Geology, Prospecting and Exploration of Solid Minerals, Minerageny

Profession

The development of human society is inextricably linked with the formation of geology as a science and, above all, those of its areas that are aimed at the diagnosis and development of minerals. It is no coincidence that the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages stand out in the history of civilization, i.e. periods when, thanks to geological knowledge, a person learned to search for and extract durable stone material, as well as copper, tin and iron ores, which he needs to make tools and weapons. The role of a geologist has increased in the modern era of atomic and digital technologies, when about 750 of the 5,000 minerals known now are already used in industry. In the near future, this trend will not only continue, but will significantly increase.
A teacher-researcher in this area has knowledge in the field of developing the theoretical foundations for the formation of various types of mineral deposits, studying the features of their geological structure and patterns of spatial distribution in various geotectonic blocks of the earth's crust, determining the geological prerequisites for the formation and search features, improving methods for assessing, prospecting and exploration of geological objects of various hierarchical levels (ore districts, nodes, fields, deposits, ore bodies). The teacher-researcher has the opportunity to prepare and defend a scientific qualification work for the degree of candidate of sciences, as well as to combine research activities with a career in the pedagogical field.

Educational Process

During four years of distance learning, graduate students will learn about the conditions for the origin and formation of oil and gas fields, forecasting, prospecting, exploration and geological and economic assessment of oil and gas fields. Postgraduate students also get acquainted with the geological support in the development of oil and gas fields, the theory and solution of applied problems for the protection of subsoil and the environment in the process of geological exploration.
Key disciplines: “Theoretical Foundations of Prospecting and Exploration of Oil and Gas Fields”, “Geology and Geochemistry of Oil and Gas”, “Geochemical Research in Prospecting and Exploration of Oil and Gas”, “Integrated Interpretation of Geophysical Data”, “Mathematical Modeling of Geological Processes”.
The main laboratories of the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Business of RUDN University are involved in the educational process: a comprehensive study of mineral raw materials, petrography and mineralogy, geophysical studies, and reservoir properties. All of them are provided with the necessary equipment, electronic cartographic demonstration materials. Postgraduate students have access to computer classes where they can work in modern computer programs, calculate oil and gas reserves, model hydrocarbon deposits, predict traps and reservoirs. Meetings are held annually with representatives of oil and gas geological enterprises. R&D equipment companies regularly invite graduate students to round tables, briefings, and master classes to demonstrate the capabilities of their products, which helps future Ph.D. students dive deeper into the profession.

Practice

Practical trainings carried out during the training process allow students to consolidate the acquired knowledge and skills, as well as form the necessary competencies.
Postgraduate students studying in the specialty “Geology, prospecting and exploration of solid minerals, minerageny” can practice in any organization conducting geological activities, both public and commercial. Postgraduate students also undergo teaching practical training as part of the curriculum at the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Affairs of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. They acquire the skills of teaching the specialized disciplines of their specialty and improve their qualifications as teachers. Research practice consists in collecting, analyzing and processing materials and data on the subject of a future dissertation in the course of cooperation with commercial enterprises. Many oil institutes and commercial companies offer graduate students employment during their internship.

Career

As a result of mastering the program, graduates will be able to get a job in:
— federal executive bodies – the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (“Rosnedra”);
— Leading research institutes – Russian Research Institute named after A.P. Karpinsky (VSEGEI, St. Petersburg)”, “Geological Institute (GIN RAS, Moscow), “Institute of Geology and Mineralogy (IGEM RAS, Moscow)”, “Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry (GEOKHI RAS, Moscow))”, “Institute of Oceanology named after P.P. Shirshov (IO RAS, Moscow)”, “Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI, St. Petersburg)”, “Institute of Geology and Mineralogy. V.S. Sobolev (IGM SB RAS, Novosibirsk)”, “Institute of Geology. N.P. Yushkin (IG KOMI NTs URO RAS, Syktyvkar)”, “Institute of the Earth’s Crust (IZK SB RAS, Irkutsk)”, “Far Eastern Geological Institute (FEGI FEB RAS, Vladivostok)”, “Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics named after . Y.A. Kosygin (ITIG FEB RAS, Khabarovsk)”, “Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (IViS FEB RAS, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky)”;
— leading geological state and commercial organizations – “Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements (IMGRE, Moscow)”, “Central Research Geological Prospecting Institute (TsNIGRI, Moscow)”, “Russian Scientific Research Institute of Mineral Resources named after. N.M. Fedorovsky” (VIMS, Moscow), Russian Geological Holding (“Rosgeologiya”, Moscow), “Yuzhgeologia” (Rostov-on-Don), “Russian Research Institute of Geology of Foreign Countries” (VNIIZarubezhgeologia, Moscow), Yuzhmorgeologia (Gelendzhik), Norilsk Nickel, United Corporation RUSAL, RGK Alrosa, Apatit, RossZoloto, Mechel, Severstal and etc.
Graduates of postgraduate studies can also carry out teaching activities in leading universities in Russia and other countries.