Ovchinnikov, Lev Nikolaevich

Born Sept. 26 (Oct. 9), 1913, in Perm’. Soviet geologist. Corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1964). Member of the CPSU since 1944.

Ovchinnikov graduated from Urals University in 1937. From 1945 through 1962 he headed the mineralogy and geochemistry laboratory at the Mining and Geological Institute of the Urals Scientific Center of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and in 1962 became director of the Institute of Geology at the center. In 1966 he became director of the Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Crystallography of Rare Earths of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and the Ministry of Geology of the USSR.

Ovchinnikov’s principal works are on the geology of the Urals, the theory of ore formation, geochemical methods of prospecting for concealed mineralization, and the determination of the absolute age of geological formations. He has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.