Geosciences of Azerbaijan ― Geology of Azerbaijan

This book provides amulti-scale and multidisciplinary perspective on the geology of Azerbaijan, acountry characterized by a unique tectonic and geological setting including theGreater and Lesser Caucasus, the Talysh Mountains, and the Caspian and KurBasins. Essential geological and geophysical data shed light on the principlesof the evolution of the Earth within the region under study, seismic activityand the distribution of economic deposits. Further, special attention is paidto the history of geological-geophysical studies in the region. A combined,comprehensive interpretation of Azerbaijan’s near-surface and deep geologicalstructure is achieved on the basis of an integrative analysis of stratigraphic,magmatic, morphological, lithological, tectonic, neotectonic, geophysical andother data, combining not only Russian and Azerbaijani-published, but also whollynew geological data.

Volume I addresses theneeds of researchers focused on geology and the environmental sciences, butwill also be of interest to anyone looking to learn more about the naturalphenomena in Azerbaijan, a beautiful country situated at the boundary betweenEurope and Asia.

Akif A. Alizadeh received MSc (1956) from the AzerbaijanOil Academy, PhD (1961) and DSc (1969) from the Geological Inst. of theAzerbaijan Academy Sciences. More than 40 years he occupied a position ofDirector of Geology and Geophysics Institute of the National Academy ofSciences (ANAS). In 2013 he was elected as President of ANAS. Professor Akif.Alizadeh is author of more than 370 publications including 8 books. Ak.A.AliZadeh’s main scientific filed is a regional stratigraphy of the Cretaceousdeposits in Azerbaijan. He together with followers developed stratigraphicscheme of Cretaceous deposits, analyzed numerous paleontological-stratigraphicmaterials and generalized the modern ideas of geological processes. Hisresearches designed the basis of sedimentary and volcanogenic-sedimentaryformations, distribution and development of the Cretaceous fauna. Prof. Ak.A.Alizadeh’s many years investigations enabled to formulate the principalconcepts of study of the Cretaceous Mollusk fauna (belemnites) in Azerbaijanand adjacent regions. His researches cover classification, phylogeny andmorphofunctional analysis, the principles of paleo-biogeographic zoning,examination of ecological and paleontological problems. Prof. Alizadeh himselfidentified the stages of spatial-temporal distribution for the CretaceousInvertebrates in the Mediterranean and revealed here appropriatepaleobiogeographic taxons. Study of morphogenesis in historical aspect,definition of tendency in population’s nature alteration, identification ofheritable morphological changes allowed him to restore a general evolutionprocess of various belemnoide groups. Prof. Alizadeh carried out fundamentalresearch for the biogeochemical zonation of the Cretaceous basins in theCaucasus and for examination of geochemical conditions of Paleobasins asevolution factor. Analyzing the microstructural, chemical and crystallochemicalpeculiarities of matters in skeleton formations of fossils, he revealed thepatterns of migration and concentration for various chemical elements,paleophysiological peculiarities for some taxons. Prof. Alizadeh created adescription of geochemical ecology for the Cretaceous Invertebrates. Under hisadvising for the first time absolute values of paleo-temperatures of AzerbaijanCretaceous basins were determined by isotopic Paleothermometry method.

Ibrahim S. Guliyev received MSc from the AzerbaijanOil Academy in 1970, and PhD from the Moscow (VNIGNI) in 1978, and D.Sc. in1989 from the Moscow State University. Since 1970s he has been working at theGeology and Geophysics Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences(ANAS) where now occupies position of a Deputy Director. Since 2013 he is aVise-President of ANAS. Professor I.S. Guliyev is author of more than 100publications including 10 books. Scientific interests of I.S. Guliyev covergeology and geochemistry of oil and gas, basin modeling and mud volcanism.Under his supervision and participation have been conducted original investigationsof a gas regime in folded areas with the assessment of amount of discharge ofcarbonaceous gases and their distribution in the surficial atmosphere. Hisstudies of the hydro carbonaceous systems of rapidly subsiding basins (onexample of the South Caspian basin) are of a special practical importance.Other scientific interests of Prof. I. Guliyev include results of basin’ssimulation, investigations of rates and range of generation, migration andaccumulation of hydrocarbons in the terms of rapid subsidence as well asstudies of isotopic-geochemical properties of the organic matter, oil, gas andwater enabled to determine the depth of generation and preservation ofhydrocarbons in the South Caspian basin.

Fakhraddin A. Kadirov received MSc from the Azerbaijan StateUniversity in 1972, PhD from the Geophysical Institute of the Georgian Academyof Sciences in 1984, and DSc. from the Geological and Geophysical Institute ofthe Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) in 2000. Since 1974 up tonow he has been working at the Geology and Geophysics Institute of ANAS whereoccupied positions of Researcher and Senior Researcher; now he is a Head of theEarth Physics Department. In 2013 he was elected as Academician-Secretary of theEarth’s Science Division of the ANAS Presidium. Professor Fakhraddin Kadirov isauthor of more than 100 publications including 6 books. Field of scientificinterests of F.A. Kadirov covers different aspects of the Earth’s gravity fieldstudies, application of high precise GPS measurements to examination of crustaldeformation and tectonic reconstructions. His subsequent research hasprincipally involved the Arabia-Africa-Eurasia plate system. Prof. F.A. Kadirovdeveloped numerous gravity, seismological and integrated geophysical parametermaps of Azerbaijan, Caucasus and adjacent regions.

Lev V.Eppelbaum received MSc from the Azerbaijan Oil Academy in 1982, and PhDfrom the Inst. of Geophysics (Azerbaijan), Geophysical Inst. of Georgia andMining Academy (Moscow) in 1989. In 1982-1990 he worked as geophysicist,Researcher and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Geophysics in Baku(Azerbaijan). In 1991-1993 Eppelbaum completed postdoctoral studies in theDept. of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences at Tel Aviv University; at presenthe occupies a position of Assoc. Professor at the same Dept. He author of morethan 330 publications including 7 books and about 130 articles. His scientificinterests cover potential (magnetic, gravity, thermal) and quasi-potentialgeophysical field analysis in complex environments, integrated interpretationof geophysical and geological data, tectonic, geodynamic, and paleomagneticreconstructions. Eppelbaum’s research interests include also analysis ofnonlinear geophysical processes, archaeological and environmentalinvestigations as well as searching economic minerals.