THE THORNY LIFE OF Yа. V. SAMOILOV (1870–1925)

Abstract

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Yakiv Samoilov, famous crystallographer, miner-alogist and geochemist. The main attention is paid to the role of Ya. Samoilov in the creation of new research directions, which became the basis for the modern development of biogeochemis-try, biomineralogy, sedimentology, and marine geology. He graduated from the Odesa University in 1893. Later he became a member of the Minera-logical group under the leadership of V. Vernadskyi. He participated in many expeditions, worked tirelessly in the lab. The topicss of his publications was extremely diverse (mineralogy of ore deposits of the Southern Urals, iron ores of Central Russia, supervising the activities of Yeni-kalski mud hills etc.). Ya. Samoilov became the founder of scientific direction paleophysiology (chemical paleon-tology, paleobiochemistry). He also studied biomineralogical formation. Samoilov proposed to al-locate the section “Mineralogy Skeletons of Organisms”. He proposed to use the term “biolites”. Master's thesis “Materials for the Сrystallization of Barite” Ya. Samoilov defended in 1902. The study of various deposits of barite has become the basis for important generalizations con-cerning processes of biogenic mineral formation and their evolution in time. The scientist insisted on the need to study the role of organisms in modern sedimentation for laying the foundations of “Stratigraphic Mineralogy”. The thesis “Mineralogy of Naholnyi Ridge Vein Deposits” (1906) was recognized as the first significant study of ore deposits mineralogy in the national literature in the early twentieth century. Ya. Samoilov became one of the organizers of Special Commission for the Study of phos-phates. Under his leadership, the results of the expedition were published in eight volumes. Addi-tional materials were obtained during visits of Ya. Samoilov to the Central Asia, Algeria, Tunisia and Northern America. Collection of phosphorite deposits of the world have become the basis for the Museum of agronomic ores (the term of Ya. Samoilov), established in Petrovska Academy. The activities, organizational and human qualities of Ya. Samoilov left an imprint in the memory of contemporaries. His name perpetuates in the names of the trench and island in the Arctic seas, mud cone among Yenikalski salses, Research Institute of Fertilizers and Insectofun-gicides.