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This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the modernization processes in the crop production sector of the Ulyanovsk region during the Eighth Five-Year Plan. The research draws on unpublished documents sourced from the State Archive of the Ulyanovsk Region and the State Archive of Contemporary History of the Ulyanovsk Region, a significant portion of which is introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time, alongside statistical materials and periodicals. The study examines the efforts of party organs and farm leadership aimed at intensifying the development of crop production. It addresses the authorities’ personnel policies regarding the expansion of vocational and technical education institutions, the organization of training courses for specialists in mass professions, and the enhancement of their qualifications to meet agricultural needs. The dynamics of crop production development from 1966 to 1970 are analyzed, evaluating the achievements of regional farms in producing key agricultural products. The author concludes that, despite facing problematic farms and a slight reduction in areas allocated for grain crops, the authorities in the Ulyanovsk region managed not only to meet but also to exceed the planned targets for yield, total harvest, and state procurement volumes of primary crop products during this period.

В третьей декаде ноября 2019 г. под одной из ветроэнергетических установок второй очереди Ульяновского ветропарка был обнаружен труп молодого орлана-белохвоста (Haliaeetus albicilla), с отрубленным крылом. Характер повреждений птицы явно указывал на то, что птица погибла в результате столкновения с лопастью.

Septaria of the Ulyanovsk region are high-quality jewelry and ornamental material. Septaria are associated with lower Cretaceous sediments and are located in the coastal cliffs and the beach area of the Volga river. Septaria consist mainly of calcite — 89 wt. %. Aluminosilicates, quartz, pyrite, ferric oxide, organic matter are present in small amounts. In the streaks of calcite the presence of the microinclusions of graphite, gold, layered aluminosilicates, vernadite, magnetite, and bacteria impregnated with iron oxide, has been established by electron microscopic analysis. Calcite streaks of the septaria have a wide range of colors and textures. The color of calcite is influenced by the admixture of Fe and Mn. The contents of radioactive and carcinogenic elements are close to the background.

For the first time, the mineral composition and gemological characteristics of the petrified wood from the Ulyanovsk region, of jewelry and ornamental quality, have been studied. The petrified wood is associated with the Lower Cretaceous deposits and consists mainly of calcite (up to 73 mass. %); pyrite, apatite, gypsum are present; dolomite, anhydrite, hematite, pyrolusite, organic matter and X-ray amorphous substance have been fixed. According to the technological and decorative characteristics, the petrified wood of the Ulyanovsk region is a quality jewelry and ornamental material of the florogenic group.

Fossils of marine reptiles are a new jewelry and ornamental material and collected in the Ulyanovsk region from the Upper Jurassic deposits. They consist of (wt. %): calcite — 52, apatite — 24 and pyrite — 23, and also gypsum presents. The contents of radioactive and carcinogenic elements are close to background. The original bone structure of reptiles is preserved. Apatite replaces the bone tissue of marine reptiles, forming a cellular framework. According to the chemical composition, apatite refers to fluorohydroxyapatite with an increased Sr content. The size of the crystals is finely-dispersed. Calcite and pyrite fill the central parts of the cells. Calcite crystals of isometric and elongated shape, 0,01—0,05 mm in size, form blocks up to 0,3 mm during intergrowth. Calcite fills thin, discontinuous veins along the contour of cells with a width of up to 0,03 mm. In calcite, among the impurity elements, there are (wt. %, on the average): Mg — 0,30, Mn — 0,39 and Fe — 0,96. Pyrite forms a dispersed impregnation in calcite and apatite, content of impurities is, wt. %: Ni — up to 0,96 and Cu — up to 0,24. On technological and decorative characteristics of fossils of sea reptiles of Ulyanovsk region are qualitative jewelry and ornamental materials of biomineral group, allowing to make a wide assortment of jewelry and souvenir products.

Sengilite is a trade mark of florogenic jewelry and ornamental material being mined around the village Sengilei of the Ulyanovsk region. The sangilite is a lithofected marine plant remains cemented in marl. The sangilite mainly consists of calcite (from 86 to 94 wt. %). The following minerals have been established (wt. %): pyrite 2,5—6, quartz 2, montmorillonite 3, dolomite 2, in minor quantities illite, kaolinite, jarosite, gypsum, chalcopyrite can be presented. Among the elements-admixture, Sr is presented up to 0,053 wt. % and Ba up to 0,023 wt. %. The content of radioactive and carcinogenic elements is at the background level. The original structure of plant remains is inherited in sengilite. The differently colored zones of sengilite are determined by the size and structural features of the calcite crystals, as well as the amount of pyrite inclusions, and the presence of marl. In the calcite, the following elements-admixture, (wt. %) are noted: Mg from 0,68 to 1,29, Fe from 0,14 to 0,52, insignificant amounts of Mn. According to its technological and decorative characteristics, sengilite is a new high-quality jewelry and ornamental material that allows to produce a wide range of jewelry and souvenirs. Collection and processing of sengilit in the Ulyanovsk region along with ammonites and other types of jewelry and ornamental raw materials will increase the profitability of the deposit and the range of products.

Concretions with fossils of the Ulyanovsk region are a new kind of jewelry and ornamental raw materials. Concretions are located in the middle part of the section of the Hauterivian sediments, which formed by dark gray dense clays. Concretions are dense, of dark gray or black colour, abundant with fragments of bivalves shells, less often with ammonites, and consist from, wt. %: calcite 85, aragonite 8, quartz 2, apatite 2, pyrite 2 and aluminosilicates 1. From the trace-elements there is Sr with a content of 0,08 wt. %. The contents of radioactive and carcinogenic elements are at background level. Aragonite constitutes the walls of the shells. Calcite is a cement of marl, and also constitutes fragments of shells. Pyrite constitute significant zones mainly in the outer parts of the concretions. In the central parts, it is presented as a rare dissemination. Quartz and aluminosilicates are minerals of bottom sediments. Calcite, apatite and pyrite are secondary minerals formed during the process of diagenesis of marine sediments. Contents of the trace-elements in calcite, wt. %, are: Mg from 0,52 to 2,19 and Mn from 0,34 to 2,13. There is no Fe, which is concentrated in pyrite. The structural features and chemical composition of minerals have been established. Concretions with fossils of the Ulyanovsk region are a technological high-decorative jewelry and ornamental material which allows producing of a wide range of jewelry and souvenirs.

The legends about the robber Mark is analysed, whose name refer to a small hill near the village Sadovoye of Novospassky district of the Ulyanovsk region. It is noted that holding the name of a real person in the name of the settlement or natural object is one of the ways of preserving national historical memory, as well as an important and meaningful component of the cultural landscape. It is shown that oral stories about the robber Mark develops some typical motifs: indication of the place of stay, “noble” robbery, help to farmers etc. It is noted that the motif of the secret love of Mark is unusual, having a detailed plot. It is indicated that the analysis of the current existence of legends demonstrates their widespread popularity. The author notes that, in addition to the traditional method of retranslation - orally in the family from older to younger, there are other ways: through the media, museum, school. The assimilation of legends can also occur non-traditionally, that is, not from older to younger, but, on the contrary, from junior to senior, if the latter settle in the area. It is shown that historians, cultural workers strive to give Mark’s mountain as a cultural landscape object the status of a local brand.