Vesselina Breskovska

Vesselina Breskovska's administrative positions included: Scientific Secretary of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1973–1977), Dean of the Faculty of Geology and Geography (1980–1984) and Vice Rector in Charge of International Relations of Sofia University (1984–88). Since 1959 she had been a member of New Minerals Nomenclature and Classification Commission of the International Mineralogical Association, and was the general secretary of their 13th Congress. At the time of her death in 1997 she was president of the Bulgarian Mineralogical Society.

She was author of more than 130 scientific publications, including: with co-authors Ivan Kostov, J. Minčeva-Stefanova, G. Kirov (1964), The Minerals of Bulgaria (in Bulgarian); with co-author Ivan Kostov (1989), Phosphate, Arsenate and Vanadate Minerals. Crystal Chemistry and Classification.

Vesselina Breskovska was born in Granit, the only daughter of educators Vassil Stoychev Breskovski and Paraskeva (née Nedelcheva Slavova) Breskovska. Her younger brother was the late paleontologist, Stoycho Vassilev Breskovski. After successfully completing Second Young Women's High School in Plovdiv she was admitted to study in the Soviet Union. In 1952, she took her degree in mineralogy at Leningrad State University. Upon her return to Bulgaria she was appointed assistant professor in mineralogy at Sofia University. Later she became docent and full professor, and taught the main courses in mineralogy, crystallography, X-ray analysis to students of natural sciences. Her favorite lecture course was "Minerals in Bulgaria" and students appreciated it. She taught it for many years, and dedicated a major portion of her research to treating the subject in a systematic manner. In 1988 she was awarded the title Doctor of Science by Sofia University. Breskovska was noted for her thorough research on sulfosalt, chlorosulfosalt minerals and on artificial minerals containing selenium. In 1978 her efforts were rewarded with the discovery of a new mineral, which she named Ardaite after the river Arda.

Vesselina Vassileva Breskovska (Bulgarian: Веселина Василева Бресковска) (December 6, 1928, Granit, Stara Zagora Province, Bulgaria – August 12, 1997, Sofia, Bulgaria) was a 20th-century Bulgarian geologist, mineralogist and crystallographer.