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INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
IN THE SEARCH AND EXPLORATION
OF SOLID MINERALS

Field of study
GEOLOGY

Master's

Full–time

Russian

TUITION FEE

₽ 360 000

$ 5900 / € 5650

ABOUT THE PROFESSION

From the first stone turned into a tool by ancient man to the high—tech developments of the XXI century, geological knowledge has always been the basis of progress. Today, the profession of a geologist combines classical research methods and the latest digital technologies.

As a student of the program, you will master the full cycle of geological work: from informative field expeditions and sample collection to interesting laboratory analyses and digital computer modeling. You will learn how to work with modern tools such as GPS devices, drones, geophysical equipment, and use specialized software that helps to create accurate models of the earth’s interior.

The modern world needs specialists who are able to ensure a stable supply of minerals for industry. Your career will be associated with the search for non-ferrous, precious and rare metals, non-metallic raw materials and other valuable resources, which makes the profession of a geologist one of the most sought-after and significant in modern society. You will be able to realize yourself in your desired field of exciting searches, scientific research or digital geology.

Join the program where tradition is combined with innovation, and discover the exciting world of geology!

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM

Comprehensive digital solutions

The program combines several relevant areas and tools of prospecting and exploration geology: geology, geophysics, geochemistry, remote sensing of the Earth, artificial intelligence and neural network technologies, digital three-dimensional modeling, calculation of reserves and assessment of mineral resources.

ASK A QUESTION

International accreditation

The Central Agency for Assessment and Accreditation (ZEvA, Germany) has recognized the program as meeting international educational quality standards. The international accreditation period is 2019-2026. Students who have successfully completed their studies under the program and have gained work experience in production have the right to carry out their own international accreditation as a specialist.

Participation and victories in professional competitions

Students successfully make presentations and defend their own solutions to real and relevant production tasks at the annual International Engineering Championship “CASE-IN” in the field of “Geological Exploration”.

International scientific events

Students of the program take part in annual Scientific Kreiter Readings dedicated to solving urgent problems of ore and non-metallic deposits, issues of their prospecting and exploration. Seminars and master classes are regularly held with the participation of leading Russian geologists and invited foreign specialists (countries of Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the CIS).

International scientific and professional relations

The international composition of study groups and participation in international scientific events allows students to build their own network of professional international contacts already at the university.

STUDY PROCESS

120 ECTS

  • First year of study (disciplines)

  • Second year of study (disciplines)

  • Internships

  • State final exams

  • Final qualification work

Disciplines

  • Basics of creating an academic/scientific text: syntax
  • Preparation of an academic/scientific presentation in a foreign language
  • Academic/scientific presentation in English
  • Writing an academic/scientific text: from a paragraph to an essay
  • Geology as a part of world culture
  • Principles of scientific research in geology
  • History of the development of geological knowledge from ancient times to the present day
  • Methodological foundations of geology and Earth sciences
  • Science in the system of modern culture
  • Specifics of scientific knowledge, its structure and dynamics
  • Genesis and evolution of the natural science picture of the world
  • Problem of the unity of the world: synthesis of philosophical and natural science approaches
  • Specifics of the implementation of the principles of evolution, consistency, determinism and self-organization in modern natural science
  • Determining the place and role of man in the “nature-society-man” system
  • Sources and types of geological information, formalization of geological data
  • Reading the geological data and Big Data (representation of raster, vector, numeric and text data, file formats, format conversion, converters)
  • Getting to know and work in graphic, numerical and text editors for commercial and free use
  • Specialized computer programs used to solve geological problems
  • Classification of mineral deposits by types of minerals (ferrous, non-ferrous, noble, rare and rare earth, radioactive metals, non-metallic resources
  • Geological search criteria and features
  • Variety of methods of prospecting for mineral deposits (mineralogical, geochemical, geophysical, etc.)
  • Modern non-classical methods of prospecting for mineral deposits (based on digital data, artificial intelligence and neural networks)
  • Acquaintance with various groups of modern problems of subsurface use
  • Modern challenges in the field of prospecting for new mineral deposits
  • Modern challenges in the field of exploration and development of mineral deposits
  • Sustainable development of subsurface use
  • Digital subsurface use and digital technologies in subsurface use
  • Familiarization with the possibilities and areas of application of geoanalytics in geology
  • rganization and visualization of geological data
  • Working with spatial geological data (from primary processing to visualization of processing results)
  • Prospects and trends in the development of geoanalytics in Russia and abroad
  • Introduction to the basic concepts of remote sensing of the Earth
  • Interdisciplinary links between geology and remote sensing of the Earth
  • Integration of geological region knowledge and modern remote sensing capabilities
  • Structural decryption of remote sensing data
  • Spectral decoding of remote sensing data
  • Concept of facies and their relation to the genetic types of rock deposits
  • Understanding the geological structure of individual regions (theory and diagnosis of rock samples, and their detailed study under a microscope)
  • Restoration of the genesis of sedimentary rocks and sediments
  • Possibilities of forecasting new mineral deposits based on lithofacies analysis of the territory
  • Applied geochemistry in the system of sciences
  • Prevalence of chemical elements and the variety of their forms in the Earth’s crust
  • Migration of chemical elements and geochemical barriers
  • Geochemical methods of mineral prospecting
  • Geochemical methods of mineral prospecting, their capabilities and purpose
  • Primary and secondary dispersion halos, dispersion streams of ore deposits
  • Field, laboratory and desk work in geochemical prospecting
  • Computer processing of geochemical data and interpretation of the obtained results

Disciplines

  • Familiarization with general information about mathematical modeling of geological objects
  • One-dimensional, two-dimensional and multidimensional geological models and their application in geology
  • Digital modeling of spatial geological patterns
  • Possibilities of processing digital geological data using artificial intelligence and neural networks
  • Methodological foundations of the integration of geophysical methods
  • Analysis and interpretation of geophysical data, criteria for the selection of a geophysical research complex
  • Digital physical and geological modeling
  • Formation of skills for integrating geophysical methods in the search and exploration of ore and sedimentary deposits, coal and oil shale, uranium, diamond-bearing kimberlites
  • Fundamentals of computer 3D modeling and estimation of reserves of solid mineral deposits
  • Frame and block modeling of ore bodies, calculation of reserves
  • Planning of open-pit mining, including design and optimization of quarries
  • Software: ArcGIS, QGIS, Micromine, Surpac, Leapfrog Geo
  • General information about remote methods of studying the Earth in geology
  • Software and special methods for processing Earth remote sensing data
  • Comprehensive interpretation of the decryption results using geological, geophysical, geochemical and landscape materials
  • Possibilities of using artificial intelligence and neural networks to analyze Earth remote sensing data

PRACTICAL TRAINING AND INTERNSHIPS

Places of practices / internships

International internships in Latin America

  • National University of Engineering, Peru.
    Internship to gain skills in field and laboratory study of ore minerals

Introductory practice (research activities)

  • Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Business of the RUDN.
    Familiarization with the basics of conducting scientific research, including the formation of skills for preparing scientific articles.

Introductory practice

  • Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Business of the RUDN.
    Familiarization with the laboratories of the department, as well as conducting research in the field of diagnostics of rocks and ores, geophysical research, computer processing of geological data, digital modeling of geological objects;
  • Geological Department of Zarubezhgeologiya JSC.
    Search and collection of geological information about the subsoil and deposits of foreign countries;
  • The library of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Rosgeolfond”.
    Search and collection of geological information about the subsoil and deposits of the Russian Federation
  • The base of geological practice in the Miassky district of the Chelyabinsk region.
    The passage of survey geological, geophysical and geochemical routes.

Research work

  • Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Business of the RUDN;
  • Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GIN RAS);
  • Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IGEM RAS);
  • Central Scientific Research Geological Exploration Institute of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metals (TSNIGRI);
  • N.M. Fedorovsky All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Mineral Raw Materials (VIMS);
  • Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements (IMGRE).

Pedagogical practice

  • Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Business of the RUDN.
    Obtaining skills and experience in the field of pedagogical and methodological work, the formation of teacher skills.

Pre-graduate practice

  • Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Business of the RUDN. Preparation of the final qualification work based on the results of scientific research.

RESEARCH

Research competencies are developed through the participation of students in scientific projects. Working as part of international groups, students gain experience, skills and collect interesting material on Russian and foreign geological sites for conducting scientific research and preparing final qualification work.

On the basis of specialized laboratories of the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Engineering of the RUDN, students master methods of complex analysis of geological, geochemical, geophysical information and data from multispectral satellite images in order to assess the territory for the discovery of new deposits of ore minerals.

Among the most significant projects:

  • assessment of the possibility of using satellite images for geological mapping and prospecting in Sudan, Tanzania and Namibia;
  • the possibilities of using satellite images to predict the content of oxides in Guinea bauxite;
  • development of a predictive prospecting model of porphyry copper and gold deposits based on paleovolcanic reconstructions;
  • the possibilities of using artificial intelligence and space technologies in the search for ore deposits of minerals.

PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

Alexander Kotelnikov

Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Engineering of the RUDN University Academy of Engineering.

Phone: +7 (495) 955-07-96
E-mail: kotelnikov-ae@rudn.ru

CURATORS AND TEACHERS

program curator and teacher
Romero Barrenechea Moises Esau
Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Engineering
teacher
Alexey Georgievsky
Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Engineering
teacher
Vladimir Abramov
Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Engineering
teacher
Vladimir Markov
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Subsoil Use and Oil and Gas Engineering

CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIE

Graduate masters of the program “Innovative technologies in the search and exploration of solid minerals” may develop further careers in one of the following areas:

Continuing education and scientific work in postgraduate studies at Russian and foreign universities with a PhD degree
Work in academic and departmental research organizations (Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GIN RAS), Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IGEM RAS), Central Research Geological Exploration Institute of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metals (TSNIGRI), All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Mineral Raw Materials named after N.M. Fedorovsky (VIMS), Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements (IMGRE), etc.)
Work in geological organizations, exploration and mining companies engaged in prospecting, exploration and extraction of mineral raw materials (Rosgeologiya JSC, Zarubezhgeologiya JSC, Polyus PJSC, Rosatom GC, Norilsk Nickel PJSC, AK Alrosa (PJSC), RUSAL United Company, Metalloinvest Holding Company JSC, Polymetal OJSC, Uranium One, Rio Tinto, etc.)
Work in federal and regional bodies of nature protection and management of subsoil use

Graduates of the program are in demand and successfully work both in scientific laboratories, performing interesting researches, and in offices, implementing digital geology projects. Subsurface use plays an important role in many countries and the issues of prospecting and exploration of solid minerals are relevant and significant. This contributes to the development of this industry and increases the demand for highly qualified graduate geologists.

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Interdisciplinary exam