The Imperial Geographical Society finally organized an expedition to explore the Black Sea. From the pier, the boat "Chernomorets" sets off, carrying the young promising privat-docent of Novorossiysk University, Nikolai Andrusov. The sailors nicknamed him "the civilian gentleman who deals with mud."

Every day, the geologist studied piles of silt raised from the seabed using special devices. With small tweezers, he extracted anything that seemed interesting to him. Based on his research, the scientist concluded that the depths of the Black Sea are saturated with hydrogen sulfide. This was his first expedition, but certainly not his last.

Nikolai Ivanovich was born in 1861 in Odessa. His father was a hired navigator and died in 1870 off the coast of Anapa during a storm. His mother, with three daughters and two sons, moved to his brother's home in Kerch. There, Nikolai spent his childhood and youth, attended gymnasium, and conducted his first research. He walked the entire peninsula with a "hammer and a bag," studying quarries, fossils, the structure of Kerch limestone, cliffs, and rocks. Later, after graduating from university, Andrusov signed a contract with the city and found suitable water sources, solving the water supply problem in Kerch. The residents were grateful to him for the aqueduct.

In 1897, Andrusov defended his doctoral dissertation on fossil mollusks, collecting a collection of about 170 species. Studying their evolution allowed for significant insights into the geology of the Black Sea basin. For this work, he was awarded the Lomonosov Academic Prize.

Nikolai Ivanovich always worked hard as a researcher and teacher. Students appreciated him for his energy and cheerfulness, respected him for his deep knowledge and precision of thought. He inspired everyone with his enthusiasm.

Andrusov's personal life also turned out well. He met his wife in St. Petersburg at his sister Yulia's. She was the daughter of the famous German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. In 1889, they got married and had five children: three sons and two daughters.

During the revolution, Andrusov's scientific activities ceased, and hardships began. A tragedy struck the family: his eldest son died in the North. The academic suffered a stroke, which led to paralysis of his right leg and arm. Qualified help was needed. Nadezhda Heinrichovna had a house in France, inherited from her father, and in 1920, the Andrusov family left Russia.

In emigration, Nikolai Ivanovich regained his health. Clarity of mind returned, but physical disability remained. He tried to work at the Sorbonne, but accomplished little. It was hard for him without his research, students, collections, and scientific literature. Connection with his homeland was lost.

Andrusov passed away on April 27, 1924, in Prague, having lived four years without Russia.