Together across the Russian North-2020: first rare find of VSU scholars

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The mineralogical Museum of the Department of Geography at Vologda State University will receive a paleontological find.

Participants of the expedition during the survey of Mount Andoma, one of the main attractions of the Vytegorsky district, found part of a fossilized tree of the Devonian period. The find is covered with mineral layers, and inside it has a cavity with calcite crystals.

“Mount Andoma is a natural heritage site that has the status of a geological monument of nature.  This is the highest cliff of Lake Onega where Devonian deposits come to the surface. Their age dates back to 300 million years.

“Unfortunately, every year the mountain becomes smaller” – said the head of the expedition, Professor at VSU, Chairperson of the Vologda Branch of the Russian Geographical Society Nadezhda Maksutova. – As a result of erosion every year new layers of sediment are exposed here, in which paleontological discoveries can be found.

On the initiative of the Russian Geographical Society, the paleontological exhibit will be transferred to the Mineralogical Museum of the Department of Geography at the Vologda State University.