BelSU Student Redraws Crimea's Paleontological Map

Yuri Poezhaev, from the Institute of Earth Sciences, has made a remarkable paleontological discovery during a routine field-training course in the Crimea. He found an ancient ammonite belonging to the genus Peronoceras, dating back to the Early Toarcian period of the Jurassic era – approximately 180 million years ago.

The fossilized shell, measuring just 2.5 centimetres in diameter, was discovered on a training route near the Mangushskaya ravine. Remarkably, the specimen survived intact despite being preserved in highly fissured rock at a depth of around 3,000 meters, enduring powerful tectonic changes over millions of years.

What makes the find truly significant is its scientific novelty. While the genus Peronoceras is well-documented across Europe, the Caucasus, North Africa, Asia, and the Americas, this marks the first time its presence has been recorded in the Crimea. The discovery adds a new data point to the region’s paleontological map and offers fresh insight into the ancient marine ecosystems that once covered the peninsula.

“It was a stroke of luck that the specimen did not fracture, as the rock is very fissured,” noted Alexander Ovchinnikov, Associate Professor of the BelSU Department of Applied Geology and Mining.

The ammonite will soon be displayed at the BelSU Museum, where it will be accessible to the public and serve as an inspiring example for students considering careers in earth sciences. The discovery highlights the hands-on fieldwork opportunities available at BelSU from the very first year of study.