A few participants pose in front of an old-style Russian log cabin ("izba"). Alexandrovka has several izbas for accommodation. Note the satellite dish - old meets new. Seated left to right: Dr. Andrei Yakolev, Professor at Moscow State University (MSU); Dr. Alex Ingerov of Phoenix; Dr. Viktor Belyavsky of GEON (Moscow); Prof. Mark Berdichevsky, MSU; Mr. Nuriddin Rashidov, Chief of Electroprospecting Crew, Uzbekgeofizika; standing, Mr. Lev Kim, Expert of Electroprospecting Crew, Uzbekgeofizika. 
Alex Ingerov stands in front of giant front-end loader at Aykhal, Yakutia. 
The huge "Mirny" diamond mining pit at Mirny (in Yakutia, Eastern Siberia) is approximately 540m deep, one of the deepest in the world. The permafrost here permits steeper sides than in unfrozen pits. The tiny-looking buildings along the rim are actually four to five stories high. Field School at Alexandrovka
Nearly 70 electroprospecting experts participated in the Second Annual Phoenix Field Camp held in May at Alexandrovka, near Kaluga, about 250km from Moscow. The Field School (started in 2001) was an instant hit. There were 40 participants in 2001 and 120 applicants this year.
Trade Mission to Alrosa's HQ in Mirny, Yakutia
In May, Alex Ingerov participated in a Canadian Government Trade Mission to Mirny (Mirny means "peaceful" in Russian", then was joined by Tim Butt for installation and acceptance of equipment purchased earlier by Alrosa, the Russian diamond mining company. Alrosa will use the Phoenix equipment to prospect for diamond-containing kimberlite pipes (see Issues #23 and #15) which "subcrop" at a depth of approximately 100 meters. The kimberlites are covered by a thick layer of permanently frozen Paleozoic rocks and are very difficult to detect with airborne geophysics. |
