#RA25
1846
First Edition. Quarto (ca. 25.5 x 16cm). text only. x, [2], 426, v pp. Original printed publishers wrappers. Pale water stain throughout the block, in the top left corner of the block, not affecting the text. A small chip at head of spine, otherwise a near fine copy in very original condition.
Very rare as only three copies found in Worldcat.
This work is the first comprehensive research of the geology of the Altai Mountains, and still retains its scientific value today. The travel was undertaken in 1844 by Grigorii Shchurovskii, who was an outstanding Russian geologist, noted for founding his own scientific school; first professor of geology and mineralogy of Moscow University, and held that post for 50 years (1835-84). Shchurovskii was one of the founders and the first president of Society of Lovers of Natural Sciences, Anthropology and Ethnography (1863); one of the founders of the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow. He undertook two major travels to the Urals (1838-1840) and Altai Mountains (1844).
During his travel to the Altai Shchurovskii examined local coal mines (Zmeinogorsky, Petrovsky, Karamyshevsky), mine workings in the valleys of Zolotushka, Tigirek, Uba and Ul’ba Rivers, gold deposits and mines of Altai and Western Siberia. He surveyed the geology of Salairsky Mountain Ridge and Kyznetskaya Hollow and compared the geology of the Urals, Altai and Alatau Mountains. The book is constructed as a detailed field diary, and the main sphere of research is obviously geology. But at the same time it is an interesting travel account as the author described his route and interesting or noticeable places he visited. He gives a history of Russian exploration and settlement in the region, describes local metallurgical and mining industries, including famous factories in Kolyvano-Voskresensk, founded in the 18th century; cities and small settlements. He also gives a story of ancient Siberian tribes, illustrating his account with passages from Herodotus. The book is supplemented with several statistical tables and bibliographical references given in footnotes.
