The 50 -Year- activity of the Geological Survey of Iran

Introduction

The Geological Survey of Iran (GSI) was established in 1962, through a special fund project of United Nations. Although, the idea came to mind in January 1959, and the official permission was ratified by Iranian Senate and National parliaments in August 1959. After three years lasted for affiliated administrative affairs, GSI, under cooperation of Ministry of Industries and Mines, was officially founded in 1962. Prior to the establishment of GSI, the majorities of geological investigations have been carried out by the Iranian National Oil Company and some other oilinvolved companies. They just put emphasis on oil and gas explorations and did not consider systematic geological and exploration studies.

The geological Survey of Iran was officially authorized to start working on geological and explorations projects on the basis of an 8-article statute briefly presented in the following:

The government is officially allowed to establish a distinct organization called Geological Survey of Iran in order to implement geological investigations throughout the country, gather all former data, prepare and publish geological maps (Article1).

 A high-ranking geological council should be determined amid representatives of University of Tehran, Iranian National Oil Company, Planning and Budget Organization and Ministry of Industries and Mines (Article2).

The director general should be appointed from well-experienced mining and geology scientists for 3 years (Article 3).

 The Geological survey can independently act under supervision of the Ministry of Industries and Mines (Article 4).

Financial budget of the Geological Survey can be provided by Ministry of Industries and Mines, Iranian National Oil Company, Planning and Budget Organization. The Survey can itself procure some part of the budget via offering geological services such as maps and reports as well (Article 5).

All geology-related companies and institutes should associate with the Geological Survey to avoid any parallel work (Article 6).

A copy of drilling geological sections of tunnels, channels, deep wells and bore holes which is performed by other companies and institutes should be delivered to the Geological Survey (Article 7).

The Ministry of Industries and Mines is charged to execute this regulation (Article 8).

In 1999, the exploration duties of the Ministry of Industries and Mines were totally assigned to the GSI. For the time being, the GSI is the only official in charged- organization for implementation of geological and exploration study in the whole country. Although, the Iranian National Oil Company is completely responsible for hydrocarbons explorations.

 Founder of Geological Survey of Iran

Eng. Nasrollah Khadem

Mr.“Nasrollah Khadem” was born in Tehran in 1289 (1918). After completion his high school, he went to Paris in 1933 and received his engineering degree from Paris School of Mine (Ecole des Mines de Paris) in 1938. He had some positions as director of Shemshak coal mine, supervisor of Alborz private mines, inspector of coal mines joint-stock company, director of Qeshm and Hormozgan mines and Geology professor in Tehran University and etc. He was the founder and the director general of The Geological Survey of Iran (GSI) at the end of 1960. During his tenure as the director general, the GSI made tremendous progress in all related areas including mineral and geological exploration of a great portion of Iran. His contribution in the GSI was very instrumental in bringing international recognition for the institute. His enthusiasm and interest in promoting the scientific activities of the GSI continued even during his retirement all the way to the end of his life (5 May 1999).

God bless his soul

GSI General Directors

1- Eng. Safie Asfia (1962-1964), under supervision of Mr. Khadem

2- Eng Nasrollah Khadem. (1964-1974), deputy director: Sabet Qadam and Ghaem Maghani

3- Eng. Asefi (1974-1979), deputy director: Dr. Eftekharnejad and Alipour

4- Eng. Rahjou (1979-1980), deputy director: Eng. Isakhanian

5- Dr. Haghipor (1980- end of 1980), deputy director: Eng. Isakhanian

6- Dr. Alavi Naeeni (1980-1981), deputy director: Dr. Zahedi and Mr. Hamedi

7- Eng. Almasi (1982-1989), deputy director: Mr. Rastad, Mr. Dargahi and Mr. Nogol

8- Dr. Ahmadzadeh Haravi (1990-1997), deputy director: Mr. Vaez Lari, Dr. Ayat and Mr.

Malaakpour

9- Eng. Korehie (1997-present), deputy director: Dr. Mehrparto, Dr. Qorashi, Dr. Saiedi, Dr.

Emami, Dr. Ghassemi, Eng. Abedian, Eng. Maleki and eng. Farhadian

GSI geological and exploration activities within 50 years

One of fundamental difficulties GSI initially faced to was bringing geological and exploration experts together. Consequently, the GSI endeavored to select its staffs from intelligent geoscientists graduated from valid universities inside or aboard and made it's fully attempt to train them. In spite of having Iranian well-educated and well-trained geoscientists, it appeared that the GSI should apply foreign technical geosciences and geoscientists. Hence, to utilize technical assist of the United Nations, an agreement of three steps was assigned between Iranian government and the United Nations. Under this agreement, the United Nation agreed to provide GSI with 60 geoscientists and disburse 400000 US $ to equip the associated laboratories.

Following are the most significant programs implemented by the United Nations in Iran:

 1960-1968: ratification of the first program, special project council of the United Nations

ratified a five-year program (extended to 6 year) to assist GSI to commence geological and

exploration projects in Iran

 1968-1971: ratification of the second program, implementation of mining exploration

 1971: dispatch of UNDP/UN evaluation council to assess what Iranian government and GSI

require.

 1972-1975: ratification of the third program, technical aid to the GSI

GSI First Decade Activities (1962-1972):

 Preparation and publishing of 1/250000 geological quadrangles maps in cooperation with

Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Germany, University of Milan (Italy) and Zurich University (switzerland)

 Establishment of Stratigraphy nomenclature committee

 dispatch of a group of UN representative geoscientists to Iran from Japan, Switzerland, Austria,  Norway , Canada, French, USA, New Zealand, Sweden, Netherlands, Soviet Union,

England, Australia, Czech Republic, Finland and Germany under agreement signed between

GSI and UN

 Establishment of cartography and geological map departments under technical supervision

of Switzerland

 Start and implementation of Phosphate project

 Establishment of GSI laboratories, library, museum

 Start of joint cooperation between GSI and Institute for Geological and mining Exploration and Investigation of Nuclear and other Mineral Raw–Belgrade, Yugoslavia to implement

geological and detailed mining exploration in Kerman-Sirjan-Rafsanjan and Bam regions in an

area of 61653 Km2 and in 23 sheets of 1/100000 geological maps

 Start and completion of Bandar Pahlavi (Anzali) Quadrangle geological map in cooperation

with three geoscientists from United Kingdam

 Start and completion of 1/500000 geological map of northern part of central Lot

 Ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding between Gronoble University and GSI

 Start of Birjand project to carry out geological studies in an area of 17000 Km2

 Preparation of Qazvin-Rasht geological map

 Drilling of Chehel Koureh copper mine, exploration of a 100 m copper mineralized zone and

preparation of 1/5000 geological map

 Establishment of engineering geology department in GSI

 GSI Second Decade Activities (1973-1983):

 Start of Qazvin-Rasht field studies in cooperation with UK geoscientists

 Exploration of considerable Alonite in NW part of Iran in cooperation with Soviet Union

geoscientists

 Geological studies in abandon parts of Balouchestan Province

 Irregular Uranium explorations in various part of Iran particularly in NW

 Geological and exploration investigations in Anarak area in an area of 44000 Km2 in

cooperation with V/o Technoexport, Soviet Union

 Holding the international conference on geodynamic project of SE of Asia in GSI

 Invitation of 4 consulting companies including Paragon, Intercon, Water and Soil and

Geometal to carry out geological studies in an area of 270000 Km2 from S Khorasan to

Chabahar. A couple of Companies from Autralia, USA, Canada and France were also involved

in the project.

 Establishment of Kerman Geological Center

 GSI Third Decade Activities (1984-1994):

 Establishment of Tabriz Geological Center

 Establishment of Mashhad Geological Center

 Establishment of Ahvaz Geological Center

 Establishment of Shiraz Geological Center