Department of Geology

About the Department

The Department of Geology is the centre of expertise in geology, mineral resources, and mining at TalTech. Our researchers focus on bedrock geology, paleoenvironments, mineral resources, mining engineering and circular economy. We are responsible for study programmes on Earth systems and georesources, host various labs and the largest geocollections in Estonia.

Research groups

Our researchers are involved in palaeoclimate and environmental research, mineral resources, geochemistry, palaeontology, marine geology, hydrogeology and other geosciences.

Studies

The Department of Geology is responsible for bachelor's and master's degree programmes in mineral resources (in Estonian, for now), the aim of which is to train geologists and mining engineers. Doctoral studies in geology and geotechnology are part of the curriculum of physical sciences.

Geoseminars

Weekly Department seminars are free to attend, either on-site or on-line.

Our laboratories

The Department's modern laboratories support research and teaching and are able to provide various services also outside the university.

Our Projects

The Department participates in a number of local and international research projects.

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Our LinkedIn channel

A woman and a man with poster. Man with a drill on mountain slope

Alla Shogenova and Kazbulat Shogenov presenting their poster. K. Shogenov on the field trip in the Pyrenees. Photo: K. Shogenov.

In the first week of June, Alla Shogenova and Kazbulat Shogenov took part in the Annual EAGE 2025 Conference and Exhibition in Toulouse, southern France, one of the largest geoscientific events in Europe. Before the conference, the researchers took part in an excursion to natural hydrogen in the Pyrenees.

About 6,000 participants were registered for EAGE 2025, including 1,300 oral and poster presentations and 2,000 exhibitors. Energy transition was one of the most engaging themes and subjects for the presented technologies, research, workshops and field trips. CO₂ capture, transport and storage, CO₂mineral carbonation in basalts, geothermal energy and associated lithium production, energy storage, natural hydrogen and associated helium production, as well as traditional geophysical and geological modelling were among the presented and discussed themes during the conference and associated events. The world’s most famous oil, gas, and geophysical companies demonstrated their full readiness to work towards climate neutrality and offered carbon-neutral options and technologies.

Unique geological settings and natural hydrogen sampling were demonstrated during a geological excursion in the Pyrenees. by Pr. Charles Aubourg (University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour) and Dr. Marc Blaizot (GEOLVAL) introduced many different geological features and rocks of various ages and genesis, including faults, salt diapirs, and nearly vertical layers of rocks. CVA company (Dr. Gille Fabre and Dr. Emmanuelle Baudia) demonstrated natural H2 sampling.

On the last day of the conference, Kazbulat Shogenov presented the poster (sponsored by the Estonian Ministry of Climate) „Game-changing CCUS technology – direct injection from a ship in the Baltic Sea (Shogenov, Shogenova, Berenblyum and Ostvedt)”, which sparked considerable interest among the poster session visitors.