General address to all staff!

Assoc.Prof. Irena Peytcheva, Ph.D.
Assoc.Prof. Mariana Yossifova, Ph.D.

Assistant Prof. Mitko Popov, Ph.D.
Assistant Prof. Rositza Ivanova, Ph.D.
Assistant Prof. Alexsander Hadzhiev
Assistant Prof. Atanas Hikov
Assistant Prof. Alexander Vlahov
Assistant Stoyan Georgiev

Ms. Milan Ichev Ph.D.
Ms. Raya Raycheva Ph.D Student (leader of web activities)
Ms. Julia Statelova Ph.D Student, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”,since 2003
Ms. Kamelia Nedkova Ph.D Student
Ms. Valentin Grozdev Ph.D Student
Ms. Petyo Filipov Ph.D Student
Ms. Nadezhda Velinova

List of the professors:

Prof. Ivan Velinov, D.Sc.,Corresp.Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (deceased 2008)
Prof. Peter Marchev, D.Sc. (retired sinsce March,2011)
Prof. Angel Kounov, D.Sc.(retired sinsce 2010)
Prof. Milko Kanazirski ,D.Sc. (retired)
Prof. Ivan Ivanov, D.Sc. (retired)
Prof. Dimitar Kozhuharov, Ph.D. deceased april 2005

Other Res.Assoc. Prof.
Res.Assoc.Prof. Eugenia Kozhuharova, Ph.D. (retired)
Res.Assoc.Prof. Vassil Arnaudov, Ph.D.(retired)
Res.Assoc.Prof. Yotzo Yanev (retired since 2010)
Res.Assoc.Prof. Lilan Daieva, Ph.D. (retired since 2008)

• The department has been created by merging of the former departments Petrology and Metasomatism and Geochemistry in 2006. Research in the department includes studies of Petrology and Geochemistry of igneous and metamorphic rocks, magmatic-hydrothermal systems and metasomatic alterations related to hydrothermal mineral deposits and deposition of pyroclastic rocks, environmental geology, coal geology.
• Members of the Petrology group complete detailed petrological and geochemical studies on the mantle xenoliths entrapped in the Oligo-Miocene alkaline basalts to understand the composition of the asthenosphere, and lithosphere under the major tectonic units in Bulgaria. To evaluate the proper chemistry of the xenoliths, we study metasomatic processes in the xenoliths that occurred at surface level. These studies are completed with close collaboration with colleagues from England, Italy and Japan.
• Volcanological and igneous petrology studies cover also age distribution and geochemical and isotopic variation of the magmatism in the Upper Cretaceous Srednogorie island arc and the Paleogene Rhodope continental arc. We also work on the explosive volcanism, ignimbrite formation and catastrophic paleoeruptive events. Our additional targets are the post-emplacement alteration of the pyroclstics and lavas, which include low-temperature processes of zeolitization of glasses and perlite formation.
• Studies of metasomatic alterations related to hydrothermal mineral deposits in the magmatic arcs and modeling of magmo-hydrothermal processes using precise age techniques and isotopic studies are completed with close collaboration with Swiss, French and US colleagues. Studies of the alteration mineralogy in the lithocaps and oxide zones led to discovery of a large number of phosphate and sulfate minerals.
• Metamorphic group covers the study of metamorphism, migmatization and granite formation in Rila Mt, the Central Rhodope Mts. and NW Balkan chain, as well as high-pressure metamorphic processes. Research in the field include isotopic geochemistry and radiogeochronology to understand the history of the metamorphosed rocks.
• Environmetal studies are aimed at petrographic, mineral and inorganic chemical composition of the coal; waste products from coal preparation, pollution around mines, metallurgical plants etc.

Current scientific projects:

Projects granted by National Scientific Foundation

• Structural frame and geochronology of Late Alpine tectonic, magmatic and ore-forming processes in the Eastern Rhodope domes (National Science Fund). Project coordinator: Nikolay Bonev (Sofia University), participants from Geological Institute: Peter Marchev, Milan Ichev, Mitko Popov
• Особености на златото и връзката им с магматичните комплекси в Средногорието и Вардарската зона. Р-л: Б. Маврудчиев, участници: М. Попов, Х. Белмустакова
• Продукти на високобарично топене в метаморфни скали от Централните Родопи. Р-л: Зл. Чернева, участници - Е. Станчева
• НЗ 1405/2004 с НС”НИ” “Метасоматична формация вторични кварцити в България - генетични особености и металогенна перспектива” Р-л: И. Велинов, участници - А. Кунов, Н. Велинова
• НЗ-1503 Геохимия на перлитите, свързани с Източнородопския терциерен вулканизъм. Р-л: Й. Янев, участници - Р. Иванова,
  М. Янева, М. Караджов
• ВУ10/06 “Study on the Thermal Autooxidation Alteration of Coals from the Pernik (Bulgaria) and Berovo (Macedonia) Open Coal Mines.” Participants from Geological Institute: M. Yossifova

  Projects funded by EU, NATO, IUGS, and other programmes

• Tectonic and magmatic controls on Cretaceous and Tertiary gold and copper deposits in the Rhodope Massif, the Srednogorie belt and the Caucasus, Bulgaria and Georgia. Subproject 2: Magmatism and ore deposits during Late-Alpine extension in the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria, Swiss National Fond, SCOPES, IB7320-111046, 2005-2008 Leader of Team 2 - P. Marchev, participants from Geological Institute - R. Raicheva

  Projects funded through collaboration between Academies and foreign institutions

• Insights into Late Alpine geodynamic processes of the Eastern Rhodope and Eastern Srednogorie zones from potassic-ultrapotassic volcanism and sandstone sedimentation. Bilateral BAS-CNR project, 2007-2009. Project coordinator: P. Marchev, participants from GI: Y. Yanev, R. Ivanova, R. Raicheva

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