Анастасия Литвинова

Quartz is one of the most common minerals on Earth. It can be almost any color due to impurities in its composition. Minerals like amethyst with its marvelous purple tint, spellbinding yellow-golden toned citrine, smoky quartz, rose quartz, colorless and transparent rock crystal, black morion and aventurine (shiny crimson-reddish quartz) are all considered quartz.

Saint-Petersburg Mining University ranked 13th best Russian universities according to Forbes. Among the highest rated are three more Saint-Petersburg’s schools: ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg State University and Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.

Rector of the Mining University Vladimir Litvinenko, Dr. Nandi Msimang, the Managing Director of Hadassah Group, and MEGA (Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency) Chairman of the Board of Directors Davies Mculu signed a memorandum of understanding. Both sides plan to collaborate on developing mineral deposits in South Africa.

The International European Symposium EUROCK 2018 took place in Saint Petersburg. According to its participants’ opinion one of the major challenges facing humanity is the constantly growing consumption which cannot be ensured without expanding the production of commodities and, as the result, without damaging ecosystems. “Forpost” tried to find out if our civilization will be able to avoid the worldwide catastrophe.

Fluorite’s color range includes all the rainbow colors. Its tone varies based on different impurities of rare earth metals. Jewelers have long history faking gems like emerald, topaz and ruby with fluorite. The fraud could only be distinguished by the mineral’s softness and color impermanence. However, fluorite also has some unique qualities. It can glow in the dark under the influence of ultra-violet and high temperatures.

On July 5th, head of Gazprom PJSC, Alexey Miller, and head of OMV AG, Rainer Seele, signed an agreement prolonging the current contract for export of Russian natural gas to Austria until 2040. The extention of the contract was timed to the 50th anniversary of supplying Russian ”blue fuel” to this country.

This year the Mining University organizes International Summer Schools for the first time. Students, graduates and young researchers, as well as high school students, who have an interest in mining and engineering, from Russian and overseas universities are welcome to attend the courses.

“German-Russian Raw Materials Dialogue on River Saar” conference held in Völklinger Hutte old factory building started on thursday, the 14th of June, in town of Völklingen, Germany. Dr. Michael Muller, president of the board of Stahl-Holding-Saar company, opened the forum.

Tourmaline is considered a “rainbow stone”. It has unimaginable variety of colors and tones. An ancient egyptian legend explains it by stating that tourmaline had passed through a rainbow on its long journey out of the Earth’s center. Single-color crystals making up tourmaline are extremely rare.

Director of the Institute of Energy Process Engineering and Chemical Engineering of the TU Bergakademie of Freiberg (Germany), Bernd Meyer, met with the rector of the Mining University, Vladimir Litvinenko, in Saint-Petersburg to discuss collaboration. “Forpost” found out the specifics.

Topaz is a semi-precious stone, essentially a mineral of the silicate group. The name takes us back to ancient name of the Zabargad island (off the coast of Egypt) - Topazios. Initially only golden-brownish stones were considered topazes. However, natural color of these minerals varies a lot. The Mining Museum collection showcases topazes from different deposits in Russia. Among them you will find cyan-colored topazes with morion and albite from classic pegmatite mines of Ural’s Murzynka as well as mesmerizing blue and smoky topazes from Volyn.

The leading specialist of “Verbundnetz Gas AG” (FRG) Jӧrg Lewetz gave a lecture “Current challenges of German and global energy policies” in Saint-Petersburg. Forpost asked the expert why Russian natural gas supplies to Europe keep growing for the third year in a row and if this tendency holds when wind mills and solar arrays will display hydrocarbons from German power balance.

Nine scientists from South Africa participated in International European Symposium EUROCK 2018. All in all, over 400 scientists and practitioners from 50 nations such as Australia, Germany, Canada, China, Norway, USA and other took part in this year forum held at Saint-Petersburg Mining University. The participants shared thoughts and experiences on development and incorporation of advanced technologies in designing and safely exploiting the mining facilities.

By 2030 staff shortage in many branches of Russian economy may reach 2 million 800 thousand people. “Forpost” found out what is the best way to avoid such scenario.

MEGA (Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency) chairman of the board of directors Davies Mculu and General Manager of Properties and Infrastructure Themba Camane together with Dr. Nandi Msimang, the Managing Director of Hadassah Group, paid a visit to the oldest technical university to discuss future projects.

Professors Johannes Schenk and Stefan Vöth visited Saint Petersburg Mining University to give lectures to students on ”Kinetics of heterogeneous processes” and ”The use of modern lifting technology in mining transport systems”.