Title

O. V. Petrov, Yu. Yu. Yurchenko, G. M. Belyaev

V. I. Vernadskiy – a geologist and encyclopaedist (1863–1945)

Facts of V. I. Vernadsky’s life and work, which allow tracing the influence of geochemical ideas of the Scientist on the development of geology as a fundamental science, are shown on an example of scientific research carried out in different years by a team of TsNIGRI–VSEGEI researchers. The historical prerequisites of the creation of various modern divisions of applied and fundamental geochemistry such as geochemical mapping, geochemical methods of mineral deposits prospecting, isotope-geochemical and geochronological methods, biogeochemistry, etc. are considered.
Key words: Vernadskiy, geology, geochemistry, biogeochemistry, nuclear geology, VSEGEI, mapping, history of science.