Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The 80th anniversary of the establishment of geological authority in Mongolia is being marked between October 16 and 21.

On the first two days of the anniversary celebration, ‘Mongolian Geology - 80’ international academic conference is being organized by the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry, Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, National University of Mongolia, and Mongolian University of Science and Technology.

When talking about Mongolia’s geological development in his opening address, State Secretary of the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry G.Nandinjargal underlined that Mongolian geologists are now using modern hi-tech tools, equipment, and software, working alongside international geologists, and implementing various research and exploration projects.

Mongolian geologists are hired abroad in addition to collaborating with geological organizations from developed western countries and it indicates that our geologists and the sector have reached international level, he added.

In their presentations, specialists noted that geology has developed into an independent discipline in Mongolia and various geological researches such as those on mineral resources, tectonics, geomorphology, geohydrology, and geophysics have covered the country’s total territory. The studies revealed Mongolia’s mineral distribution patterns and more than 1,600 deposits of 80 types.

In this regard, M.Ochirbat, President of the Mongolian Industrial Geologists Association, one of the professional geological associations in Mongolia, said, “Today’s conference is discussing not only Mongolia’s geology, but also regional geology. Mongolia’s geology has many different fields. For instance, our association is specialized in industrial geology. Industrial geologists’ task starts with taking part in basic research activities. Around 40 state funded projects are currently being implemented in Mongolia. There are some 1200 exploration licenses granted and they are our field to work. ”

At the plenary session of the conference on October 16, foreign and national academics and researchers from scientific academies, institutes, colleges and universities of Mongolia, Russia, Japan, Czech Republic, Republic of Korea and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea gave presentations on ‘Paleontological research of Mongolia’, ‘History of the Institute of Geology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences and research results’, ‘Uranium metallogeny of Mongolia’, international project ‘Atlas of Geological maps of Northern, Central, and Eastern Asia’, ‘New tectono-stratigraphy of the Korean Peninsula’, and ‘Thermal energy resources of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’.

The conference continues today with parallel sessions.