Geochemistry Laboratory

Dr.Nosir Shukurov obtained his Ph.D. from Tashkent State University in 2000. Subsequently he did post -doctoral research at Bar-Ilan University (Israel). From 2004, he returned to work at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, and served as the deputy director of the institute.

• He has been a visiting scholar at the University of Bayreuth (Germany, 2000);
• Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (Germany, 2005, 2012, 2013-2016);
• University of Athens (Greece, 2005);  University of Bern (Switzerland, 2014);
• University of the West Indies (Jamaica, 2009, 2011); University of Georgia (USA, 2017-2018).

Currently, he is working ahead in the Geochemistry lab. at the Kh.M. Abdullaev’s Institute of Geology and Geophysics, University of Geological Sciences, State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources. His research interest includes:

• Environmental Sciences; Environmental Geochemistry;
• Biogeochemistry;
• Environmental pollution assessment;
• Occurrence forms and bioavailability of heavy metals in polluted soils;
• Heavy metals uptake by plants;
• Interactions of soil microorganisms and heavy metals in contaminated soils in industrial areas;
• Bioindication and bioremediation aspects of environmental pollution.

• Geotechnology and ecology of natural and technogenic ore-forming systems
• Evaluation of technology for processing enrichment and integrated use of mineral raw materials from natural and technogenic deposits
• Establishing the features of the formation of natural and man-made deposits based on the study of chemical and mineralogical features (based on macro-micro-nano-sized mineral formations), and the forms of finding elements using modern physical and chemical methods

In the field of ecological geochemistry, scientific research is being carried out to study the influence of technogenic geochemical factors on the environment, the distribution of heavy metals in soils, waters and vegetation of mining and industrial areas, the assessment of their impact on the environment and the relationship in the “heavy metals – soil – plants” system. Within large mining regions, technogenic anomalies of heavy metals have been mapped, practical recommendations have been developed to reduce the harmful effects of industrial facilities on the environment. In recent years, detailed studies have been carried out to study the concentrations and forms of heavy metals in the soil and their effect on soil microorganisms. As a result of studies on the mineralogical and technological assessment of the metal content of ash and slag wastes of the Angren TPP and technogenic wastes of the AGMK, a technology for producing iron-containing concentrate has been developed.

• The regularities of the behavior of copper, lead, gold, zinc, molybdenum, bismuth, sulfur and related elements and the forms of their presence during the formation of copper, bismuth, lead-zinc, gold deposits have been established; the “Periodic system of protoisotopes of chemical elements” was compiled with the identification of new patterns of their distribution at the isotopic level; Of particular importance for studying the genesis and age of copper-molybdenum, lead-zinc and other deposits was the study of isotopes of sulfur, lead, carbon, oxygen, and the radiogenic isotope 87Os. The mineralogy and geochemistry and forms of occurrence of uranium, rare, noble and other elements in uranium deposits and oil shale of Uzbekistan have been studied and a technological assessment of the extraction of these metals has been given. The forms of finding gold in refractory ores of the Daugyztau, Kokpatas, Muruntau, Triada, Karakutan and other gold deposits have been studied.
• The possibility of using the biogeochemical method of searching for hidden ore deposits in arid conditions has been established. Several dozens of anomalous biogeochemical areas have been identified within the studied ore fields of Uzbekistan and on their flanks, which are recommended for further prospecting and exploration. “Practical recommendations on biogeochemical anomalies” and “Biogeochemical methods for prospecting for ore deposits in arid conditions of Central Asia” were developed and published.

On the basis of the results obtained, contractual work is carried out by order of the AGMK, NMMC and the State Committee for Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The geography of laboratory cooperation is quite wide; in recent years, employees have visited various scientific centers of the world (Germany, USA, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey, Greece, China, Jamaica), with which joint research is being carried out in the field of environmental geochemistry and geotechnology.