Geosciences of Azerbaijan

Akif A. Alizadeh received MSc (1956) from the Azerbaijan Oil Academy, PhD (1961) and DSc (1969) from the Geological Inst. of the Azerbaijan Academy Sciences. More than 40 years he occupied a position of Director of Geology and Geophysics Institute of the National Academy of Sciences (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 Cretaceous deposits in Azerbaijan. He together with followers developed stratigraphic scheme of Cretaceous deposits, analyzed numerous paleontological-stratigraphic materials and generalized the modern ideas of geological processes. His researches designed the basis of sedimentary and volcanogenic-sedimentary formations, distribution and development of the Cretaceous fauna. Prof. Ak.A. Alizadeh's many years investigations enabled to formulate the principal concepts of study of the Cretaceous Mollusk fauna (belemnites) in Azerbaijan and adjacent regions. His researches cover classification, phylogeny and morphofunctional analysis, the principles of paleo-biogeographic zoning, examination of ecological and paleontological problems. Prof. Alizadeh himself identified the stages of spatial-temporal distribution for the Cretaceous Invertebrates in the Mediterranean and revealed here appropriate paleobiogeographic taxons. Study of morphogenesis in historical aspect, definition of tendency in population's nature alteration, identification of heritable morphological changes allowed him to restore a general evolution process of various belemnoide groups. Prof. Alizadeh carried out fundamental research for the biogeochemical zonation of the Cretaceous basins in the Caucasus and for examination of geochemical conditions of Paleobasins as evolution factor. Analyzing the microstructural, chemical and crystallochemical peculiarities of matters in skeleton formations of fossils, he revealed the patterns of migration and concentration for various chemical elements, paleophysiological peculiarities for some taxons. Prof. Alizadeh created a description of geochemical ecology for the Cretaceous Invertebrates. Under his advising for the first time absolute values of paleo-temperatures of Azerbaijan Cretaceous basins were determined by isotopic Paleothermometry method. Ibrahim S. Guliyev received MSc from the Azerbaijan Oil Academy in 1970, and PhD from the Moscow (VNIGNI) in 1978, and D.Sc. in 1989 from the Moscow State University. Since 1970s he has been working at the Geology and Geophysics Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) where now occupies position of a Deputy Director. Since 2013 he is a Vise-President of ANAS. Professor I.S. Guliyev is author of more than 100 publications including 10 books. Scientific interests of I.S. Guliyev cover geology and geochemistry of oil and gas, basin modeling and mud volcanism. Under his supervision and participation have been conducted original investigations of a gas regime in folded areas with the assessment of amount of discharge of carbonaceous gases and their distribution in the surficial atmosphere. His studies of the hydro carbonaceous systems of rapidly subsiding basins (on example of the South Caspian basin) are of a special practical importance. Other scientific interests of Prof. I. Guliyev include results of basin's simulation, investigations of rates and range of generation, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons in the terms of rapid subsidence as well as studies of isotopic-geochemical properties of the organic matter, oil, gas and water enabled to determine the depth of generation and preservation of hydrocarbons in the South Caspian basin.

1 History of Geological Research in Azerbaijan.- 2 Geomorphology.- 3 Stratigraphy and Lithology.- 4 Magmatism.- 5 Tectonics.-6 Neotectonics.- 7 Mud Volcanism.

"The information in the book by Alizadeh et al. is up-to-date, and it is structured logically very well. All descriptions are very professional. ... The illustrations in the volume are rich. These include geological maps and profiles, diagrams, and photos. ... lt should be also remembered that Azerbaijan is hydrocarbon-rich country, and, thus, many petroleum geologists working there obtain the excellent synthesis of the regional knowledge buying this book." (Dmitry A. Ruban, Rostov am Don, Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie, Iss. 1-2, 2017)