Exploring the Geology of the Caucasus

From October 23rd to October 27th, French-Azerbaijani University - UFAZ final year Geophysical engineering students embarked on an incredible expedition through the stunning landscapes of the Greater Caucasus.

Our team comprised two invited French teachers, Quentin Boesch and Laurent Gindre, and two dedicated UFAZ Coordinators, Fidan Aslanzada and Arzu Aliyeva.

The objective of this fieldwork was to learn to decipher the geological history of different outcrops of the Caucasus by learning how to use basic tools for the geologist (magnifying lens, compass, hardness tests, Jacob's staff, drawing stratigraphic column, geological mapping). During 4 days, they worked in the following regions : Altiaghaj, Candy Cane mountains, Krimaki and Yasamal Valley.

For each outcrop they studied the nature of the rocks, identified the depositional environments and the age of the rocks, described the visible deformations, and tried to put these outcrops in relation to each other in order to reconstruct some of the major steps of the geological history of the Greater Caucasus.