This article presents the new data on the chemical and gas composition, the content of stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur in natural mineral waters of the Essentuki field. A detailed study of the geological and hydrogeological features of the water circulation area, its major chemical composition, the content of organic matter in water, temperature conditions and δ¹⁸O_SMOW, δD_SMOW, δ¹³C_DIC, δ¹⁸O_DIC, δ³⁴S_VCDT, δ¹³C_CO2, δ¹³C_CH4, δ¹⁵N values made it possible to specify the genesis of water, gas, and solute components of the Essentuki CO₂-rich mineral water field. The stable isotopes values (δ¹⁸O_SMOW and δD_SMOW) in the water phase ranges from −13.75 to −9.69‰ and from −101.08 to −74.34‰, respectively. They correspond to GMWL, which indicates their predominantly infiltration genesis. The values of δ¹³C_DIC in mineral waters of the Essentuki field vary widely from −14.43 to +8.59‰ and indicate their mixed genesis. δ¹⁵N gas values in mineral waters of the Essentuki field vary quite widely from −2.31 to 2.50‰ indicating a different source of this gas. Obtained data prove that all mineral waters in the Essentuki field are infiltration waters, and the heterogeneous component composition of waters circulating in different aquifers reflects the lithological composition of water-bearing strata, the rate of openness/closure of faults and the intensity of reactions in the «water-rock-gas-organic matter» system.

The article presents modern data on the chemical, gas composition, the content of the stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and sulfur in the natural mineral waters of the Essentuki field. A detailed study of the geological and hydrogeological features of the water circulation territory, their macro components composition, the content of organic matter in the water, temperature conditions and values of δ¹⁸О_SMOW, δD_SMOW, δ¹³СDIC, δ18О_DIC, δ³⁴S_VCDT, δ¹³C_CO2, δ¹³C_CH4, δ¹⁵N revealed the genesis of the aqueous, gas and salt components of the natural mineral waters of the Essentuki field. Established that all natural mineral waters of the Essentuki field are meteoric infiltration waters. The heterogeneous component composition of the natural mineral waters, that circulate in various aquifers, represents the features of the lithological composition of the water-bearing rocks, the degree of openness or closeness of faults and the intensity of reactions in the water-rock-gas-organic matter system.

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the potential of energy resources of African countries based on geological prerequisites in the structure of sedimentary basins of the region. On the basis of numerous sources, the categorization of countries by the amount of hydrocarbon production, as well as by the size of resource potential of countries, has been carried out. For the largest countries in terms of production and reserves, a comparison is given with the main oil and gas basins, within which the producing fields are located and the main hydrocarbon reserves have been explored. In the context of the transition to renewable energy sources, the article examines African countries with high geothermal potential, such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, capable of meeting the demand for electricity and heat. Various directions of application of geothermal heat depending on the temperature of the coolant are considered. The article provides examples of successful application of modern digital technologies to identify promising sites for further research and operation.

This article presents new data on the abundance and ways of dissolved trace elements (Si, Fe, F, Al, Sr, Br, B, Mn, Ba, Ti, Li, Rb, Mo, As, U, Th, W, Sc, Y