Scientific fields:
Mineralogy - оre, silicate and environmental
Metallogeny, mineral-forming processes
Crystal growth and dissolution
Fluid inclusion studies

Scientific equipment:
JEOL-SUPERPROBE 733 SEM and microprobe ORTEC System 5000
X-ray diffractometer TUR M-61 with Buerger precession goniometer
X-ray powder diffraction camera, Huber Guinier Image foil G670
Freezing-heating stage Chaixmeca (from -180 to +600°C)
LA-ICP-MS (PerkinElmer Elan DRC-e and New Wave UP193FX)

Consultations and Services:
Mineral diagnostics, mineral exploration, environmental assessment of mining waste

Contacts:
Department of Mineral Resources,
Geological Institute,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., bl. 24
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: (+359 2) 979 22 44
Fax: (+359 2) 72 46 38
E-mail: minerals@geology.bas.bg

Useful links to:
- Mineralogical databases:
Webmineral
Mindat
Rruff project
- Societies:
International Mineralogical Association
Bulgarian Geological Society
Bulgarian Mineralogical Society
Mineralogical Society of America
Mineralogical Association of Canada
The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits
Society of Economic Geologists
- Journals
Geochemistry, Mneralogy, Petrology
Elements
American Mineralogist
Canadian Mineralogist
European Journal of Mineralogy
Mineralium Deposita
Economic Geology

Forthcoming events:
EUROCLAY 2011, 26 June - 1 July, 2011, Antalya, Turkey

EMU School - Bulk and surface structures of layer silicates and oxides: Theoretical aspects and applications, 10 - 20 July, 2011, Rome, Italy

ICAM 2011, 1 - 5 August, 2011, Trondheim, Norway

Goldschmidt 2011, 14 - 19 August, 2011, Prague, Czech Republic

XXII Congress of the International Union of Crystallography, 22 - 29 August, 2011, Madrid, Spain

SGA 2011, 26 - 29 September, 2011, Antofagasta, Chile

NCS2011, 3 - 5 October, 2011, Sofia, Bulgaria

Manganilvaite – CaFe²⁺Fe³⁺(Mn, Fe²⁺)(Si₂O₇)O(OH)
Approved by IMA-CNMMN 16-2002 (I. Bonev et al., 2005) in Madan region, Central Rhodopes, Bulgaria

Strashimirite - Cu₈(AsO₄)₄(OH)₄·5(H₂O), named in honour of Prof. Strashimir Dimitrov, patron of the Geological Institute. Established by Jordanka Mincheva-Stephanova (1968) in Zapachitsa, West Balkan Mountain. Sample: Schwarzleo district, Austria.
Photo Copyright © Leon Hupperichs

Hemusite - Cu₆SnMoS₈ (black spots on the photograph). Named after the ancient name of the Balkan Mountain. Established by Georgi Terziev (1971) in Chelopech, Central Balkan mountain, Bulgaria. Sample: Kawazu mine, Japan.
Photo courtesy of  Tom Loomis.

Kostovite – (Cu, Ag)AuTe₄, named in honour of acad. Ivan Kostov. Established by Georgi Terziev (1966) in Chelopech, Central Balkan mountain, Bulgaria.