Conventional methods of cleaning the surface of a rock sample by taking a microbiological sample from it when working with ice are unsuitable. A method of sterile sampling from the inner part of the ice core is proposed, in which the outer part of the sample serves as a reliable screen protecting the sample from extraneous microflora. The main thing is to obtain an uncontaminated section of the ice surface. This is possible if such an area is obtained by shearing and is not in contact with the instrument. The design of the unit device USL-3M is proposed, which allows to obtain a clean core chipping surface at 3-4 mm depth of knife penetration into ice and at least 10-15 mm thickness of the outer layer of ice, which is not included into the sample.

The results of research work aimed at the development of special technical means to penetrate into subglacial lakes in order to take water samples with the condition of compliance with the measures excluding its contamination are presented.

Thermal method of drilling through snow and firn and ice deposits in hard-to-reach areas has a number of advantages over conventional mechanical drilling methods. It does not require heavy equipment and large energy costs, provides high quality and 100% core yield, which can be used for a wide range of studies: glaciological, petrographic, crystallomorphological, geochemical, etc. ....