Ad.A. Aliyev’s research while affiliated with Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and other places

Based on an analytical review of factual materials, the article discusses the peculiarities of the distribution of gas hydrates in the development zones of mud volcanism of the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian seas, which are direct indications of sedimentary gas complex. A comparative analysis of the composition of hydrate-forming fluids, sources and depths of gas hydrates distribution was performed. The article provides information on gas seeps and pokmarks. The presence of gas seepsand pokmarks in the water column and at the bottom of the Southern Caspian is assumed.

The paper presents a study on genesis and organic geochemical characteristics of oil shales, occurred in different tectonic zones of Eastern Azerbaijan. Lithostratigraphic properties of oil shale containing sediments, evolutionary dynamics and structural types of organic matter were studied. In terms of paleogeography, it was defined that the formation of oil shales in examined regions, are associated with an almost identical sedimentation conditions (in shallow freshwater and silty pools - lagoons). The organic matter of the oil shales is mainly consist of phytoplankton (algae) and zooplanktons (fish larvae etc.). Connected with orogenic phases, the formation of oil shale, coal and oil in southeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus links their similar genetic properties. Thermal analysis of oil shale revealed that when organic matter loses the most part of its weight at a higher temperature (≥400 °C) corresponds to aliphatic, but at lower temperatures (≥200 °C) aromatic structures. Pyrolysis of oil shale samples showed that in the initial stage (500-550 °C), excluding the amount of gas, bitumen and pyrolytic water were increased. Increasing the temperature up to 800-850 °C leads to the conversion of higher molecular hydrocarbons into lower, and formation of gases and coke residues. The gradual increase in temperature ends with carbonization of kerogen. An abrupt change in the yielding of bitumen is mainly observed at a temperature of 400 °C. Thermal analysis and pyrolysis of oi shale samples, taken from different studied regions allow making conclusion that some of their kerogens is fully matured.

Based on the results of the studies, an insignifcant difference in the geochemical characteristics of oil shales were established within the study area. The amount of OM in the samples taken from the outcrops and pits varies from 13,3 to 32,1 %. Based on the data of gravimetric studies and two-stage pyrolysis, the maturity of OM was assessed and the aliphatic type of OM was established. The Tmax obtained during the cracking process indicates the immaturity of the OM of shale rocks for the generation of hydrocarbons.

In the paper, the geochemical characteristics of more than 60 deposits and outcrops of oil shales in Azerbaijan, related to geological formations of the Cretaceous-Miocene age were considered. Samples of oil shale were taken from the surface outcrops and ejected materials of mud volcanoes. The main goal of the study is to determine the organic geochemical features of oil shales in order to know their role in the formation of hydrocarbons. A comparative analysis of the studied oil shale was performed with foreign countries in which the shale industry has a long history.

The article gives a brief overview of the history of Azerbaijan’s territorial losses from 1918 - the proclamation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic - to the early 1990s - the last Armenian-Azerbaijani war. With reference to literary and documentary sources, it outlines the vicissitudes of the seizure by Armenia of Azerbaijani territories in different ways with the help of their patrons - powers that pursue their own interests in the region. The author focuses on territorial losses in favor of Armenia, but at the same time gives information about lesserknown and less significant territorial concessions by Azerbaijan to Georgia.

AMEA Geologiya və Geofizika İnstitutu Məqalədə, yanacaq-enerji və xammal resursu kimi dünyada müxtəlif məqsədlərlə istifadə olunan və Azərbaycanda geniş yayılan yanar şistlər təfsilatlı araşdırılır. Yanar şistlərin kəmiyyət və keyfiyyət xüsusiyyətlərini müəyyənləşdirdən tədqiqatlara geoloji-kəşfiyyat işlərilə yanaşı, geokimyəvi laboratoriya analizləri, alınan nəticələrin digər ölkələrdə öyrənilən və istismar olunan bu tip resurslarla müqayisəvi təhlilləri daxildir. Aparılmış tədqiqatlar əsasında, dünya təcrübəsi diqqətdə saxlanılmaqla yanar şistlərin ölkə üzrə tətbiq imkanları təklif olunur. Açar sözlər: Yanar şist, üzvi maddə, kerogen, bitum, qaz, istilik törətmə qabiliyyəti, istilik-elektrik mərkəzi Yanar şistlər-üzvi maddələrlə zəngin, sapropel qruplu, metomorfizmə uğramış çökmə süxurlar kimi neft-kimya, tikinti sənayesi, kənd təsərrüfatı və s. məhsulların alınmasında xammal ehtiyatları qismində geniş istifadə diapazonuna malikdir. Onlar qeyri-üzvi birləşmələrdən, bitum və kerogendən ibarətdir. Şistlərin tərkibindəki üzvi maddələr, əsasən onun kerogen hissəsilə əlaqədardır. Dünyada bu tip mineral və xammal resurslardan sənaye məqsədilə hələ XVII əsrdə istifadə olunmağa başlandı. O vaxtlar yanar şistlərdən onun mineral tərkibinə görə yararlanırdılar. İki əsr sonra şistlər bitum tərkibinə görə istismar edilməklə, kiçik həcmli elektrik stansiyalarının xammal mənbəyi kimi işlənilirdı. Şist sənayesinin sonrakı dinamik inkişafı onlardan karbohidrogenlərin alınmasına gətirib çıxartdı. Hazırda, yanar şistlərdən-energetikada, qazlaşdırmada, maye yanacaq alınmada, yandırma yolu ilə istilik elektrik stansiyalarında, neft-kimya məhsullarının əldə оlunmаsındа (benzin, sürtkü yağları, benzol, fenollar, naftalin və s.), Cu, Zn, V, Cr, Mn, Co və s. mikroelementlərin, tibbi preparatların ˗ ixtiol, naşatır spirtinin, həmçinin yandırıldıqdan sonra şist külündən kənd təsərrüfatında mineral gübrə kimi, tikinti sənayesində isə sement istehsalında, kərpic və istilik keçirməyən

The monograph summarizes the results of many years of study by Azerbaijani researchers on hydrocarbons, mud volcanoes, and Earth physics. The evolution of sedimentary rocks and organic substances, the isotope and geochemical characteristics of hydrocarbons and the mechanism of their formation, and the genesis, characteristics, classifications, patterns of distribution of mud volcanoes, as well as the relationship with seismicity and oil and gas were discussed. The monograph also provides the study results of oil shale and natural bitumen as an unconventional fuel and energy raw material in Azerbaijan, as well as gas hydrates in the South Caspian. The study on gravity, magnetic fields, depth structure, seismicity of the Earth's crust in the areas of Azerbaijan was presented, and the latest maps and models which are the result of geophysical surveys (gravitational, geomagnetic, geothermic and radiometric) were illustrated.

National Atlas of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Map (Scale 1:1000000), State Land and Cartography Committee