Geoheritage and Innovation Sector

The Initiation of Autonomous Paleomagnetic Core Drilling in Mongolia

Bridging Tectonic Data Gaps: Implementation of In-Situ Field Micro-Drilling by the Institute of Geology

In an effort to address a significant data gap in Central Asian geodynamics, the Structural Geology and Lithospheric Research Sector at the Institute of Geology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS) has implemented a groundbreaking methodological approach. Initiated in 2025, this sector has effectively integrated high-precision field micro-drilling techniques into its domestic research workflows. This initiative represents a significant milestone as it is the first instance in which a Mongolian research team has autonomously conducted in-situ paleomagnetic core sampling across the remote terrains of the country.

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Sector's

Major Fields

Structural Geological Studies

Structural geology provides a vital kinematic and geometric framework for geodynamic investigations, addressing the complex evolution of the lithosphere. Through high-resolution field mapping and analyses at macro and micro scales, researchers characterize the structural architecture of crustal fault networks, orogenic fold systems, and ductile shear zones. This dataset enables the team to assess strain partitioning patterns, reconstruct paleostress regimes, and delineate deformation histories that facilitate microcontinental accretion and crustal block rotation within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.

Metamorphic Petrological Studies

Metamorphic petrology provides the critical thermodynamic and temporal constraints required to unravel the vertical exhumation and burial dynamics of the lithosphere. By conducting detailed microtextural analyses and utilizing thermodynamic modeling, such as phase equilibria calculations and pseudosections, researchers decipher the pressure-temperature-time paths preserved within recrystallized mineral assemblages. This petrological framework enables the team to quantify fossil geothermal gradients, identify ancient subduction zone architectures, and establish the precise crustal depths and thermal regimes experienced by metamorphic complexes during intense collisional and accretionary events.

Paleomagnetic studies

Paleomagnetic studies function as the spatial and rotational coordinate system for the sector’s tectonic reconstructions, providing indispensable quantitative constraints on ancient continental mobility. By isolating and analyzing primary remanent magnetizations within targeted volcanic and sedimentary sequences, researchers determine precise paleolatitudes and construct detailed apparent polar wander paths (APWPs). This paleomagnetic dataset allows the team to definitively calculate the kinematics of microcontinental drift, track large-scale oroclinal bending, and constrain the exact timing of structural block rotations and oceanic basin closures across the region.

Short note

About Us

The Structural Geology and Lithospheric Research Sector at the Institute of Geology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS), has shared an important update. Under the leadership of Dr. Turbold Sukhbaatar and the Head of Sector, Dr. Tungalag Naidansuren, a team of six has developed a multidisciplinary framework aimed at clarifying the complex deformation histories of Central Asia. By integrating surface mapping, structural and petrological research, deep lithospheric geophysics, and paleomagnetism, the team seeks to enhance our understanding of the oroclinal bending and accretionary processes that have shaped both the Mongolian landmass and the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB).

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Dr. Oyunchimeg Tserentsegmid

Head of Geoheritage and Innovation Sector

Study Field: Geochemistry and Laboratory ICP-MAS, XRD

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