Faculty of Geology

Dean: Acad. Dmitry Y. Pushcharovsky

The Faculty of Geology is a world-known educational and research centre. Although its date of foundation is considered to be 1983, mineralogy has been taught at Lomonosov Moscow State University for over 200 years. World renowned scientists and talented young researchers teach here, 7 academicians and 6 correspondent members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 18 members of the RF Academy of Natural Sciences among them. The Faculty aims at the development of geology in particular and of education as part of cultural heritage in general, seeing them as vital factors of economic and cultural revival of Russia.

Being a geologist is traditionally seen as a way of life, and the Faculty enrols young people both interested in this profession and able to value the beauty of nature, being active, creative and open to friendship. If success in mathematics and physics, for example, is due to aptitude and a certain cast of mind, geology is as a science relies both on the modern methods of research and intuitive approaches which at times are crucial for important findings.

Today the work of a geologist involves the use of the latest means of transportation, modern drilling machines and geophysical equipment, complicated electronic devices, analogous and computational stations, etc. A modern geologist can reach almost inaccessible areas of our planet, investigate the Earth?s interior, the bottom of the ocean and the planets of the Solar system.

The Faculty trains specialists in fundamental research in both theoretical and applied branches of Earth sciences, the latter include studying the geological structure of the Earth?s interior in Russia, exploring its mineral resources, performing geological engineering explorations for construction work. A new area of eco-geology has recently been developing.

Our students have a few degree programs to choose from. The 4-year Bachelor?s degree program allows majoring in six areas. To proceed to their fifth year, students are to pass the entrance examination in their major discipline. After completing a five-year program students obtain a degree of Specialist in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrogeology and geological engineering, geology and petrology, or ecological geology. A Bachelor?s degree holder, after passing an examination, can enrol in one of 32 two-year MA programs.

The Faculty of Geology has a number of dedicated laboratories: the laboratories of geological environment protection, of experimental geochemistry and space geology, the UNESCO Educational and Scientific Centre for Marine Geology and Geophysics, the laboratory of economic geology, the educational and analytical centre of gemology jointly established by the Departments of Mineralogy, Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry to train specialists in gemology, the science of dealing with precious stones, metals and carvings.

The programme in Geology is jointly supported by six departments. The Department of Dynamic Geology teaches geotectonics and regional geology, geological survey, neotectonics and seismotectonics. Students acquire professional skills in these areas at the laboratories of geotectonics and tectonophysics, neotectonics and seismotectonics, satellite methods of Earth studies, the laboratory of the history and methodology of geological sciences and the department computer centre .

The Department of Regional Geology and Earth History teaches regional and structural geology and geotectonics, stratigraphy, geology of quaternary deposits. The department focuses on comparative planetology, studying modern and ancient rift zones as well as analyzing the history of formation and development of sedimentation basins.

The Department of Geology and Geochemistry of Minerals teaches the modern methods of geo-chemical study of mineral resources, with special emphasis on fundamental aspects of endogenous ore genesis and comparative metalogeny of continents and oceans, on studies in formation and spatial distribution of ore deposits, in rocks and ores composition and texture, as well as implementation of modern physical methods in the field.

The Department of Lithology and Marine Geology teaches general and theoretical lithology, formation of sedimentary rocks, formation and distribution of sedimentary minerals in lithosphere, lithologic mapping, modern sedimentation processes, marine structure as well as courses on geological prospecting and exploration.

The Department of Palaeontology teaches invertebrate palaeontology, palaeobotany, micropalaeontology, vertebrate palaeontology, biostratigraphy, etc. The students also have fundamental training in invertebrate zoology, botany, comparative invertebrate anatomy, embryology and histology, marine fauna, anthropology.

The Department of Geology of Russia provides courses on geology of Russia and quaternary deposits geology for all students of the Faculty.

The programme in Geophysics is supported by the Department of Geophysical Methods of Earth Crust Study and the Department of Seismometry and Geo-acoustics that train specialists in seismic survey, electrical survey, gravity-magnetic survey, engineering geophysics, marine geophysics. Geologists and geophysicists use geophysical methods to study the Earth structure and the near-terrestrial space, to study regional terrestrial and aquatic systems, to perform geological exploration, to study geological environment and find solutions to engineering, geological, hydrogeological, cryological / glaciological, and ecogeological problems.

The program in Geochemistry is jointly supported by four departments.

The Department of Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry teaches courses on crystal chemistry, x-ray studies of substance, crystal growth, gemology.

The Department of Mineralogy teaches courses on theoretical, experimental and applied mineralogy and gemology. The students learn to apply the methods of studying morphology of minerals, their crystal structure, and inner structure, chemical composition, physical properties and thermodynamic characteristics.

The Department of Petrology teaches courseson the methods of rock studies, metallogenic studies, physical and chemical analysis of mineral paragenesis, experimental modeling of natural processes at high temperatures and pressure, on methods to study rock physical properties to obtain information about the conditions of their formation and to interpret the results of geological prospecting and geophysical works.

The Department of Geochemistry teaches geochemistry, geochemical survey and ecological geochemistry. Students acquire the knowledge of regional geochemistry, element geochemistry and isotope geochemistry, as well as the skills for experimental and theoretical modeling of natural processes, instrumental analysis of chemical composition of natural objects and determining the absolute age of minerals and rocks and other methods of geochemical studies to find solutions to various geological and ecogeological problems and to apply them for geological prospecting and exploration.

The program in Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology is jointly supported by three departments.

The Department of Hydrogeology teaches hydrogeodynamics, hydrogeochemistry, regional hydrogeology, exploration hydrogeology, hydrogeoecology. Modern hydrologeological science and field experimental exploration largely rely on computer modeling of physical and chemical processes in the subterranean hydrosphere, thus the program includes courses on statistics, programming, mathematical modeling and information technologies.

The Department of Engineering and Ecological Geology teaches theoretical and applied engineering geology, ground science and artificial lithogenesis, engineering geodynamics, regional engineering geology, ecological geology, and geological environment protection. Students learn to apply laboratory methods of electromicroscopic x-ray and computing techniques for rock studies to estimate the engineering and geological conditions of construction sites, to model and forecast geological and technogenic processes and to find solutions to problems of ecological geology.

The Department of Geocryology teaches courses on the Earth crust frozen formations, embracing all areas of theoretical and applied geocryology: cryolithogenesis, planetary, historical and regional geocryology, mathematical methods and geocryologic forecasting, engineering and ecologycal geocryology, planet cryology. Students master the latest methods of geologycal and geocryological studies including physical and mathematic modeling and the application of mathematical methods and computers to study frozen formations.

The program in Geology and Geochemistry of Fossil Fuels is supported by the department of the same name that trains specialists in oil and gas geology, marine oil and gas geology, coal and slate deposits geology. Students acquire profound knowledge in geology, geochemistry and geophysics, oil and gas formation, solid fossil fuels genesis, energy feedstock formation and its distribution in the Earth crust, methods of fossil fuel exploration. They learn geophysical and geochemical methods to study subsurface resources, deep-hole drilling, methods to apply modern research and analytical equipment.

The program in Ecological Geology is jointly supported by the Department of Geochemistry, Department of Engineering and Ecological Geology, Department of Hydrogeology and Department of Geocryology. Along with the core courses the program includes ecological geochemistry and industrial ecology, computer processing of eco-geological data, instrumental analysis of chemical substances, methods of ecological expertise in the sphere of extraction and processing as well as in the sphere of engineering constructions and water supply. Our graduates are employed by government agencies and business companies working in environmental protection areas and offering project environmental expertise in geology and related areas.

The most obvious advantages our students enjoy are the instruction by the prominent Russian scientists and the Faculty?s close links with all the geological institutions within the Academy of Sciences, both contributing to graduates? hiring on campus.In their first and second year all students do to field work in the Crimea, the Moscow Region and other regions of Russia and the CIS, the Urals, at the White Sea, The Black Sea and the Mediterranean. In their third year students are sent out to their field placements at industrial enterprises. The material obtained during field work is used in their graduation papers to obtain Bachelor?s degree (fourth year), Specialist?s degree (fifth year) or Master?s degree (sixth year).

The Faculty graduates work in geological expeditions, research institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, subdivisions of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the EMERCOM of RF, the Ecology Committee and other governmental agencies, in institutions of higher education and vocational schools, state and business companies.