The main side of the W. Smith’s work — geological mapping — has been shown to be expressed in the series of maps, created by him, and first of all in the «Map of layers of England and Wales». The layers represented for Smith an object for mapping. His stratigraphic tables constitute the lists of stratons, systemized in the order of their bedding and origin. W. Smith discovered a general sequence of 34 layers ofEnglandandWales, in more detailes separated the deposits, substracted later in the Jurassic system. Fossils were considered by W. Smith as specific features of layers, being mapped. The very combination of the characteristics of talented geologist — map-maker und collector of fossils — allowed making the famous conclusion that every layer contained the fossils, typical exactly for it. W. Smith showed the specifics and continuity of paleontological characteristics of different layers, predefined the oportunity of their recognition and identification and designed the base for the development of biostratigraphic method and historical geology in a whole. The short biographic data for Smith has been given.

Georges Cuvier belongs to the most largest naturalists of the end of 18th – the first half of 19th century. He published more than 300   scientific works, which considered different problems — from the  design of comparative-anatomical fundament for the development of  the creatures system, to the questions of natural science. Cuvier  suggested his own sight of the progress in organic world, which gave to the geologists the scientific method on geochronology. His theory  of catastrophes, which provided the change of the subsequent  systems of flora and fauna on the Earth, had a huge influence on the further development of science. The result of its use was the  appearance of the stratigraphic scale in the first half of 19th century. The most important reform of the zoological systematics is  connected with the Kuvier’s works. On the base of comparative- anatomical method, he justified for the first time the study ot the  four main forms of the organization of the creatures, or the plans of  the animal kingdom’s structure. The stratigraphic scheme of Paris basin, suggested by Kuvier, became the example pattern for  the differentiation of the similar deposits in other regions of Western Europe. A brief biographic data has been provided.

АннотацияВ пределах поисковых на алмазы площадей Улахан-Курунг-Юрях и Бестях Мало-Ботуобинского района и в Сюльдюкарском кимберлитовом поле Ыгыаттинского района выявлены признаки древнего пластового окисления в сероцветных и угленосных терригенных карбон-пермских отложениях и трещинно-пластового окисления на породах подстилающей каменноугольной коры выветривания, распространенной на карбонатно-терригенных отложениях верхнего кембрия. Процессы формирования зон пластового окисления подтверждены данными по распределению и корреляции U и Th, Sc и V. Предположение о рудоформирующем значении древних инфильтрационных гипергенных процессов подтверждено установленными по данным рентгенофлюоресцентных анализов концентрациями Sc в каменноугольных и триас-юрских корах выветривания и отложениях позднего палеозоя на площади Улахан-Курунг-Юрях, в Сюльдюкарском и Накынском алмазоносных полях. В последних выделены перспективные рудопроявления Sc в древних корах выветривания, развитых по кимберлитам и среднепалеозойским базитам. Особый интерес представляет серия рудопроявлений Sc в районе деятельности алмазодобывающего Нюрбинского ГОКа АК «АЛРОСА» (ПАО). Ключевые слова: древний гипергенез, зоны пластового и грунтового окисления, коры выветривания, скандий, кимберлиты, Якутия Финансирование. Работа выполнена в рамках исследований МГРИ по гранту Российского научного фонда (№ 23-27-00280 от 13.01.23).

The possibilities of using test tasks of various forms for the current control of the objective assessment of students knowledge of historical geology have been clarified. Brief information about the essence of pedagogical control and tests has been given. The value of control maps for the analysis and statistical processing of test results has been considered. The effectiveness of the test verification system for the organization of self-control over the course of assimilation and consolidation of the acquired knowledge, as well as the implementation of self-management training activities of students, has been proved. It has been concluded that the educational material that affects the history of the Earth in the Precambrian is the most difficult (10,0% of the correct answers), as well as the various aspects of the evolution of the organic world (10,1%), and alsothe information about minerals (11,5%). Students showed the best knowledge in the field of stratigraphic division of the studied intervals of geological history of the Earth (50,4%), features of the Paleozoic stage (42,4%) and various historical aspects (37,3%). It has been established that the maximal difficulties, regardless of the content, cause the tasks requiring systematic knowledge for compliance (9,4%). A small positive dynamics of students performance indicators has been revealed in the study of the material relating to different ages and different types of tectonic structures, as well as in the work with tests to establish compliance. It has been proved that the test control system makes it possible to make more systematic and effective conduct of classes, organize a self-control over the course for mastering individual topics and adjust the lecture material to improve the efficiency of training. Data on the results of the test control of educational work should be fully used for timely adjustment of educational trajectories of students at all stages of training in historical geology. They will be necessary for the development of initiatives in mastering the future profession, creative abilities, the ability to plan and predict the results of their independent actions and to solve non-standard tasks.