The chair of Mineralogy and Petrography was founded in 1960-1961 by member of the USSR Academy of Sciences V.S. Sobolev. The chair prepares specialists in Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrography and Petrology. The study process is focused on the behavior of the Earth substance at high temperatures and pressures, the research of volcanic and metamorphic rocks and minerals. Our students have their specialized practice in Mineralogy and Petrography in Sayan Mountains, Tyva and on Baikal.

The high level of qualification of specialists in Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology is assured by use of physical and physico-chemical techniques of substance analysis based on the latest modern equipment. Students majoring in experimental mineralogy do laboratory-based internships growing precious and technical crystals.

The chair graduates explore the issues of experimental mineralogy, magmatic and metamorphic rock petrology, theory of mineral formation in depth horizons of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle, ecogeochemistry and technogenic mineralogy. The training allows our graduates to work for various geological companies of Russia (Khabarovsk, Magadan, Yakutsk, Chita, Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk, Moscow), the CIS coutries (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) and far abroad countries (the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the UAE). Plenty of them hold senior roles in geological institutes, regional geological committees or industrial companies.

High professionalism of our graduates has contributed to the discovery of numerous mineral deposits: adamants in Canada, gold in Mongolia, iron and platinum in Siberia.