Ecological problems of the lithosphere Les problèmes écologiques de la lithosphère

The lithosphere, that is the mineral basis of the biosphere, turned out unprotected and subject to current negative technogenic impacts the same as atmosphere, vegetation, and animal world. The consequences of technogenic transformation of the geological environment have exceeded the limits of purely economic problems, and have acquired high social urgency because of their influence on the environmental situation on the Earth and on human health. The paper discusses the principal causes of transformation of the geological environment and some trends of evolution of the observed processes, illustrated by several cases from different countries. Emphasis is on development of the science-based conceptions of rational use of the geological environment as the basis for activities to prevent the geological-ecological problems.