April 1 marked the 95th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding geologist, specialist in the field of mineralogy of piezo-optical and gemstone raw material deposits, honorary member of the Russian Society of Gemologists, Candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences, Vladimir Valentinovich Bukanov. V. V. Bukanov worked at the Institute of Geology of the Komi branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1963 to 1973, heading the Laboratory of Minera­logy and Panning. He was one of the first to organize large-scale mineralogical research at the institute on a modern, advanced theoretical basis (ontogeny of minerals) using modern techniques and research methods. He was awarded the badges «Excellent Exploration» and «Honorary Subsoil Prospector». Author of more than 100 scientific and popular works.