Chair of Geophysics, Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology

The Chair of Geophysics, Engineering Geology, and Hydrogeology was established in 2022 based on Chairs of Geophysics and Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology.

In 1966, the Chair of Geophysical Methods of Search and Exploration of Mineral Deposits was established within the Faculty of Geology of YSU, which was headed by Associate Professor H. Vantsyan, Professors H. Avchyan and R. Minasyan.

In 1934, on the initiative of Professor T. Jrbashyan, the Chair of General and Applied Geology was founded, where, in 1952, the "Engineer-geologist, hydrogeologist" specialization was established. During its history, Professor H. Stepanyan, Academician A. Aslanyan, Professors V. Avetisyan, and P. Boshnaghyan, Associate Professors V. Hasratyan, A. Ananyan, H. Gyoletsyan, and Ed. Barseghyan headed the Chair.

From 1966 to 1976, the prospective assessment of the Alaverdi and Kapan mineral fields was carried out by H. Vantsyan. Meanwhile, Associate Professors of the Chair E. Hajimamudov and L. Tadevosyan carried out works on the issues of studying the deep structure of the Earth's crust of the territory of the Republic of Armenia by geophysical methods, tectonic zoning, tracking their boundaries, mapping deep faults and made maps of the gravimetric and geomagnetic field of the RA territory: M 1:500000 and M 1:200000.

To predict earthquakes, famous geophysicists Professor S. Balasanyan, and Associate Professor D. Khachatryan, organized a geodynamic test site in the area around the RA NPP, where Associate Professors L. Tadevosyan, A. Sardaryan observed the nature of non-tidal changes in the gravitational field. From 1984 to 1993, on Professor H. Avchyan and Ph.D., Associate Professor M. Grigoryan's initiative, the petrophysics laboratory for the study of the physical properties of mountain rocks was created, where the studies of the physical and mechanical properties of the mountain rocks of the territory of the Republic of Armenia began.

Since 2001, Professor R. Minasyan has actively worked in engineering geophysics and hydrogeophysics. From 2002 to 2011, the scientific group of the Chair led by Professor Minasyan participated in the engineering geological studies of a number of reservoirs in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The members of the Chair participated in the exploration of underground water resources of the Republic of Armenia, evaluation of exploitable reserves, and drawing up maps of exploitable reserves and mineral waters on a scale of 1:500,000, as well as made hydrogeological maps for various purposes (Professor V. Avetisyan, Associate Professor Zh. Achoyan). Professors V. Avetisyan and P. Boshnaghyan performed engineering-geological exploration and construction project justification works, participating in engineering-geological and hydrogeological studies of the most important objects of RA as geologist-experts. The Chair has significant investments in the development of engineering protection measures for some settlements (Yerevan (also Yerevan Metro), Gyumri, Vardenis), as well as certain studies, were carried out to determine the lithological composition of Cretaceous and Paleogene sediments in the territory of Armenia (V. Hasratyan, M. Movsisyan). 

Outstanding specialists of the Republic teach at the Chair, who regularly undergo training. The Chair's scientist-pedagogues are the authors of educational manuals, monographs, textbooks, and scientific articles. Ph.D., Associate Professor Marine Mkrtchyan is the head of the Chair.

Applied geophysical, petrophysical, engineering geology and hydrogeological research is carried out in the laboratories of the Chair, the outcomes of which were used in the dissertations of Post-graduate and Ph.D. students of the Chair.

The Chair implements the "Geology" (Undergraduate) and "Geophysics, hydrogeology, and engineering geology" (Master's) educational programs.