The article discusses the life and scientific heritage of Akzhan Zhaksybekovich Mashanov, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, professor, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, honored worker of Kazakhstan, who during his lifetime received the high name of “al-Farabi of the 20th century”. The creative path of a real scientist, vigorous social activity began in the second quarter of the 20th century - during the difficult period of the struggle of the Kazakh people for independence and freedom, the awakening and rising of national identity.
The scientist is widely known not only in Kazakhstan and Soviet science, but also in the global scientific community. His works cover a wide range of subjects of professional interest, such as geology, mining, history, archeology, farabi studies, theology. He spoke Arabic, Old Turkic, Hebrew and a number of other languages. He studied the works of al-Farabi in the primary sources and made a huge contribution to their popularization.