The Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GIN RAS; Russian: Геологический институт РАН, full name: Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences) is a scientific institution of the Russian Academy of Sciences focusing on general theoretical and fundamental problems in the geological sciences. The main research areas of the institute are tectonics, lithology, stratigraphy, and Quaternary geology.
By the end of 2020, GIN RAS had 247 research staff, including 99 Candidates of Science and 56 Doctors of Science. The Institute employed 3 Corresponding Members, 3 Academicians of the RAS, and 5 Honored Scientists of the Russian Federation.Report of the Director of GIN RAS at the Presidium of the RAS: On the 90th Anniversary of GIN RAS. December 2020.
Main research areas Global and regional stratigraphic schemes based on a complex of methods. Isotope geochemistry of sedimentary rocks and chemostratigraphy. Interaction of geological, geochemical, and biotic factors during sedimentogenesis. Features of sedimentogenesis and lithogenesis in structures of various types. Tectonic and geodynamic models of the formation and evolution of the Earth's lithosphere and the main types of continental and oceanic structures. Neotectonics and modern geodynamics as a basis for forecasting natural and man-made disasters. Intraplate tectonics and geodynamics, evolution of the consolidated crust. Geology of the World Ocean floor. Sedimentary basins: structure, evolution, primary and secondary concentrations of mineral resources; modeling. Global correlations and models of geological processes and events, directional changes and the role of rapid changes and catastrophes in Earth's history. Paleoclimates of the Late Precambrian – Phanerozoic: evolution of zonality, dynamics, consequences of climatic changes. Interaction in the biota – geological environment – tectonics – climate – ore formation system during key epochs of geological history and biosphere history. Geology and metallogeny of the Arctic (since 2024). History of geological sciences
History
Geological Institute (1930–1937) On January 12, 1929, major elections of new academicians were held at the USSR Academy of Sciences.
On May 15, 1929, the General Assembly of the USSR Academy of Sciences heard a report by Academician A. A. Borisyak on the fundamental reorganization of the Geological Museum of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Leningrad with the aim of creating several institutes on its basis.
On March 8, 1930, the Geological Museum was divided into three independent institutesShcherbakov D. I., Kuznetsova E. V. Geological Sciences in the Academy of Sciences during the First Stalinist Five-Year Plans. 1951.On March 8, 1930, the Committee for the Management of Scientific and Educational Institutions of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR approved the Submission of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences and recognized the need to divide the Geological Museum into three independent institutes: Geological (GIN), Petrographic (PETRIN), and Paleozoological (PIN). Leningrad Branch of the Archive of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Fund 2, inventory 1–1930, file 131, sheet 1. as of 1979., forming: Geological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (GIN USSR Academy of Sciences) Paleozoological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (PIN USSR Academy of Sciences) Petrographic Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (PETRIN USSR Academy of Sciences)
The first director of the Geological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Leningrad was elected at a meeting of the Department of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences: Academician V. A. Obruchev (April 3, 1930), approved in this position by the General Assembly of the USSR Academy of Sciences. S. A. Gatuev was appointed deputy director.
The tasks of the new institute included: Geological study of the USSR and adjacent countries. Development of stratigraphy issues. Study of modern marine sediments. Development of comparative lithology issues. Compilation of summary works on the geology of the USSR. Organization of a geological museum.
By the end of September 1930, the main directions of the institute's activities were defined for the study of: Geology of Central Asia. Geology of the polar regions of the USSR. Geology of the sea floor, and in particular, sediments of the Caspian Sea. Quaternary period deposits. Conducting paleophytological work.
By 1931, the institute's staff consisted of 15 scientific and 13 technical workers. The institute housed a geological museum and workshops.
In 1932, the first volume of a new serial geological publication, "Proceedings of the Geological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences," was published; M. B. Edemsky was appointed as the editorial staff member.
At a meeting of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences on February 23, 1933, the heads of departments were appointed: D. V. Nalivkin – Stratigraphy and deputy director (1933–1934)Domestic Full and Honorary Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences. XVIII–XX centuries: Geology and Mining Sciences. M.: Nauchny Mir, 2000. P. 218.. V. A. Obruchev – Lithogenesis and Geology of Mineral Resources. D. I. Mushketov – Tectonics and Geomorphology in connection with Tectonics. N. N. Slavyanov – Hydrogeology. G. A. Bonch-Osmolovsky – Study of the Quaternary Period.
In 1934, the Institute moved from Leningrad to Moscow, changing its staff and research topicsResearch topics were approved at the March session of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1936.: Providing a research base for prospecting and geological exploration work. Studying the mineral resources of the most economically important regions of the USSR. Studying engineering-geological and hydrogeological issues in connection with major construction projects.
The institute was the organizing center for the preparation of the 17th session of the International Geological Congress (Moscow, 1937).
In the autumn of 1937, a new structure of the institute was formed, with the following departments (and their heads): Paleontology and Stratigraphy (M. F. Neiburg) Comparative Lithology (N. M. Strakhov) Tectonics (N. S. Shatsky) Geology of Ore Deposits (I. F. Grigoriev) Quaternary Geology (G. F. Mirchink) Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology (F. P. Savarensky), with sub-departments of Hydrogeology (G. N. Kamensky) and Geology of Permafrost (M. I. Sumgin) Laboratories:
Study of Physical-Mechanical Properties of Rocks (V. M. Fayntsimmer) Dynamics of Underground Waters (G. N. Kamensky) Study of Permafrost in Rocks (M. I. Sumgin) Chemical-Analytical (E. S. Zalmanzon) Mechanical Analysis (M. A. Zhirkevich) Heavy Mineral Analysis (N. V. Frolova) Spectral Analysis (N. V. Lizunov) Thin Section Preparation (A. Y. Kraynyukova).
Institute of Geological Sciences (1937–1956)
On November 17, 1937, after the 17th session of the International Geological Congress in Moscow, the SNK USSR (according to the Third Five-Year Plan) decided to reorganize geological institutions within the USSR Academy of Sciences. In December 1937, the following were merged into the Institute of Geological Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences (IGN USSR Academy of Sciences or "GIN"): Geological Institute Petrographic Institute Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Crystallography named after M.V. Lomonosov The Mineralogical Museum and the Geological Museum were also merged into the "Geological Museum named after A. P. Karpinsky," as a department within the Institute of Geological Sciences.Godovikov A. A. Main chronological dates in the history of the A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the USSR Academy of Sciences (materials for the exposition on the history of the Museum's development) // Essays on the History of Geological Knowledge. Issue 25. M.: Nauka, 1989..
The united institute began working in 4 main areas: Compiling a general summary of works on the stratigraphy of the entire territory of the USSR, and studying the stratigraphy of important economic regions. Simultaneous study of the constituent sedimentary rocks. Study of tectonic processes and clarification of the connection with geological structure and mineral resources. Study of the history of the geological development of the territory of the USSR as a whole and of individual parts interesting for understanding the basic patterns of the geological process. Providing a deep scientific basis for the methodology of prospecting and exploration of mineral resources based on the study of geological conditions favorable for the concentration of mineralization.
In the early 1950s (in the modern building of GIN RAS), a new structure of the IGN USSR Academy of Sciences was formed.
Geological Institute (since 1956)
On April 27, 1944, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences recognized the need to reorganize the Institute of Geological Sciences, creating on its basis, within the Department of Geological and Geographical Sciences of the USSR Academy of SciencesVavilov S. I., Bruevich N. G. Decree of the Executive Meeting of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences dated April 27, 1944, Protocol No. 4.: Geological Institute Institute of Mineralogy and Geochemistry named after M.V. Lomonosov Institute of Petrographic Research named after F.Yu. Levinson-Lessing Institute of Ore Deposits Laboratory of Coal Geology. To consider the issue of organizing work on the study of the Precambrian.
In 1946, it was decided to organize the Geological Institute on the basis of several divisions of the IGN USSR Academy of SciencesMeeting of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences on January 10, 1946, and the Executive Meeting of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences on December 20, 1945.: Department of Stratigraphy Department of Tectonics Department of Lithology Department of Quaternary Geology.
On January 13, 1956, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences approved the new name and structure of the Geological Institute (GIN USSR Academy of Sciences)Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences No. 15, dated January 13, 1956.: Directorate Academic Council of the Institute Department of Stratigraphy (with Microfaunal Laboratory) – Head V. V. MennerGeological Institute RAS: History and Modernity, for the 90th Anniversary. 2020.. Department of Paleofloristics and Stratigraphy of Continental Deposits (with Laboratory for the Study of Proterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic Spores and Pollen; and Laboratory for the Study of Cenozoic and Quaternary System Spores and Pollen) – Head V. A. Vakhrameev Department of Regional Tectonics (with Office of Tectonic Map and Tectonic Terminology) – Head A. L. Yanshin Department of General and Comparative Tectonics (with Office for the Study of Geological Formations; and Tectonic-Geophysical Office) – Head N. A. Shtreis Department of Lithology and Sedimentary Mineral Resources (with laboratories: Chemical-Analytical, Thermal Analysis, Mineralogical Analysis, Clay Study, Electron Microscopy, X-ray Structural; offices: Bituminology, Lithology of Coal-bearing Deposits and Coal Petrography, Authigenic Mineral Formation) – Head N. M. Strakhov Department of Quaternary Formations and Genetic Types of Continental Formations (with Mineralogical-Petrographic Laboratory; and Office for the Study of Genetic Types of Continental Deposits) – Head V. I. Gromov Department of Geology of Central and South Asia – Head V. A. Obruchev Department of the History of Geology – Head V. V. Tikhomirov. Complex Expeditions.
At that time, the new GIN USSR Academy of Sciences employed 252 people, including 127 research staff.History of the Geological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences: Development of the Institute, its Scientific Schools and Bibliography of Works. M.: Nauka, 1980. 223 p..