The behavior of gold output during the War years is analyzed on the basis of historical research and many other documents. The estimates are provided of the gold output as an instrument of payment for lend-lease supplies during the Second World War. The heroic labour of the USSR gold mining industry personnel, particularly workers of the Dalstroy system, is described. A preliminary analysis of the USSR – US international relations in the cold war early years and evaluation of the USSR gold holdings have been made in this context.

In the situation of continuous deterioration of geological, mining, natural, environmental and social conditions the enhancement of economic efficiency and safety of mineral deposit development by surface mining methods requires new philosophy of planning and design of mining engineering systems on the basis of novel surface geotechnologies and dictates the necessity of refinement of the regulatory framework governing safe and efficient mineral mining. By the Decision of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostekhnadzor) the coordination of work on the elaboration of federal norms and rules in the area of industrial safety «Rules of providing the stability of pitwalls and benches of quarries, opencast mines and spoil dumps» was tasked to N.V. Melnikov Research Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The authors present the results of modeling of stress-strain behavior of the adjacent virgin rock and pit deposits with dirt partings

Radioactive wastes have become an important problem of our time. At the dawn of nuclear power engineering very few people pondered over the necessity of spent material storage, while today this task is extremely important. Therefore, the pressing need arises for developing a process to convert the radioactive wastes into inert materials, which will not be able to interact with the environment.

Based on the generalized experience of research into mineral mining and processing technology-related formations (tailings storage facilities) and studies personally performed in different years the authors describe the philosophy of the deposit development planning and design. High-priority tasks of technology-related deposit commercial development include such aspects as investigation of tailings storage facilities as perspective mining sites and obtaining of the reliable information on tailings storage facility depth and area variation of valuable component concentrations, and first of all, data required for the evaluation of the structure and properties of massifs, zoning of mineral forms and aggregates as a basis for the technology of such deposits development. Such sites are the most difficult-to-develop deposits.

The article presents the results showing the research novelty and the evidence of the diverse flotation activity of fluorite varieties of the Suranskoe deposit. The authors prove that the strength of carboxylic collector immobilization on fluorite varieties depends on the value of solubility products of formed oleates of metals.

The authors present the results of research proving the practical value and feasibility of the shale flotation process in the flowsheet of Suranskoe deposit fluorite ore processing. Shale flotation at the start of the processing cycle allows nearly complete removal of carbonaceous micaceous-silica-carbonate shales and prevention of fluorite concentrate contamination.

This article summarizes the experience in the processing (disposal) of ammunition and their components by the enterprises of the defense industry complex and outlines the results of using the products of recycled ammunition in the mining industry.

The article deals with the problems of dust-methane safety in underground workings. It presents the analysis of widely spread opinions on the physical nature of thermal energy and methods of its propagation in combustible medium. The energy principle of methane molecules distribution in mine air is shown. The article presents the elemental analysis of coal seams of mines operated by SUEK AO, and some probable patterns of coal macromolecules. The authors provide the rationale of the electro-magnetic principle of thermal energy transfer between molecules of combustible materials. They prove that molecules of all external sources of energy turn to high-energy impulsion and emit electromagnetic waves. (photons). The description is given of a physical mechanism of energy photons formation and transfer. Grounding is provided for two types of thermal energy transfer by photons. The article also contains the description of the process of energy transfer in combustible medium, and data on energy consumption for methane molecule dissipation, as well as on the emitted energy in the process of formation of carbon dioxide molecule and two molecules of water. The description is also given of photonic boundary (flame) propagation, combustion, as well as methane and coal dust explosion.

The article presents the hygienic evaluation of the dust factor as the main risk factor in underground and surface mineral mining. It contains data on concentrations of dust and toxic gaseous components for workers of main professions at mines operating in different regions and characterized by specific working environment. Physical and chemical characteristics of mine aerosols are also given, and their potential contribution to the risk of respiratory diseases development is emphasized. It is stated that occupational morbidity of underground workers in three last years ranged from 94.9 to 116.9, and that of surface miners – from 20.6 to 22.8 per 1000 workers, who had passed medical examination. The share of dust-related diseases of underground workers accounted for 21.3 – 25.7%, while that of surface mine workers – for 6.1 – 16.1%. Pneumoconiosis ranks first in the list of respiratory occupational diseases, which morbidity rates are the highest among drillers, drift miners, sinkers, production face workers having 15 – 20 years of service. The authors propose a system of technological, engineering, hygiene and sanitary, as well as medical and preventive measures for the prevention of dust-related respiratory diseases of miners.