KOSYGIN
Yury Alexandrovich
(1911-1994)

Russian geologist, talented scientist, able administrator, excellent teacher. Corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences since 1958, and academician since 1970.  
Hero of Socialist Labour, Lenin Prize winner, holder of two Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of the Red Star and the Badge of Honour, and Karpinsky Gold Medal.   

From 1971 to 1994, Director and Director Emeritus of the Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS).

He graduated from the Moscow Petroleum Institute as a mining engineer.

From 1931 to 1935, he worked in Turkmenistan, first as a geologist and a chief geologist in Turkmenneft trust, and in the last year director of Nebitdag oil field. During this period, he published a monograph and four research papers.

In 1935, Yu.A. Kosygin returned to Moscow, where up to June 1941 worked as a research associate at the Fossil Fuel Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences and also taught at the Moscow Petroleum Institute as a reader of a course in petroleum geology and geology of oil fields. During these years he conducted field studies in Western Kazakhstan and Ukraine, where he studied salt tectonics of oil regions.
In 1940, he defended his candidate’s thesis on "Tectonics of the north-eastern part of the Emba oil-bearing area" and was promoted to associate professor. In 1941-1945, he was serving the army field forces.

From 1945 to 1958, Yu.A. Kosygin worked at the Geological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and at the same time was appointed to a professorship at the Academy of Oil Industry. In 1947, he was awarded a doctorate degree in geology and mineralogy for the development of the general theory of salt tectonics.

In 1946, Yu.A. Kosygin organized and headed the Central geological expedition of the Committee on Geology, which launched a big project, which stipulated drilling of stratigraphic test wells within the Russian platform.   It was the embodiment of the ideas of his teacher, Academician I.M. Gubkin as to the advisability of drilling structure wells in areas indicating favourable potential for oil. Shortly after the successful implementation of this project numerous organizations of the geological department and the oil industry engaged in the practical implementation of the drilling program, it being known that deep stratigraphic tests were also drilled to begin exploration of the largest oil and gas basin in Western Siberia.

Yu.А. Kosygin was a disciple of outstanding Soviet geologists I.M. Gubkin, A.D. Arkhangelsky, and N.S. Shatsky whose immediate academic advising along with learning conversations and debates largely contributed to his formation as a scientist. Field studies in regions of Central Asia, Kazakhstan, European part of the USSR, Siberia, the Far East of Russia, China, North America and a variety of tectonic experiments carried out by him allowed a number of important theoretical and practical ideas to be conceived. His monographs Basics of Oil Field Tectonics (1952) and Tectonics of Oil Fields (1958) have become reference books for geologists of our country and tutorials for several generations of students. His theoretical insights into general geology and tectonics are most fully set forth in the well-known studies Tectonics and Basics of Tectonics published in 1969 and 1974, respectively, and reprinted twice.  

Once he was elected a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1958, Yu.A. Kosygin began work at the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences where he organized and headed the Laboratory of Geotectonics and the Division of Tectonics at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics and the Department of General Geology and Geology of the USSR in Novosibirsk State University. At that time, Yu.A. Kosygin focused on the development of geological research methodology, tectonic terminology improvement, as well as on the issues related to mathematization and computer application in subsurface geologic imaging and geologic modelling and the tectonics of the Precambrian continents in general.  In the 60s, Yu.A. Kosygin and his followers developed the fundamental concepts of tectonics: geological space, boundaries, bodies, and structure. Studies on the Precambrian tectonics of Siberia and the Far East of Russia culminated in the compilation of the world’s first Tectonic Map of the Precambrian Continents published in 1972. The Precambrian encompasses 6/7th of the geologic history and appears as a huge geologic space with the unexplored depths, which all our aspirations directed to. The map, explanatory notes and related publications influenced the formation of present-day ideas about the evolution of tectonic forms early in the development of the Earth.

In 1959, Yu.A. Kosygin set up and headed the Academic Council for the Tectonics of Siberia and the Far East of Russia of the Siberian Branch Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences, which quickly took the lead in coordinating and guiding of geologic and tectonic research activity in this vast region. Members of academic institutions and agencies of Ministries for Geology of the USSR and the Russian Federation, oil and gas industry from various regions of our country, whose interests were in one way or another connected with Siberia and the Far East of Russia, actively participated in meetings of the Council.  

Twenty three years of his life Yu.A. Kosygin dedicated to the geological research advancement in the Russian Far East. In 1970, Yu.A. Kosygin was elected an academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and began work as Vice-Chairman of the Presidium of the Far Eastern Science Centre. In 1971, he established in Khabarovsk the world’s only Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics, thereby emphasizing the fundamental linkage between the Earth’s deep structure and the surface expression of tectonic processes in the form of faults, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. A research team of creative thinkers set up and headed by him were engaged in tackling both fundamental problems and major economic tasks. The extensive research into further development of the conceptual framework of tectonics, geophysics, stratigraphy, and paleovolcanology resulted in publication of a series of terminology reference-books: Tectonics of Continents and Oceans (1976), Shapes of Geological Bodies (1977), Research Objects of Paleovolcanology (1977), Hierarchy of Geological Bodies (1977), General Stratigraphy (V. 1, 2, 1979), The Structure of Continents and Oceans (1979), Geological Formations (V. 1, 2, 1982), Ore Formation Systems (1983), The Main Types of Ore Formation Systems (1984), and Geological Bodies (1986).

At the same time, under the direction of Yu.A. Kosygin regional-scale generalizations were made, among which are the Tectonic Map of the Russia Far East and Adjacent Regions, scale 1:200 000, constructed by the unique technique, Map of Magmatic Associations of the Far East of Russia, Neotectonic Map of the Far East of Russia, Map of Neotectonic Structures in the BAM Area, as well as schematic maps of zoning geophysical fields in the Russia Far East. Also, a start was made on systematic studies of the Far Eastern ore districts at depth employing the latest geophysical techniques.

As an experienced petroleum geologist, Yu.A. Kosygin concentrated much of his effort on creating the basis for localising land and offshore hydrocarbon accumulations in the East of Russia.  He chaired the Far Eastern Committee on Oil and Gas of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Far Eastern Committee on Coal. Yu.A. Kosygin was chief editor of the Tectonic Map of Oil and Gas Areas of the Far East of Russia and Adjacent Territories, scale1: 2 500 000 (1985) and Map of Fluid Geodynamics and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Northeastern Margin of Asia (1989).

It is noteworthy that, as a rule, numerous research teams comprising scientists and production workers of the region were engaged in tackling these important problems. Willingness along with ability to use scientific capabilities to meet challenges of science and national economy is a primary attribute of Yu.A. Kosygin. He was active in research and organizational work as Chairman of the Joint Academic Council of the Earth’s Sciences and Chairman of the Commission of the Presidium of the Far Eastern Science Centre of the USSR Academy of Sciences to coordinate geological and geophysical studies in the Far East of Russia, and headed the Board of Directors of research institutes and universities and colleges in Khabarovsk.

Yu.A. Kosygin was a member of the editorial boards of Russian academic periodicals: Geotektonika (Geotectonics), Geologiya i geofizika (Geology and Geophysics), abstract journal Geologiya (Geology), as well as exacting and principled deputy chief editor of Tikhookeanskaya geologiya (Russian Journal of Pacific Geology), which thanks to him became a powerful tool for promoting the achievements of the Far Eastern science both in Russia and abroad.

Yu.A. Kosygin was a member of many Russian and foreign geological societies and councils, his works were published in several editions in Russia and abroad.

Yu.A. Kosygin had the gift of eloquence and tuition. He was demanding, strict, but always friendly and attentive to young researchers. His lectures were distinguished by up-to-dateness of the teaching material along with fascinating and logical presentation. Under his guidance several dozen researchers and professionals defended doctoral and candidate’s theses, became corresponding member and academicians.

The government highly appreciated Yu.A. Kosygin’s research and organizational activities and combat service during the Great Patriotic War. In 1981 he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour, in 1985 the A.P. Karpinsky Gold Medal, the highest award in Earth sciences, in 1988 he was awarded the Lenin Prize. He was also honoured with two Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of the Red Star and the Badge of Honour, and several medals.

On December 1, 1988 Yu.A. Kosygin received emeritus status and continued working productively at the Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics. In the last years of his life a series of philosophical generalizations came from his pen: Earth and Universe (1986), Tectonics of Geospheres (1988), Earth and Man (1989), Earth and Time (1990), which integrated vast experience and knowledge of Yury Alexandrovich as a Man and a Scientist with a capital letter.  He continued to hold colloquia on geology, where he generously shared his huge experience of a geologist, a scientist, and a thinker. His authority was extremely high, his advice and guidance were always wise, logical and useful.  One of his last wishes was to unite researchers around a major project the teamwork on which would help everyone to find their place and make a contribution. He spared neither effort nor time talking with various researchers individually and trying to define their role in achieving a common goal.

The Experience of Intellectual Autobiography (1993), in which the author refers to the young people who come into life and Man and the Universe (1993) addressed to all mankind are the last publications of Yury Alexandrovich Kosygin.