Draft:Alexander Arkadyevich Kaufman (geophysicist)

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Alexander Arkadyevich Kaufman
Born(1931-08-01)August 1, 1931
Moscow, USSR
DiedJune 7, 2023(2023-06-07) (aged 91)
California, USA
CitizenshipUSSR → USA
Alma materMGRI
Known forGeophysicist, Founder of Siberian School of geo-electrics
Awards
  • Fedynsky Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Geophysics (1997)[1]
  • Honorary Member of SEG (2004)[2]
  • Best Paper Award in Geophysics (1990)[3]
Scientific career
FieldsGeophysics
Institutions
Doctoral advisorLev Moiseevich Alpin
Notable students

Alexander Arkadyevich Kaufman (1 August 1931 — 7 June 2023)[6] — Soviet and American geophysicist, specialist in electromagnetic methods for surface, borehole, and deep electromagnetic sounding. He worked at Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute (MGRI) and Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (IGG)[7], at the Institute of Marine Geology in Riga, at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM)[8] [9]. Author of 23 monographs, dozens of articles, and an invention[10].

Biography

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Kaufman is one of the leading specialists in geoelectrics.

In 1954, he graduated from the Geophysical Faculty of the Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute (MGRI), with a degree in engineering geophysics, and began working in the research division of MGRI.

In 1959, he defended his Candidate of Sciences dissertation, and in 1965 — his Doctor of Sciences dissertation[6] and in 1969, he was awarded the title of professor[11].

Since 1964, he headed the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Fields at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences[11].

In 1974, he moved to the Institute of Marine Geology in Riga, where he worked on developing electromagnetic methods for oil exploration in the marine environment[12].

In 1975, he emigrated from the USSR with his family. He first worked at the Geological Survey of Germany in Hanover, and later moved to Canada, where he led scientific research at Scintrex Ltd.[13] in Toronto. There, he met Duncan McNeill, president of Geonics Ltd.[14], who offered him a position as a consultant at the company. Their collaboration lasted more than 40 years.

In 1977, George Keller[15], Head of the Department of Geophysics, invited him to Golden, Colorado (USA) to work in the Department of Geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM).

In 1980, Kaufman received permanent residency in the U.S. (a green card), and a few years later — citizenship.

In the United States, Kaufman founded the GEOFIZIK Charity Fund to support Russian scientists in need of medical assistance, and helped new immigrants adapt to American life[6].

Family

Kaufman was married to his first wife, Irina, for 56 years until her passing. After his death, he was survived by his second wife, Natalie, his son from his first marriage, Dmitry[6].

Research and Teaching

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In the USSR

In 1959, A. A. Kaufman developed an analog ring integrator[16][17] for interpreting induction logging data—an alternative to numerical modeling of electromagnetic fields, which at the time was limited by the capabilities of computing technology.

Since 1964, he worked in the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok, where, alongside his position as a senior research fellow at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (IGiG), he also taught at the university. In 1965, he became head of the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Fields and the Department of Geophysics[11]. Under his leadership, the laboratory became one of the leading centers of Soviet geo-electrics[6].

A scientific school formed around him[11], which influenced the development of both theoretical and applied geo-electrics in the USSR and abroad. It contributed to the advancement of surface, borehole, and deep electromagnetic sounding methods[11].

Together with G. M. Morozova, he conducted an analysis of the resolving power of harmonic and transient electromagnetic fields in horizontally layered media. The work led to the rapid development of a new direction in exploration geophysics—near-zone transient field sounding (ZSBZ)[18]. The research demonstrated the advantages of transient fields and opened the possibility of deep sounding using compact equipment[19][6].

Kaufman collaborated with the industry-focused Siberian Research Institute of Geology, Geophysics, and Mineral Resources (SNIIGGiMS), where his development of the near-zone transient field sounding method (ZSBZ) was further advanced to mineral and oil exploration[20]. The ZSBZ method was applied to the study of deposits on the Siberian Platform[21], and its modification—the transient process method (MPP)—was used to search for deep-seated ore bodies in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Yakutia, and the Altai region[22].

Together with his students, he worked on the theoretical foundations of induction logging and ore electrical prospecting, expanding the model base for solving direct problems of electromagnetic field diffraction in heterogeneous media[23]. The resulting solutions made it possible to study the influence of local conductor parameters in horizontally layered environments on frequency and time-domain characteristics, to compare the classification capabilities of amplitude-phase methods and the transient process method, and to support the interpretation of field measurements.

With his colleagues and students, he pioneered transient logging theory[24], technology of dielectric and magnetic logging[25], and laid the theoretical foundations of high-frequency induction logging, which culminated in serially produced instruments[7].

His analysis of the resolving power of various inductive electrical prospecting systems led to a dual-frequency modification of the method[23], which combined the advantages of both frequency-domain and time-domain approaches. These studies anticipated the emergence of logging technologies capable of evaluating not only conductivity but also the electrical anisotropy of geological formations—technologies that were implemented in industry only decades later[26][6].

A notable characteristic of Kaufman's research group at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics was the early defense of PhD dissertations under his supervision[27]. Many of his students later earned doctoral degrees, including G. A. Isaev, L. A. Tabarovsky, Yu. N. Antonov, M. I. Epov, G. M. Morozova, and Yu. A. Dashevsky[7].

After 1974, the scientific school in Novosibirsk continued its work under the leadership of L. A. Tabarovsky, and later M. I. Epov[6].

In the USA

From 1977 until his retirement in 2004, Kaufman's work was affiliated with the Colorado School of Mines.

He expanded L. M. Alpin’s concept of using the electric field derivative to determine formation conductivity through casing, providing a theoretical basis to compensate for parasitic signals caused by variations in casing conductivity. His patented solution[10] enabled fluid tracking in cased boreholes[6] and improved reservoir management[28]. Previously, such tasks relied on radioactive methods, which had limited penetration and were less effective in low-porosity or saline formations[29].

In retirement, Kaufman focused on writing monographs in the fields of gravity prospecting, magnetic prospecting, as well as induction and dielectric logging[30]. He emphasized a systematic approach to scientific writing, presenting material from first principles and developing it step by step through to more advanced topics. Since moving to the United States, he published 18 monographs[30]. According to the SPWLA obituary, his works hold encyclopedic significance in the field of geophysics[6]. He completed his final monograph at the age of 90.

Alongside his research, Kaufman taught first at Novosibirsk State University (NSU)[11] from 1963 to 1974, and later at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) from 1977 to 2004.

His courses were built on revealing the physical essence of phenomena before introducing the mathematical formulations that provide their quantitative description. The lectures were noted for their clarity and helped students develop not only solid knowledge but also confidence in their analytical abilities[6].

In the article “Professor Kaufman: The Perfect Ten"[9], published in the CSM bulletin in 2002 to mark the release of his tenth monograph and 26 years of teaching, he was recognized as an influential educator.

Kaufman taught courses on electromagnetism, geophysical exploration methods, and specialized topics in electrical prospecting[9]. One of his courses — a 21-lecture series titled “Electromagnetic Phenomena and Their Application in Mining and Exploration”—is available on YouTube[31]. Thanks to his lectures, articles, and books, many geophysicists around the world consider themselves his students.

Bibliography

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  • Kaufman, Alex A.; Keller, G. V. The magnetotelluric sounding method. Elsevier, 1981. ISBN: 978-0-44-441863-0.
  • Kaufman, Alex A.; Geophysical field theory and method. Academic Press, 1992. SBN: 978-0-12-402041-2.
  • Kaufman, A. A.; Levshin, A. L. ; Larner, K.L. Acoustic and elastic wave fields in geophysics. Elsevier, 2000. ISBN:978-0-44-450336-7.
  • Kaufman, Alex A.; Anderson, B. I. Principles of Electric Methods in Surface and Borehole Geophysics. Elsevier, 2016. ISBN 978-0-444-52994-7.
  • Kaufman, Alex A.; Donadille, Jean-Marc. Principles of Dielectric Logging Theory. Elsevier, 2021. ISBN 978-0-12-822284-3.

For an extended list of Kaufman's monographs, see reference [30].

References

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  1. ^ "Euro-Asian Geophysical Society – SEG Wiki". SEG Wiki. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  2. ^ "Aleksander Kaufman". SEG Wiki. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  3. ^ "Aleksander Kaufman – SEG Wiki, Best Paper Award". SEG Wiki. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  4. ^ Stephen Whitfield (2018-08-31). "SPE Honors 2018 International Award Recipients at Annual Meeting". Journal of Petroleum Technology. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  5. ^ "Mark Goldman – Research Associate, University of Haifa". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "SPWLA Today Newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 5, p. 17" (PDF). SPWLA Today Newsletter. Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA). 2023-09-01. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  7. ^ a b c Antonov, Yu. N. "Laboratory of Electromagnetic Fields: People and Work. A Retrospective" (PDF). IGG SB RAS. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  8. ^ "Colorado School of Mines". Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  9. ^ a b c "Geophysics Newsletter — Spring 2002" (PDF). Colorado School of Mines, Department of Geophysics. Spring 2002. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  10. ^ a b "A.A.Kaufman Patent". Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Alexander Arkadyevich Kaufman, founder of the Siberian school of geo-electrics, has passed away". IGG SB RAS. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  12. ^ "Geophysics Newsletter – Spring 2005", Colorado School of Mines, Department of Geophysics, p. 12. PDF. Accessed 10 September 2025
  13. ^ "Scintrex Ltd". Scintrex Ltd. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  14. ^ "Geonics Ltd". Geonics Ltd. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  15. ^ "George Keller – SEG Wiki". SEG Wiki. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  16. ^ Kaufman, A.A.; Shapiro, R.P. (1959). "Development of a Ring Logging Integrator". Izv. Vuzov. Geology and Prospecting (10): 103–110.
  17. ^ "Controlled Models in the Interpretation of Electromagnetic Data". Institute of Geology and Geophysics SB RAS (in Russian). 1998. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  18. ^ Kaufman, A. A.; Morozova, G. M. (1970). Theoretical Foundations of the Near-Zone Transient Field Sounding Method. Nauka.
  19. ^ "G-TEM System". Geonics Limited. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  20. ^ Isaev, G. A.; Kaufman, A. A.; Rabinovich, B. I. (1971). "Late Stage in the Near-Zone Transient Field Sounding Method". Geology and Geophysics. 12 (1): 119–123.
  21. ^ Geophysical methods for detecting oil and gas deposits on the Siberian platform. Edited by M. M. Mandelbaum, B. I. Rabinovich, B. C. Surkov. Moscow: Nedra, 1983. 128 pp.
  22. ^ Surkov, V. S.; Isaev, G. A.; Rempel, G. G. (1977). "The transient electromagnetic method (TDM) in the search for deep-lying conductive ore deposits in Siberia". Geology and Geophysics. 18 (7): 9–18.
  23. ^ a b Kaufman, A. A. (1974). Fundamentals of the Theory of Inductive Ore Prospecting. Nauka.
  24. ^ Kaufman, A. A.; Sokolov, V. P. Theory of Induction Logging by the Transient Process Method. Moscow: Nauka, 1972.
  25. ^ Sochelnikov, V. V. Theory of Magnetic Logging with Induction Sensors: PhD Abstract. Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute named after S. Ordzhonikidze, 1966. — Scientific advisor: A. A. Kaufman.
  26. ^ Tabarovsky, L. A.; Epov, M. I.; Rabinovich, M. B. (2001). Measuring Formation Anisotropy Using Multifrequency Processing of Transverse Induction Measurements. Proceedings of 2001 SPE Annual Technical Conf. pp. 3409–3415.
  27. ^ Epov, M. I. (2013). "Development of Electrical Prospecting Methods in Siberia in the 1960s–1980s" (PDF). Geophysical Research (43): 551–565. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  28. ^ "Multifaceted application of CHFR" (PDF).
  29. ^ "Cased Hole Formation Resistivity Tool". SLB. 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  30. ^ a b c "Books by A. A. Kaufman". Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  31. ^ Aleksander A. Kaufman (2022-08-15). Lecture 1: Coulomb's Law. Colorado School of Mines Department of Geophysics. Retrieved 2025-08-27.