Azerbaijan, Russia hold joint geological studies
By Nazrin Gadimova
Scientists from the Geology Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) jointly with their Russian colleagues are conducting research on modern geodynamics and oil and gas of the Caucasus region, according to the ANAS Presidium.
For this purpose, a department head at the Geology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences Vasily Lavrushin is on a visit to Azerbaijan.
The scientists are carrying out research on volcanic mud, groundwater, etc. Fieldwork is underway in Talysh, Shamakhi, Guba, and Lahich, and water, volcanic mud and soil samples are being taken, which will be analyzed in the Russian Institute of Geology.
The research began in 2010 and will continue until 2015. According to the Geology Institute Mud Volcanoes Department head, Prof. Adil Aliyev, the obtained results will be added to the outcomes of studies on general geology of the Caucasus.
The ANAS Geology Institute has 24 research departments, the National Data Centre of Azerbaijan, created in 2003 at the initiative of a committee of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the center for collective use of scientific tools and equipment, and the Natural-History Museum named after Hasan Bey Zardabi.
The Institute promotes cooperation with nearly 30 foreign and international organizations and companies such as BP, ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, Unocal Corporation, Statoil, ConocoPhillips, INTAS, UNESCO, NATO, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), etc.
Scientists of the Institute continue collaborative research with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study the modern geodynamic situation in the Caucasus collision zone. Azerbaijan is equipped with 30 temporary and 3 permanent GPS stations - "Baku", "Shaki" and "Nefchala."