Laboratories (Faculty of Geology)

Complex Research Laboratories of the Research Institution of Geology
Laboratory of Biostratigraphical Research
Mineragenical and Mineralogical and Petrological Laboratories
Mining and Petrological Laboratory
Laboratory of Sample Preparation and Substance Analysis
Training Laboratory of Soil Science and Soil Mechanics
Geology, Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Minerageny of Central Russia in the Precambrian Age
Joint Professor A.P. Tarkov Laboratory of Deep Structure, Geodynamics, and Seismological Monitoring (VSU and Federal Research Centre of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
Laboratory of Ecological Geology
Academic Manufacturing Centre “Geology”
Electrical Exploration Laboratory
Engineering Centre “I-TECHNOLOGY”
Laboratory of Petrophysics

Complex Research Laboratories of the Research Institution of Geology

Industrial partners

FSFI Hydrospetsgeologia
A.P. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute (VSEGEI)
OOO Akma-Universal
OOO SIBELKO

Research area

Geology, hydrogeology, geo-engineering, ecology

Laboratory equipment

Photoelectric colorimeter KFK-2-UKhL4.2
Hanna Instruments HI 98309 pure water tester/conductivity meter
HTR -220CE VIBRA electronic scales
Ionometric converter I-500
KFK-3КМ spectrophotometer
Burette GOST 29251-91
Densitometer (PAO Steklopribor, Chervonozavodsk)
Combined glass electrode ESK-10601/4
Atomic absorption spectrometer Kvant-Z.ETA-T
Aneroid barometer BAMM-1
Ion-selective electrode ELIS-131F
Semi-automatic soil compactor
Frost heave measurement device UPG-MG 4.01/H
Laboratory ion meter I-150MI
S8 Tiger X-ray diffractometer (Bruker AXS)
Dial indicator ICh-10
Glass electrode ES-10603
Electric laboratory oven SNOL 67/350
Muffle furnace Snol 6.7/1300
Polarizing microscope POLAM R-312 (LOMO) (Russia)
Binocular MBS-1 LOMO (Russia)
Vibration analyser A 20
Water distilling apparatus DE-4
Titration system SM-2
MATRIX hydraulic bottle jack
HERZOG TP-40 pellet press
Pycnometers

Available research methods

The methods described in standards and regulatory documents (GOST, guidelines of the Academic Council on Analytical Research methods, conversational standards PNDF, SNiP (construction rules and regulations), Sanitary Regulations and Norms, etc.)

Challenges

Chemical analysis of water, soil, subsoils, sediment, rock formations, ores, and their by-products
Mineralogical analysis and geotechnical investigation of subsoils

Major projects

Performing geological and groundwater public survey (1:200,000 and 1:1,000,000 scale) since 1991

Laboratory of Biostratigraphical Research

Industrial partners

AO Sibirskoye PGO (Chita)
OAO Uralskaya geologo-syomochnaya ekspeditsiya (Ekaterinburg)
Institute of the Earth's Crust Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Irkutsk)
OAO Geokarta-Perm (Perm)
Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Issues in Soil Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Puscheno)

Research area

Biostratigraphic criteria for chronological periodisation of sedimentary rocks from Precambrian to the Holocene

Laboratory equipment

Biological microscopes MBI-3 and R-17, with a magnification ranging from 250 to 1500

Available research methods

Spore-and-pollen analysis (identifying Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic spores and pollen)
Diatomic analysis (identifying Cenozoic diatoms)

Challenges

Performing paleontological studies in order to determine the age of the mapped rock masses, layers and sediment units

Major projects

The laboratory was opened 60 years and and since then it has been working on various scale projects. The employees of the laboratory are highly qualified specialists.

Mineragenical and Mineralogical and Petrological Laboratories

Research area

Minerageny, mineralogy, petrography

Laboratory equipment

Geological and outline maps
Computer hardware and software
Paper demonstration materials
Olympus BX51 polarized-light microscopes
Polam Р-312 ore microscopes
Binoculars MBS-9;
JEOL 6380 LV microprobe analyzer with INCA 250 energy dispersive analysis system
S8 Tiger X-ray diffractometer (Bruker AXS GmbH, Germany)

Major projects

Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, roadmap “Magmatism and ore-forming systems of non-ferrous and precious metals, their place in the theory of general evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere in Central Russia (assessing the resources and exploration prospects)”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.1 Federal target programme for the Centre for Research and Education 1.1 No. 14.V37.21.0585 “New criteria for blue earth localisation and the forecast for their localisation in the Russian territory of the East European Platform”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.2.1 Federal target programme 1.2.1 No. 14.V37.21.1253 “Geology and petrology of sulphide-platinoid-nickel-copper ore-forming systems in the Voronezh region, their place in the theory of general evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere in Central Russia (assessing the resources and prospects for creating Central European base for mining strategically important metals)”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.3.2 Federal target programme 1.3.2 No. 14.740.11.1273 “Assessing and forecasting non-ferrous and precious metals in the Lgovsky-Rakityansky greenstone belt (Central Russia, the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly)”
Grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research No. 11–05–00316-а “Gold and platinum black-shale stratified Precambrian depositional sequences in the Central Russia (types, composition, genesis, resources, forecasting and integrated development techniques)”

Available research methods

Historical geology methods of mineragenetic analysis and mapping, inluding determining tectonomagmatic cycles of each orogen and/or platform, determining the paragenetic relationships of ores and structural and compositional complexes of tectonomagmatic cycles, and separation of mineragenetic provinces and belts, and mineragenetic zones within them. Mineragenetic zones are basic small-scale spatial taxons with each tectonomagmatic cycle having its own mineragenetic zone.
Optical diagnostics of minerals under the microscope in transmitted and reflected light
Mineralogical analysis of rocks and ores
Radiographical analysis
X-ray fluorescence analysis
Electron microprobe analysis with scanning electron microscopy

Challenges

Mineragenetic assessment of geological features
Conducting mineralogical analysis of black sand and crushed samples
Determining mineral composition of rocks and ores
Petrographic description of rocks

Mining and Petrological Laboratory, Sample Preparation and Substance Analysis Laboratory

Research area

Mineralogy, petrography, petrology, geochemistry, minerageny

Laboratory equipment

Computer hardware and software
Polam Р-311 polarized-light microscopes
Polam Р-312 ore microscopes
Roll-jaw crusher
LDI-65 grinder
Draft chamber
Johnson riffles
Sochnev magnet
Automated line for production of thin and polished rock sections (including diamond saws and buffing and grinding wheels)

Available research methods

Optical diagnostics of minerals under the microscope in transmitted and reflected light
Electron microprobe analysis with scanning electron microscopy
Mineralogical analysis of rocks and ores
Radiographical analysis
X-ray fluorescence analysis
Electron microprobe analysis with scanning electron microscopy

Challenges

Determination of mineral composition of rocks and ores
Petrographic description of rocks
Preparation of samples for mineralogical analysis, analysis of the chemical composition of minerals, rocks, and ores, and rock age analysis
Preparing thin and polished rock sections, preparations for X-ray microanalysis
Conducting mineralogical analysis of black sand and crushed samples

Major projects

Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, geodynamics roadmap “Magmatism and ore-forming systems of non-ferrous and precious metals, their place in the theory of general evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere in Central Russia (assessing the resources and exploration prospects)”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.1 Federal target programme for the Centre for Research and Education 1.1 No. 14.V37.21.0585 “New criteria for blue earth localisation and the forecast for their localisation in the Russian territory of the East European Platform”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.2.1 Federal target programme 1.2.1 No. 14.V37.21.1253 “Geology and petrology of sulphide-platinoid-nickel-copper ore-forming systems in the Voronezh region, their place in the theory of general evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere in Central Russia (assessing the resources and prospects for creating Central European base for mining strategically important metals)”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.3.2 Federal target programme 1.3.2 No. 14.740.11.1273 “Assessing and forecasting non-ferrous and precious metals in the Lgovsky-Rakitnyansky greenstone belt (Central Russia, the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly)”
Grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research No. 11–05–00316-а “Gold and platinum black-shale stratified Precambrian depositional sequences in Central Russia (types, composition, genesis, resources, forecasting, and integrated development techniques)”

Training Laboratory of Soil Science and Soil Mechanics

Industrial partners

OOO AKMA-Universal

Research area

Soil science, soil mechanics, engineering structures, geocryology

Laboratory equipment

Preconsolidation apparatus
Box shear apparatus
Consolidometers, stabilometer
Compressor
Apparatus for the determination of soil characteristics (PNG-1), apparatus for determining the free swell index of loamy soils (PNG)
Balance
Hydraulic press
Metal sample containers
Vasiliev's cone
Areometer
Pycnometer
Soil shrinkage moulds

Available research methods

Laboratory study of soil properties, compression (simple and triaxial compression), shear

Challenges

Determination of physical properties of soils
Determination of strength properties of soils
Determination of stress-related properties of soils

Geology, Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Minerageny of Central Russia in the Precambrian Age

Research area

Mineralogy, petrography, petrology, geochemistry, minerageny

Laboratory equipment

Sets of geologic and outline maps
Computer hardware and software
Polam Р-311 polarized-light microscopes
Polam Р-312 ore microscopes, MBS‑9 binocular microscope
JEOL 6380 LV microprobe analyser with a INCA 250 energy-dispersive detachable device
S8 Tiger X-ray diffractometer (Bruker AXS GmbH, Germany).

Available research methods

Optical diagnostics of minerals under the microscope in transmitted and reflected light
Mineralogical analysis of rocks and ores
Radiographical analysis
X-ray fluorescence analysis
Electron microprobe analysis with scanning electron microscopy
Set of historic and geologic methods of mineralogical analysis and minerogenic mapping, including: 1) distinguishing of tectonomagmatic cycles in a specified orogen and/or platform; 2) establishing paragenetic connections in ore formations with structural and compositional complexes of tectonomagmatic cycles; 3) isolation of mineragenetic provinces and belts and mineragenetic zones they are comprised of Mineragenetic zones are designated as belonging to basic small-scale spatial taxon, which is individual for each tectonomagmatic cycle

Challenges

Conducting mineralogical analysis of black sand and crushed samples, determining mineral composition of rocks and ores
Petrographic description of rocks
Mineragenetic assessment of geological features

Major projects

Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, geodynamics roadmap “Magmatism and ore-forming systems of non-ferrous and precious metals, their place in the theory of general evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere in Central Russia (assessing the resources and exploration prospects)”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.1 Federal target programme for the Centre for Research and Education 1.1 No. 14.V37.21.0585 “New criteria for localisation ofdiamond-bearing kimberlites and the forecast for their localisation in the Russian territory of the East European Platform”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.2.1 Federal target programme 1.2.1 No. 14.V37.21.1253 “Geology and petrology of sulphide-platinoid-nickel-copper ore-forming systems in the Voronezh region, their place in the theory of general evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere in Central Russia (assessing the resources and prospects for creating Central European base for mining strategically important metals)”
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal target programme “Academic and Teaching Staff...” 1.3.2 Federal target programme 1.3.2 No. 14.740.11.1273 “Assessing and forecasting non-ferrous and precious metals in the Lgovsky-Rakitnyansky greenstone belt (Central Russia, the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly)”
Grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research No. 11–05–00316-а “Gold and platinum black-shale stratified Precambrian depositional sequences in Central Russia (types, composition, genesis, resources, forecasting, and integrated development techniques)”

Joint Professor A.P. Tarkov Laboratory of Deep Structure, Geodynamics, and Seismological Monitoring (VSU and Federal Research Centre of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

Industrial partners

Nuclear power plants

Research area

Seismology, seismic safety, microseismology

Laboratory equipment

16 seismic stations
Recorders
Seismometer
2 local servers

Available research methods

Registration of the seismic wavefield by 16 seismic stations, five of which belong to the Federal seismic observation network in Russia
Special methods for processing and interpretation of the wavefield
Detection of far, regional, and local earthquakes, microearthquakes, and explosions by means of modern software
Statistic and spectral correlation methods of processing microseismic field

Challenges

Theoretical investigation aimed at studying nonlinear properties of geological environment, cause and effect relationships between physical-geological irregularities of the lithosphere and seismic activity of platform regions today
Investigation of Earth’s global seismic activity
Studying seismic activity in the central flat terrain of Russia (Central Black Earth economic region and neighbouring territories)
Assessment of the seismic and tectonic setting in the territories with nuclear power stations (Kursk, Novovoronezh, etc.).
Seismic microzoning of urban agglomerations, sites of high environmental sensitivity, planned or existing regions of mineral extraction
Studying the vibration modes of the geological environment at construction sites of residential and other buildings
Evaluation of the vibration mode of buildings and facilities, the influence of industrial explosions on building and facility sustainability

Major projects

“Studying the nonlinear properties of the platform lithosphere based on the analysis of the microseismic field and effect of impulse actions on the geological environment (based on the example of the Voronezh crystalline massif) (2009–2011)
“Studying lithospheric and ionospheric relationships in the area of the Voronezh crystalline massif” (2013–2015)

Laboratory of Ecological Geology

Industrial partners

Department of Natural Resources and Ecology of specific regions of the Russian Federation
OOO EKO SPETS STROI (Voronezh)
ZAO Krasnoye znamya (Voronezh)
OOO ProektGenStroi (Voronezh)
OOO ARST (Moscow)

Research area

Engineering site investigations for construction
Ecological and geological research of technology-intensive territories
Ecological modelling and environmental design

Available research methods

Spectrometric (photometric) method
Titration-based method
Potentiometric method

Challenges

Analytical investigation of soils, terrains, and subterranean waters
Ecological and geological mapping
Forecasting effects of specified features on environmental components
Monitoring environmental components
Ecological modelling
Environmental design
Innovation technologies in environmental education

Laboratory equipment

SHVk-1200 draft chamber
SESH-3М dewatering box
AE-14-”YA-FP” water distilling apparatus
I-130 laboratory ionomer
ANION-7000 portable рН‑meter
KFK-2-UHL 4.2 photoelectric concentration colorimeter
Visocolor ECO, HE test-kits
ADAM HCB-123 laboratory balance
Electronic Balance HX3001-T
RKS107 dosimeter-radiometer
PGA-1 gas analyser
Testo 816–1 digital sound level meter

Major projects

Monitoring ground water contamination with petroleum on the premises of a large oil tank farm in Voronezh
Estimation of flooding areas in the Voronezh region
Geotechnical exploring for construction in the Voronezh region and neighbouring regions
Monitoring of exogenetic processes in the Lipetsk region
Ecological hydrogeochemical monitoring of underground waters in specified districts of the Voronezh, Moscow, Belgorod, Kaliningrad, and Tver regions
Development of the system of specially protected territories

Academic Manufacturing Centre “Geology”

Research area

Deep structure of the Earth's crust, geodynamics, magma generation and deposit generation, and accumulation conditions in the Precambrian in platform sedimentary basins and fold belts

Laboratory equipment

Altami СМ0745 Greenough-type stereo microscope providing three-dimensional picture in reflected light
BiOptic BPR-100-series polarised-light microscope

Available research methods

Mineralogical and petrological methods

Challenges

Conducting basic research in geology
Carrying out applied works based on the results of the basic research
Mineralogical and petrological analysis of rocks

Major projects

Studying the deep structure and evolution of the crystalline basement and the sedimentary cover of the lithosphere in the Voronezh crystalline core-area by means of comprehensive modelling
Studying the evolution of the sedimentary cover and titan-zirconium placer formation in the Voronezh anteclise by means of paleogeographic and lithologic-and-facies modelling
Development of innovative principles for assessing the resource potential of the Voronezh anticlise
Studying structural, lithologic, and mineralogical criteria of enhancing resources potential and investment attractiveness of titan-zirconium placers of the Voronezh anticlise
Studying the lithology and material composition of titanium-zirconium sands to enhance complex extraction of major and minor components at the Eastern area of the Central Field

Electrical Exploration Laboratory

Industrial partners

OAO Geotechnologia
OOO AKMA-Universal

Research area

Geophysics and geophysical methods in mineral deposit exploration

Laboratory equipment

Tanks for physical modelling of electro exploring tasks – 3
Electrical exploration equipment – 6 sets
Computers

Challenges

Conducting field observations
Interpretation of geoelectrophysical research materials

Available research methods

Geoelectrical research by resistance and provoked polarisation technique
Analogue modelling of electro exploring tasks in complex environments

Major projects

Nickel and gold deposit exploration in Primorye, the Kamchatka, and Northern Urals

Engineering Centre “I-TECHNOLOGY”

Industrial partners

OOO TSKIG “TSITRIN”
OOO Gidrosfera
AO Primorzoloto

Research area

Processing technology for enriched tailings of common mineral resources

Laboratory equipment

Spiral separators
Magnetic separators
Concentrating tables
Shaker screen

Available research methods

Mineralogical analysis
Granulometric analysis
Petrological analysis

Challenges

Studying mineral raw materials for cost-efficiency of their processing
Development of technological flows for processing of minerals

Major projects

“Studying the lithology and material composition of titanium-zirconium sands to enhance complex extraction of major and minor components at the Eastern area of the Central Field” (2012–2014)

Laboratory of Petrophysics

Industrial partners

AO OT-OIL
OOO AKMA-Universal

Research area

Geophysical research of the Earth's crust and mineral deposit exploration

Laboratory equipment

Measuring devices for magnetic properties of rocks and ores
Densitometer
Seismic-wave velocity meter
Measuring device for electrical properties of rocks
Computers with a multimedia system

Major projects

Studying physical properties of sedimentary and crystalline rocks in Primorye, the Kamchatka, Northern Urals, and Central districts of the Russian Federation

Available research methods

Petrophysical investigations of specimens of rocks and ores

Challenges

Conducting field observations
Interpretation of geophysical research materials