Geophysicists to Work-off Russia's Debt to Finland

When Russian geophysicists arrived in Finland, a new epoch began in the country's geological survey and prospecting. This is according to the statement made to the STT news agency by Ilmo Kukkonen from Finland's Center of Geological Research, the head of the Finnish-Russian project for the study of Finland cliff rocks.

Mr. Kukkonen said, over the first year of the five-year-long project, the employees of the Russian Spetsgeophysica company, using unique equipment, had already gathered scores of very interesting data. The Russian method of deep seismic probing allows making measurements at a depth of up to 60 km. The use of the method allows receiving a lot of information about the structures of the crystal cliff foundations that formed between 1.8 and 2.7 billion years ago. Ilmo Kukkonen also said that in a year, after the first results of the survey were published, the new data would be used to find ore deposits in Finland. The five-year study will produce unique scientific material to be used over many decades.

The total estimated cost of the project is EUR 17 million. The Russian part of it, equaling EUR 14 million, will be worked off by Russian geophysicists in the repayment of USSR's debt.