Let's try to look 50 years ahead. The development of prospecting and exploration in the future 50 years will be sharply different from the past. The modern scientific and technological revolution should also affect geological exploration.

In the practice of calculation of reserves the rule has taken root that if there is a correlation between the content of a useful component and some other parameter, the average content should be determined by the weighted average method, and if there is no correlation - by the arithmetic mean method. This point of view was first expressed by N. V. Volodomonov and later supported by P. L. Kallistov, V. I. Smirnov, V. M. Kreuter, V. I. Kuzmin and others. However, N. F. Zalata and A. A. Petrov strongly argue that the weighted average method is erroneous and recommend that the average content be determined only by the arithmetic mean method. In the last paper L. F. Zalata connects the method of determining the average content with the type of asymmetry of the distribution of the useful component. V. I. Borzunov believes that the weighted average method is applicable only in the case of changes in content along a hyperbolic curve. In other cases he recommends to apply the method of arithmetic mean. V. A. Petrov proves that the weighted average method of determining the average content in the predominant number of cases gives a more satisfactory result than the arithmetic mean method. Experimental studies carried out on models of ore bodies by I. A. Zimin and E. A. Zimin and E. M. Teplyakov, have shown that in some cases weighted average, and in other cases - arithmetic mean methods of determining the average content of ...

Conditions - a set of requirements set by the industry to the quality of mineral raw materials and mining and geological parameters of the deposit during delineation and calculation of reserves in the subsoil, compliance with which is achieved the correct division of reserves into balance and off-balance reserves. Under balance reserves according to the Classification are understood such reserves, the use of which is economically feasible, and under off-balance reserves - reserves, the use of which at present is not economically feasible, but which in the future may become the object of industrial development....

The importance of the correct solution of the question of rational density of the exploration network does not require explanation. The literature devoted to it is extensive and is continuously being replenished. They are most clearly formulated in a general form by V. I. Smirnov [1957]. Many methods of calculating the necessary and sufficient number of exploration workings have been proposed and they continue to be developed. Usually the proposal of a new method is accompanied by a mention of previously proposed methods. But in the literature there is very rarely found a systematic and comparative consideration of at least the best-known methods of determining the rational density of the exploration network with respect to one and the same specific object. No one seems to object to the general statement that all methods of calculating the density of the exploration network are auxiliary to the geological method, but what this means exactly - nowhere and no one clearly shown. Not surprisingly, there is no complete agreement even on the way to solve the problem. Usually, the producers determine the network density according to the tradition accepted at each field. If they take the path of theoretical calculations, they use several methods. The decision is made on the basis of sufficient convergence of the results of such calculations. At the same time, they are often given dogmatic value without proper geological analysis. Meanwhile, they can sometimes lead to errors and miscalculations. This article does not offer new ways to determine the density of the exploration network. By comparing a number of known methods in the conditions of a particular object, we are trying to establish the true value of each and the general way of solving the problem. It would be desirable to receive specific comments and suggestions on the question raised, in order to arrive finally at a generally accepted optimum solution of it ...

By the end of preliminary exploration, there is usually already enough data for geological and industrial characterization of the mine field. However, the reliability and validity of conclusions will increase significantly, if you use some more general laws of coal geology.The thickness and structure of the coal seam, petrographic composition, ash content, sulfur content, phosphorus content, to some extent the heat of combustion and some technological properties of coals are determined by paleogeographic, facial conditions of formation of the coal seam. Formation of coals with abundant water and stagnant regime predetermines often lower ash content and higher sulfur content of coals, higher degree of decomposition of plant residues in comparison with coals formed under water shortage or in moving water environment. The facial conditions of accumulation of coal mother matter are often associated with its enrichment with rare elements. Obviously, in industrial grouping it is important to take into account the genetic conditions of formation of coal seams.

Historical reviews of the development of exploration in Russia and the USSR always mention the name of B. I. Bokii. It is usually noted that in his famous course “Fundamentals of Mining Engineering” a special chapter is devoted to exploration, where a number of geological exploration operations (drilling, sinking of mine workings) are considered and the question of some exploration systems depending on the thickness of sediments, the depth of the weathering zone, and the elements of mineral and host rock occurrence is solved. There is no doubt that this chapter is a generalization of the practice of exploration, mainly of coal deposits, in pre-revolutionary Russia. It laid the foundation for the development of exploration systems depending on the geological features of the deposit and the economic factor. In fact, the development of such systems is one of the main tasks of further development of exploration. In this case, B. I. Bokii solves one of the systems for the case of monoclinal occurrence of a suite of formation bodies, determining for different angles of inclination of rocks, sediment thickness and depth of the weathering zone the most favorable types of excavations (trenches, pits, pits with coverslags and boreholes), their depths and location (distance) in the exploration lines from each other. This decision, especially with regard to the rational distance between excavations, remains unchanged until now in many training manuals in terms of prospecting and exploration of reservoir mineral deposits.

In 1956-1957 in the Laboratory of Coal Geology of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the author participated in the processing of materials on germanium in Donbass coals.It seems interesting and useful to publish some of the conclusions of geological and coal-chemical order, which follow from the studied material, especially since these issues in the literature are covered very little.About 25 years ago, the issue of germanium distribution in Donbass coals was dealt with V.A. Zilbermints. The works published by him are considered in the domestic literature as the main ones on this issue and are widely quoted both in our country and abroad in relevant studies. The materials, which were at our disposal, allow us to supplement, clarify and partially modify the conclusions of V.A. Zilbermints.

In the row all the geological sciences, the science of prospecting and exploration of mineral deposits is one of the youngest. It is advisable to formulate the definition of the subject and method of science as follows: prospecting and exploration is the science of the methods of discovery, qualitative and quantitative characteristics and assessment of mineral deposits for the purpose of their industrial use. The method of this science consists in studying the dependence of the methods of discovery and establishment of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of deposits on the geological patterns that determine the formation and all the features of mineral deposits. The main tasks facing the science of prospecting and exploration are as follows: on the basis of the analysis and generalization of the vast factual material and experience of prospecting and exploration accumulated to date, to develop new and improve the applied systems of geological exploration. In this case, special attention should be paid to the development of issues of rational spatial placement of workings and other observation points, as well as the development of prospecting and exploration techniques.