Georgii Frederiks
Encyclopedia
Georgii Nikolaevich Frederiks (1889–1938) was a Russian
geologist
who specialized in paleontology
, tectonics
and stratigraphy
. He described many fossil
taxa before becoming a victim of the Great Terror
.
G. N. Frederiks was born in the Volga region, graduated from the Kazan Imperial University in 1911, and obtained his Master's degree in mineralogy and geognosy (geology) from there in 1917. He inherited the title of Baron
from his father some time before April 1913. "This title was to cause him angst in subsequent years and, apparently, be a contributing factor to his death at the hands of the NKVD
". He was employed by the Geological Committee from 1913, and between 1920 to 21 he was sent to inaugurate the teaching of geology at the newly autonomous Perm State University
, where he served as Professor, Head of the Department of Geology, and Dean of the Technical Faculty, then returned to the Geological Committee. In 1931 he was purged from the Geological Committee and went to work at the Mining Institute
both in the palaeontology section of the Mining Museum and teaching in the Department of General Geology. At that time D. I. Mushketov
was the Director of the Museum and Head of the General Geology Department.
Skilled in languages and maintaining contact with foreign scientists and with White Russian
scientists, he is said to have believed that science is independent of politics. He was arrested February 24 1935 and exiled for three years to corrective labour camps, from which he was released 8 months early, after which he returned to his home in Leningrad
. He was arrested repeatedly after that and finally on 13 June 1937 was charged with deliberately misinterpreting the geological structure during explorations in the Chusovskie Gorodki Oil Field, and also with conspiracy to kill the leaders of the USSR. He was executed February 18 1938, on the same day as his colleague and likely protector D. I. Mushketov
and several other colleagues. Full exoneration (rehabilitation
) was granted, posthumously, November 30, 1956.
As well as major contributions to stratigraphy and geological mapping, G. N. Frederiks is particularly remembered for his contributions to the paleontology of the late Paleozoic
era (Carboniferous
and Permian
periods), notably Brachiopoda, Ammonoidea, and Bryozoa
.
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
who specialized in paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
, tectonics
Tectonics
Tectonics is a field of study within geology concerned generally with the structures within the lithosphere of the Earth and particularly with the forces and movements that have operated in a region to create these structures.Tectonics is concerned with the orogenies and tectonic development of...
and stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
. He described many fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
taxa before becoming a victim of the Great Terror
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
.
G. N. Frederiks was born in the Volga region, graduated from the Kazan Imperial University in 1911, and obtained his Master's degree in mineralogy and geognosy (geology) from there in 1917. He inherited the title of Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
from his father some time before April 1913. "This title was to cause him angst in subsequent years and, apparently, be a contributing factor to his death at the hands of the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
". He was employed by the Geological Committee from 1913, and between 1920 to 21 he was sent to inaugurate the teaching of geology at the newly autonomous Perm State University
Perm State University
Perm State University or PSU is located in the city of Perm, Perm Krai, Russia. Founded in 1916, it claims to be one of the oldest universities in the Ural and eastern territories of Russia. Its current rector is Igor Makarikhin.-History:...
, where he served as Professor, Head of the Department of Geology, and Dean of the Technical Faculty, then returned to the Geological Committee. In 1931 he was purged from the Geological Committee and went to work at the Mining Institute
Saint Petersburg Mining Institute
The G. V. Plekhanov Saint Petersburg State Mining Institute and Technical University is Russia's oldest higher education institute devoted to engineering...
both in the palaeontology section of the Mining Museum and teaching in the Department of General Geology. At that time D. I. Mushketov
Dmitrii Mushketov
Dmitrii Ivanovich Mushketov was a Russian geologist and paleontologist who was born in St Petersburg, the son of Ivan Vasil'yevich Mushketov, a famous explorer and professor at the Mining Institute...
was the Director of the Museum and Head of the General Geology Department.
Skilled in languages and maintaining contact with foreign scientists and with White Russian
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
scientists, he is said to have believed that science is independent of politics. He was arrested February 24 1935 and exiled for three years to corrective labour camps, from which he was released 8 months early, after which he returned to his home in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. He was arrested repeatedly after that and finally on 13 June 1937 was charged with deliberately misinterpreting the geological structure during explorations in the Chusovskie Gorodki Oil Field, and also with conspiracy to kill the leaders of the USSR. He was executed February 18 1938, on the same day as his colleague and likely protector D. I. Mushketov
Dmitrii Mushketov
Dmitrii Ivanovich Mushketov was a Russian geologist and paleontologist who was born in St Petersburg, the son of Ivan Vasil'yevich Mushketov, a famous explorer and professor at the Mining Institute...
and several other colleagues. Full exoneration (rehabilitation
Rehabilitation (Soviet)
Rehabilitation in the context of the former Soviet Union, and the Post-Soviet states, was the restoration of a person who was criminally prosecuted without due basis, to the state of acquittal...
) was granted, posthumously, November 30, 1956.
As well as major contributions to stratigraphy and geological mapping, G. N. Frederiks is particularly remembered for his contributions to the paleontology of the late Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
era (Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
and Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
periods), notably Brachiopoda, Ammonoidea, and Bryozoa
Bryozoa
The Bryozoa, also known as Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals, are a phylum of aquatic invertebrate animals. Typically about long, they are filter feeders that sieve food particles out of the water using a retractable lophophore, a "crown" of tentacles lined with cilia...
.
Further references
- Earth Sciences History editorial with photo of G. N. Frederiks (pdf)
- Web site of Perm State University with reference to G. N. Frederiks
- Geologist-to-geologist entry for G. N. Fredericks
- Orlov, V. P. et al. (eds, 1999) Репрессированных Геологи 3-е изд. (Repressed Geology, third edition), VSEGEI (in Russian)