From history of G.P. von Helmersens geological journey in Altai mountain district in 1834

The article reveals the role of Russian scientist G.P. von Helmersen in the investigationof mineral and resource potential of Altai district and its mountainous part in 1834. The journey was aimed at geology and mineralogyinvestigation of Altai geology district. To investigate the structure and content of rocks of Altai district Helmersen visited all the mainmines and goldfields, inspected the coalfields of the Kuznetsk Basin, explored its relief. The result was a large-scale geological research.The work describes the main stages of the expedition in Altai district. At first Helmersen visited Salairskiy mountain ridge where silverdeposits and gold placers were mined. To investigate Salair gold Helmersen examined the four biggest working mines and some smallermines. Having investigated the gold placers, Helmersen confirmed the fact that gold could be found in all rivers of Salairskiy mountainridge. Helmersen paid great attention to the research of raw materials of Salair silver industry working at the local ore base. Besides, thescientist contributed to the investigation of Kuznetsk coal. He examined the most significant coalfields discovered by that time and triedto define their content and character of deposition. The next stage of geological investigation was the eastern part of Gorny Altai - basinsof the Biya River and Teletskoye Lake. Helmersen was the first scientist to visit the Altai Mountains, Teletskoye Lake and the BiyaRiver and discovered this "terra incognita" for the scientific world of the country. Helmersen gave general geology and mineralogy descriptionof Teletskoye Lake District and its inflows. After that journey he studied Ore Altai and visited the main silver and coppermines of Zmeinogorsky district, and in the Charysh valley he examined the caves with palaeontology remnants. Thus, Helmersen studiedSalair district, Eastern and Western parts of Gorny Altai and Ore Altai in detail. He studied the geological structure, the relief andcontent of the rocks. The scientist collected a lot of information on mineral resources of Altai and the history of their discovery. In thehistory of Altai geology Helmersen made an important scientific discovery, which consisted in the fact that the Altai Mountains, theSalair mountain ridge and the Kuznetsk Altai belong to different mountain systems. Scientific works on Altai geology and other regionsmade him well known in the scientific world and governmental circles. Helmersen's geological journey in 1834 to investigate Altai andSalair minerals contributed to further geology development of this district.

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