AASP Primary Records Program

PALYNOS 14(1): p. 4, 1991.

AGLAIDA ANDREEVNA LUBER
(1900-1990)

Aglaida Andreevna Luber, a well-known Soviet palynologist, passed away on July 5, 1990. Her scientific career, which occurred over a 40-year period, was mainly accomplished at the A.P. Karpinsky All-Union Geological Research Institute (VSEGEI) in Leningrad. Concentrating on the fields of palynology and coal petrography, she published over 100 papers, among them 3 individual monographs and more than 10 joint monographs of general character.

A.A. Luber, together with I.E. Waltz, developed the first valid classification of Paleozoic microspores (1938) and also published the first atlas depicting the Paleozoic microspores and pollen of the USSR (1941). These two works for many years remained the principal books of Soviet palynologists working with Paleozoic strata; furthermore, these publications were well received by palynologists all over the world.

A.A. Luber introduced and developed in detail the parallelization and synonymy procedure for coal seams based on microspores in a number of major Paleozoic basins of the USSR, which served as an important theoretical background for the practice of geological prospecting.

A major contribution to paleopalynology was made by A.A. Luber by her published research on the dependence of the character of spore and pollen assemblages on the composition of rocks of different origin. Interpretation of these patterns serves as a basis for reconstruction of different types of ancient bog vegetation, which is important for understanding the nature of coals of different quality. She was the first in the history of studies on coal measures to compile a map for zonal types of Permian vegetation in the USSR territory based on palynological evidence.

Diverse studies accomplished by A.A. Luber deal not ony with stratification of the Carbonjferous and Permian deposits, but also geologically younger sediments, She provided the first palynological grounds for the stratigraphic subdivision and correlation of the Lower Mesozoic coal measures in Central Tien Shan, as well as in the Upper Mesozoic sediments of the Ugolnaya Bay, Bureya coal basin, deposits of the Transbaikal area and some other regions of the USSR.

During the course of her long-term scientific career, A.A. Luber took an active role at international meeting and congresses both in the USSR and abroad; in 1955-1960 she was the regional secretary for the USSR in the International Commission on the Paleozoic Microflora.

A.A. Luber also made a significant contribution into the theory and practice of Soviet coal petrography. Since the early 30's she studied coal seams in the Karaganda Basin and was one of the pioneers in its investigation.Aglaida Andreevna Luber was a wonderful person, kind and sympathetic; her devotion to science and her brilliant erudition attracted many young investigators, so that it is possible to refer to the school of palynologists and coal petrographers trained by her.

M.V. Oshurkova (Leningrad)
L.V. Rovnjna (Moscow)
SPC Councillors