GEOLOGY

GEOLOGY

1935. The first Latvian law on geologic works is issued;

1936. The Natural Resource Exploration Committee is founded, including representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Education, and National Welfare, as well as from University, Mineral Matter Exploration Society, Society of Geographs, Society of Engineers, and the Agricultural Chamber. Foundation of this committee can be regarded as the beginning of planned geologic exploration works in Latvia.

1939. The Law „On Natural Resource Exploration” is issued, creating the basis for the foundation of the Natural Resource Exploration Institute. Systematic exploration is initiated and a corresponding necessary informative, technical, and specialist basis is created;

1946. The Geology and Geography Institute is founded at the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, which in 1952 is converted into the Institute of Geology and Minerals, then in 1961 into the Geology Institute.

1957. The Geology and Natural Resource Protection Administration is created in subordination to the Minister Council of the Latvian SSR, which is later renamed as the Latvia Geology Administration and become subordinated directly to Moscow

07.09.1993. The Geology Service of the Latvian Republic is created by Decree No.4 of the Minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development.

09.05.1995. The Cabinet of Ministers (CM) accepts the concept of “Latvian Earth Entrails”,

30.05.1995. The Cabinet of Ministers issues Decree No.293 on the creation of the State Geology Service (SDS) as a State administration institution subordinated to the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development, simultaneously approving the State Geology Service statutes (CM regulations No.142). These documents define the sphere of SGS competence, its work objective, main tasks, and responsibilities.

25.09.2001. The Cabinet of Ministers (CM) accepts Regulation No.413 "State Geology Service Statutes".

Development of geology in Latvia

1774. Publication of “The Book of High Wisdom” by G.F. Stender – the first popular science work and encyclopedia in Latvian language, providing also geographic and geologic facts.

1778. Jelgava issues the 1st part of the paper on various minerals.

1784. The description of Livonia made by J. Fisher also includes the first geologic description of Kurzeme by J. J. Ferber, student of C. Linnaeus.

1830. Fr. Dubois publishes “Geognostic Data on Lithuania and Kurzeme” with a 1:800 000 map in the appendices. The map depicts limestone, freshwater lime, gypsum, and clay deposit locations.

1833. In the estate of Allazs Pullans the first geologic borehole in the Baltic states is made in order to discover sodium chloride deposits.

1838. The first State sulfur spring health resort is created in Kemeri. This year is considered to be the foundation year of this resort.

1840. L. Buch proves for the first time the existence of Devonian sediment in the Baltic States.

1841. The first Russian geographic map of the European sector created, which also included Latvian territory.

1853. Devonian sediment is devided into 3 stages (H. Pender, H. Pfeifer). It is the first attempt to separate stratigraphic Devonian units.

1861. The first systematic quarternary explorations in Latvia were made by S.Grevingk. In his paper “Geology of Livland and Kurzeme” he bases on the “drift theory” and explains quarternary sediment origination by the effect of drifting ice movement in the sea.

1866. Latvia initiates production of cement at the Riga Cement Factory

1869. The Scientific Committee of the Riga Latvian Society if founded.

1879. In the explanatory text for his map 1: 600.000 published a year before, S.Grevingk subscribes to the glacial theory and for the first time provides an insight into the glacial period in Latvian territory;

1912. Peteris Nomals creates a marsh exploration laboratory in Riga

1913. H. Hausen is the first one to provide the most extensive description of that time on glacial and post-glacial period formations in the Baltic region together with a quarternary sediment map, using his own observations and previous research data (Hausen H. “On the Baltic Region and Surrounding Territory Quarternary Relief Form Exploration”. In German language)

1924. The Mineral Exploration Society if founded.

1925. First interglacial spore and pollen analysis (P. Galenieks)

1936. In V.Zans work “Glacial and Post-Glacial Periods in Latvia”, the first Latvian quarternary sediment stratigraphic scale is published and Latvian quarternary geology is examined, briefly characterizing glacial sediment relief forms and origination.

1941. V.Zans quarternary sediment schematic map 1: 2 500 000 is published, which is considered to be among the first attempts to initiate quarternary rock mapping for the whole Latvia. V.Zans Latvian earth surface component map 1: 2 500 000 practically illustrates only the upper exposed layers of quarternary rock or ground mother rock (without indicating its composition) for the maximum depth of 2 m. Thus, the prepared information at that time also had very concrete users – it became the most significant reference material and source of information for well makers.

1944. A. Dreimanis marks out three moraine horizons at Rucava, which significantly encumbered the planned comparative simplified Latvian quarternary geologic mapping.

1942. Daugmale (Mercendorf or Mercendarb on the German topographical map of 1917) sheet (IV-16-I) is created as experimental mapping under the direction of A.Dreimanis in cooperation with the Geology Institute of the University

1939 and 1943. A. Dreimanis develops a method of moraine material description for fractions of 0,5- 1,0 mm.

1944. Planned all-embracing geologic research is initiated, starting with engineering geologic, hydrogeologic, and mineral exploration works. In the second half of the 40’s a complex 1: 200 000 mapping “Geologic structure, hydrogeologic conditions and grounds” is initiated.

1948. At the Plavinu borehole the crystal basement is reached for the first time in Latvia.

1952. A geology club is created under the patronage of the Museum of Nature

1958. Planned exploration works and the medium scale (1: 200 000) mapping are initiated for the whole Latvian territory.

1964. Quarternary geologic mapping starts using aeromethods. 

1961. The XXXVIII volume of the “USSR Geology” is published – ad interim the most complete work on the Latvia geology, summarizing all previous works.

1963. At the 6th Adze borehole of the Kuldiga structure, an oil-impregnated limestone was lifted from the depth of 827 m. The opinion that the Baltic region might have oil fields was confirmed.

1967. Staburags is flooded with Plavinu HPP water.

1968. Incukalns underground gas storage is delivered for exploitation. Its total capacity is 4,400 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

1970. Latvia initiates seismic observations

1993. Seismic monitoring is initiated after the foundation of the Valmiera region seismic station.

Other facts

360 000 000 years ago Gauja valley outcrop rocks were created

1616. First mentioning of an earthquake in Latvia (Bauska reg.)

1853. In spring a ~ 60 t heavy boulder was washed ashore at Skulte.

2004. Latvia resounds with the 3-5 ball earthquakes (according to the Richter scale) that have taken place in Kaliningrad