This article presents the results of long-term research and monitoring of the soil cover exposed to the impact of the mining and processing plant developing diamond deposits in the northeast of Siberia. The soil collection includes 436 samples of different types of Cryosols. Soil pH; soil organic carbon (SOC); granulometric composition; and mobile forms of Pb, Ni, Mn, Cd, Co, Cr, Zn, Cu, and As were identified in the samples. Multivariate statistics of the correlation matrix, clustering analysis (CA), and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to determine the sources of heavy metals. The intensity of the accumulation of chemical elements in the soil was assessed using calculated concentration coefficients (K_c) and the index of total contamination of the soil cover (Z_c). In the study area, Cryosols are characterized by biogenic accumulation of Ni, Mn, and Cd in the upper soil layer and Cr, Ni, Co, Mn, and Cu in the suprapermafrost horizon. Correlation matrix, CA, and PCA revealed three distinct sources that could be considered for the investigated potentially toxic elements (PTEs): anthropogenic, lithogenic, and the source which comes from a mixed contribution of anthropogenic and lithogenic factors. The most anthropogenic contribution in the heavy metals in the study area appears in Zn, Cd, As, and Pb. The assessment interpreted that origin of Mn in the area is most likely to be a natural source. The content of Co, Cr, and Ni are controlled by both lithogenic control and anthropogenic sources. Active accumulation of mobile forms of Mn, Zn, and Ni with anomalously high concentration coefficients can be traced in the soils in the impact zone of mining operations. Anthropogenic soil contamination is spread over an area of 260 km².

A study was performed to evaluate the current permafrost and groundwater conditions in the reclaimed floodplain of the Lena, one of the largest rivers in the permafrost zone. Data from ongoing hydrogeological monitoring were compared with earlier observations conducted during the reclamation process. The results demonstrate that the placement of dredged fill led to the development of suprapermafrost thaw zones (taliks). The anthropogenic taliks vary in thickness from 10 to 15 m in areas of buried bars to 20 m or more in the former locations of oxbow lakes. There is similarity in seasonal groundwater fluctuation patterns and response to river stage variations across the study area suggesting that a continuous aquifer connected to surface water. The connection with the river is most evident during the spring flood period. Two mechanisms of ground saturation are identified during this time. One is lateral seepage flow from the Lena River into the fill mass. The zone of its influence is limited to 150–170 m from the stream. The second is hydraulic pressure transmission from the river through the subchannel flow connected with the anthropogenic suprapermafrost aquifer. Its influence extends across the entire fill area. Continuous water movement at the base of the fill prevents permafrost aggradation from below. The study results should be taken into account when developing and implementing design and construction standards for engineering structures in the reclaimed floodplains of the permafrost zone.

Geochemical risk is caused by the release of hazardous chemicals to the earth surface. Primary diamond deposits are located in difficult mining and geological conditions. They represent natural geochemical anomalies associated with the mineral composition of rocks and groundwater, which contain a number of impurity elements with high toxic properties (Tl, Di, As, Cd, Hg), and increased concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ti, V and others). The paper presents the physical-geographical and mining-geological conditions of the diamondiferous region, where three large mining and processing divisions operate: Udachninsky, Aikhalsky and Nyurbinsky. pH, organic matter (humus), total nitrogen, and physical clay were identified in the study samples, by using potentiometric, photoelectric colorimetric, spectrophotometric methods, and pipette method for particle size analysis. Gross and mobile forms of trace elements were determined by atomic absorption and emission spectrometry. The groups of elements were identified that determined the natural and man-made anomalies. The accumulation of Cr, Ni, and Co determines the influence of kimberlite magmatism in general. Cu, Sr, and Li are accumulated in the soils of the Daldyn-Alakit diamond-bearing region. Increased concentrations of Mn and Cu are typical in the soils of the Sredne-Markhinsky diamond-bearing region. An assessment of the ecological and geochemical state of the study areas was carried out according to the indicator of total pollution (Zc), which is the sum of the excess of the concentration coefficients of chemical elements accumulating in anomalies. Areas of pollution and zones of the greatest risk are localized, which occupy up to 75% of the total area of industrial sites. They confined to quarry-dump complexes and to areas of impact of tailing dumps of processing plants.

Harsh environmental conditions of the study area result in low rates of ecosystem renewal. Results of geoecological studies at the sites of searching for and extraction of fossil remains of mammoth fauna in the middle reaches of the Indigirka River are presented. During the extraction of mammoth fauna remains using hydraulic washing-out, landscape components are disrupted, followed by leaching of the bedrock into creeks and rivers, thus leading to deterioration of abiotic components of the aquatic environment. Analysis of the geoecological state of the abiotic components of the ecosystem at the study site was used to assess the effects of the extraction of mammoth tusks by hydraulic mining. The study objects are cryogenic soils, bottom sediments and surface waters of the Semyuelyakh, Tirekhtyakh, and Indigirka rivers on the middle course segment. Soil and sediment samples were used to determine pH, mobile phosphorus, and C_org. Total content of Cu, Sn, Zn, Pb, Ge, B, Cr, Ni, V, Sc, Co, Ba, Sr, Nb, Zr, Y, Yb was analyzed using the spectral semi-quantitative method. The cationic-anionic composition, mineralization, suspended solids, pH and concentrations of Mn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn, Co, Fe were determined in surface water samples by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. The concentration coefficients and anthropogenic load index were calculated. Studies conducted in 2022 established that there was a local impact on surface water. At the site of hydraulic pumping of water used to wash away the soil, an increase in mineralization, suspended solids, color index, and changes in the trace element composition were recorded, showing that manganese, nickel, iron, copper and zinc contribute the most to water pollution levels.

The study deals with the history of exploration of the subsoil resources of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), its huge and diverse geological and mineralogical potential. The authors analyse the existing museums devoted to geology and mineralogy, and put forward the idea of the necessity to create a large museum reflecting the history of geological exploration and development of mineral resources in the republic. The urgent need to create a mining and geological museum in Yakutsk, reflecting the history of geological exploration and development of mineral resources in the republic is emphasised. The concept of the museum as a powerful centre of scientific and educational education and a space of cultural exchange of society, based on axiological basis, is defined. Its mission as propaganda and popularisation of knowledge about the Earth, preservation of unique geological fund of the republic, orientation and self-identification of the person in the world of values is characterized.