potential and the prospects for identifying economic primary mineralization.

Provenance and U–Pb Age of Detrital Zircons from the Upper Proterozoic Deposits of the Polar Urals: To the Question of the Time of Formation of the Timan Passive Margin

New petrogeochemical data and the first results of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from terrigenous units of the Nyarovei series, which refers to the basal level of the Meso–Neoproterozoic sections of the Polar Urals, are presented. On the basis of the analysis of the contents of petrochemical components, rare (Th, Co, Sc, Cr, and V) and rare earth elements in the rocks, and their ratios, it is suggested that sedimentary-volcanogenic rocks of the Nyarovey series were formed within rift-related settings. A possible provenance of detrital material is reconstructed. On the basis of U–Pb isotope-geochronological data, the accumulation time of the Nyarovey deposits is established. It is shown that the entire section of the series, including the Verhnekharbey and the Miniseyshor formations, was formed in the Neoproterozoic; therefore, the widely accepted idea that these units belong to the Mesoproterozoic is erroneous. On the basis of the analysis of data on the age constraints of the Precambrian units from different parts of the Timan–Northern Ural region, the following conclusion is made: contrary to the Southern Urals where the Precambrian section is complete, the post-Paleoproterozoic Precambrian section in the studied region begins with sediments referring to the Meso–Neoproterozoic boundary, but most likely Neoproterozoic ones. This indicates that the Timan passive margin formed in the Neoproterozoic.

The Upper Ordovician reef Bol’shaya Kos’yu, Ilych River, the Northern Urals (structure, paleobiocenosis, microfacies, model of formation)

Subject. The Upper Ordovician reef Bol’shaya Kos’yu, located on the western slope of the Northern Urals in the basin of the Ilych River is a unique object among coeval reefs due to the weak dolomitization of rocks and the ability to trace the phases of its development. Materials and methods. The article presents the results of paleontological, paleoecological and microfacial analyses of reef limestones selected by the author from 12 natural outcrops with a total capacity of about 150 m located along both banks of the Bol’shaya Kos’yu River. Results. The structure of the reef, morphology and taxonomic composition of the frame-forming biota were established, and the important role of sphinctozoal sponges was first identified. Among the reef limestones in the main genetic characteristics that reflect specific depositional environments, was identified three types of microfacies. Type 1 – reef microfacies – framestones and buflestones. Type 2 – microfacies of interbiohermic space and inter-carcass cavities exposed to wave and tidal action – bioclastic and peloid pakstones, biolithoclastic grainstones and lithoclastic rudstones. Type 3 – microfacies of the hidden microcosmic cavities, protected from the active wave impact – wackstone. Сonclusion. The composition of the microfacies and frame-forming biota characterize difficult differentiated, both on a section, and structure the reef, which was formed in the conditions of the carbonate platform-shelf margin with active hydrodynamics. Its growth occurred during transgression, which ended by the end of the middle katian a major regression that stopped its development. The revealed paleontological, paleoecological and microfacial data indicate that starting from the middle katian the first identified sphinctozoal sponges could settle in sublittoral environments with active hydrodynamics at depths up to 20 m.

Did long‐term fire control the coniferous boreal forest composition of the northern Ural region (Komi Republic, Russia)?

AbstractAimDocumenting past vegetation dynamics and fire‐vegetation relationships at a regional scale is necessary to understand the mechanisms that control the functioning of the boreal forest, which is particularly sensitive to climate change. The objective of this study is to document these interactions in the Komi Republic during the Holocene.LocationYaksha, Vychegda river basin, Republic of Komi, Russia.TaxonPlantae, gymnosperms, angiosperms.MethodsTwo palaeoecological approaches are combined, based (1) on pollen (this study) and charcoal analysis (recomputed from our previous analysis) applied to cores from two peatlands and (2) on a REVEALS model (a part of the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm “LRA”) applied to six regional pollen cores in order to obtain a regional estimate of vegetation cover during the Holocene.ResultsThe pollen diagram produced locally from Yaksha was compared with the regional vegetation cover determined by REVEALS. Taxa such as Abies sp. and Pinus spp. showed differences between the two approaches, but vegetation signals remain qualitatively consistent. From 10,000 to 6,000 cal. yr BP, the forest was mainly a light taiga (composed of Pinus sylvestris and Betula spp.) and low fire activity was recorded. From 6,000 to 3,500 cal. yr BP, a dark taiga (composed of Picea spp., Abies sibirica and Pinus sibirica) was established due to favourable climatic conditions, despite higher fire activity. From 3,500 cal. yr BP onwards, the continuous increase in fire activity allowed for a gradual return of light taiga, Betula spp., likely reinforced by human activities. The dynamics of Picea spp. and Abies sp. were asynchronous between the sites. For Picea spp., the hypothesis of local inter‐site expansion distributed along stream corridors is supported by the data. For Abies sp., a bias in REVEALS, and in climate cooling may explain disparities between sites.Main conclusionsWe found evidence that in the early and mid‐Holocene, vegetation dynamics were probably more influenced by climate, as fire activity was low. During the late Holocene, fire activity and geomorphology, eventually augmented by human activities, increased in influence on vegetation dynamics and led to the predominance of the light taiga forest up to the present.

Investigating the variation of the fields of elastic stresses in the rock mass when developing the Peschanskoye deposit

Research aim is to study parameter variations in the stress state of the rock mass to ensure safe and efficient mining of the Peschanskoye magnetite deposit (Northern Ural) to the full depth, which has been carried out by Severopeschanskaya mine since 1958 in a complex of hard rock at a depth of 200 to 700 m. Blind, thick, and steep ore bodies are developed by a block-caving method with ore breaking to a clamped medium. From a depth of 400 m, the field is classified as rock burst hazardous. The first rock burst was recorded in 1981 at a depth of 450 m. Research methodology includes full-scale experimental measurements of the rock and ore mass stress state at accessible depths and horizons of the deposit, establishing patterns of stress growth with depth, as well as long-term (since 1990) geo-deformational monitoring of an untouched rock mass stress level in time. Research results analysis has allowed to establish the patterns in stress-strain state changes during mining. Gradients of gravitational and tectonic stresses growth with depth are determined. Alternating (astrophysical) stresses are highlighted in a special line, the extreme values of which are linked chronologically with various information factors. Conclusions. The determined values of rock mass natural stress state variation parameters in combination with the established stresses around the workings and goafs (technogenic impact) make it possible to take into account the main tempo-spatial factors of the impact made by the mentioned loads when selecting rockburst-safe and effective mining parameters for underground geotechnology both at the top horizons when applying controlled collapse of overlying blind deposits and in the prevention of rockburst hazard in the lower horizons of the developed field

Kasimovian stage in the Moleben-Iz section (Ilych River, Northern Urals)

Research subject. This study is devoted to the Moleben-Iz section on the Ilych River (Northern Urals) composed of Upper Moscovian (Myachkovian horizon) and Kasimovian rocks. Material and methods . The composition of rock and fossil inclusions in 49 samples was investigated. Results . The upper part of the Moscovian is represented by an alteration of bioclastic grainstones and packstones with rare interlayers of dolostones and cherts. Microcodium structures were found in three layers, which is indicative of three episodes of sub-aerial exposure. The Kasimovian lower boundary, which coincides with that of the Upper Carboniferous, is outlined by the appearance of diverse fusulinids of the usvaella genus, as well as by the first appearance of Eowariengella, Dagmarella, and Kanmeraia genera, since Pulchrellinae representatives dominate across this stratigraphic interval in northern-eastern sections of the European part of Russia, as well as in Canada and USA. At the base of the Kasimovian stage, the authors distinguished the Kanmeraia ozawai – Usvaella usvae biozone as being most consistent with the fauna composition. The Kasimovian is represented by the deposits of the Orlovskian and Kerzhakovian horizons. The deposits of the Orlovskian horizon are composed, in its lower part, by alternating grainstones and packstones, and, in its upper part, by boundstones and lime mudstones. Two levels of the development of biohermal rocks were established, representing two phases of organic buildup formation. The middle part of the Kasimovian (Montiparus montiparus zone) in the studied section was not established, which is likely to have resulted from a break in sedimentation. Upper Kasimovian deposits (Kerzhakovian horizon) are represented by highly silicified bryozoans packstones. These rocks serve as an excellent marking horizon, which is typical of the Northern Urals and partly of the Chernyshev Ridge. Conclusion . The Moleben-Iz section represents a range of biologic and geologic events, out of which the appearance of new Pulchrellinae genera and a marking horizon at the base of Kerzhakovian horizon are the most notable events.