Gruppenbild bei der Geländeübung im Nördlinger Ries

Teaching

The Analytical Mineralogy group offers courses in the B.Sc. and M.Sc. study programs Geosciences and Biogeosciences.
Gruppenbild bei der Geländeübung im Nördlinger Ries
Image: Analytische Mineralogie
Information

Our geoscientific degree study programmes are taught in German. For the language requirement have a look here.

Bachelor courses

  • Introduction to Geosciences (BGEO1.1; BBGW1.3)

    Fundamental processes in the solar system and the formation of magmatic rocks are taught. A day excursion to outcrops of metamorphic rocks is offered.

    Teaching staff: Prof. Dr Falko Langenhorst

  • Bio-Geo-Interactions I / Part 1 (BBGW1.4)

    The basics of mineralogy are taught in order to understand phenomena such as biomineralisation.

    Teaching staff: Prof. Dr Falko Langenhorst

  • General Mineralogy and Crystallography (BGEO2.6)

    The basics of crystallography are taught, which are of central importance for understanding crystal structures, physical properties and the morphology of minerals.

    Teaching staff: Prof. Dr Falko Langenhorst, Jessica Langbein

  • Geochemistry and Petrology (BGEO3.5.8)

    The module provides an overview of important processes in the lithosphere and the Earth's mantle. Many petrological and geochemical models are explained and working methods are practised.

    Teaching staff: Dr Kilian Pollok, Jessica Langbein

  • Instrumental techniques (BGEO5.1.1; BBGW5.1.7)

    We are currently supervising experiments on scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. These provide a first insight into analytical methods and their use in the Geosciences.

    Teaching staff: Dr Zsolt Dallos, Dr Kilian Pollok

  • Magmatic and metamorphic rocks (BGEO5.1.15)

    Polarisation microscopy is used to characterise selected igneous and metamorphic rocks. The mineral composition and microstructure help with classification and document the conditions of the rock's genesis. With the help of central petrological concepts based on thermodynamics and kinetics, e.g. the cooling history of igneous rocks and the pressure-temperature conditions of metamorphic rocks are explained.

    Teaching staff: Dr Kilian Pollok

M.Sc. courses

  • Interdisciplinary work in geosciences (MGEO001) [in SS]

    Preparatory seminar for the "Geoscientific Terrain Seminar". It serves the scientific familiarization with the field of work and for the planning and organization of the field campaign.

    Responsible for the module: Prof. Dr. Falko Langenhorst

  • Geoscience field seminar (MGEO002) [in WS]

    Field seminar with subsequent sample and data analysis. Our working group is dedicated to mineralogical issues.

    Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Falko Langenhorst, Dr. Kilian Pollok

  • Methods of petrology and geochemistry (MGEO302) [in SS]

    Analytical and experimental methods of petrology and geochemistry and the basic principles of thermodynamic and geochemical modeling are presented.

    Lecturer: Dr. Kilian Pollok

  • Structures and properties of geomaterials (MGEO303) [in SS]

    The module introduces theory and methods of structure-property relationship and crystal chemistry and physics.

    Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Falko Langenhorst, Dr. Zsolt Dallos

  • Cosmochemistry and planetology (MGEO304) [in WS]

    The module covers the formation and evolution of planetary systems. The mineralogy and petrology of meteorites and impact rocks is presented. Part of the module is a field exercise in the Nördlinger Ries (impact crater).

    Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Falko Langenhorst, Dr. habil Alexey Potapov

Topics for project and qualification work in Analytical Mineralogy - Prof. Dr Falko Langenhorst

The topics listed below are theses that we have assigned in recent semesters. They serve as examples of possible projects. If you are interested in working on one of the topics, please contact us directly! Please also refer to the research pages and the current publications.

Subject area planetology/meteoritics

  • Mass spectrometric investigation of the thermal release of water and carbon compounds from CM2 meteorites [bachelor's dissertation] - Methods: Thermal analysis (DEGAS)
  • Statistical-chemical analyses of Fe-Ni alloys in common LL chondrites [Master's dissertation] - Methods: SEM-EDX
  • Mineralogy and petrology of the Martian meteorite Northwest Africa 8171 [bachelor's dissertation] - Methods: optical microscopy, SEM-EDX
  • Investigations on calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions in meteorites [Bachelor's dissertation] - Methods: SEM-EDX

Subject area impact processes

  • Microscopic and microchemical investigation of suevitic glasses from the Nördlinger Ries [Master's dissertation] - Methods: optical microscopy, SEM-EDX
  • Investigations on the mineralogical and textural composition of Archaean impact spherules [bachelor's dissertation] - Methods: optical microscopy, SEM-EDX, Raman spectroscopy
  • Martensitic phase transformation of zircon to reidite [bachelor's dissertation] - Methods: Crystallography of structural models

Subject area applied mineralogy-material science

  • Pressure-induced ferroelastic transformations in perovskites [master's dissertation] - Methods: X-ray diffraction at the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), TEM
  • Synthesis of GeO2 high-pressure polymorphs in dynamic high-pressure experiments with diamond stamp cells [master's dissertation] - Methods: X-ray diffraction at the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY)
  • Crystallisation and growth of Ba-Sr-Pb sulphates from aqueous solutions in silica gel [Bachelor's dissertation] - Methods: Wet chemical experiments, SEM-EDX, Raman spectroscopy
  • Quantitative gas analysis on crystal glasses [master's dissertation] - thermal analysis (DEGAS), X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy
  • Experiments on gas storage in potential reservoir rocks [master's dissertation] - Methods: experimental work, optical microscopy, white light interferometry, thermal analysis (DEGAS), Raman spectroscopy

Subject area petrology

  • Mineralogy and geochemistry of basic and ultrabasic metamorphic rocks of the Eastern Rhodopes [master' s dissertation] - Methods: XRF, optical microscopy, SEM-EDX
  • Thermodynamic modelling of metamorphic pathways of basic rocks of the Eastern Rhodopes [Bachelor' s dissertation] - Methods: thermodynamic modelling, optical microscopy, SEM-EDX
  • Ultra-high pressure metamorphism of the western gneiss region, Norway [Master's dissertation] - Methods: optical microscopy, SEM-EDX, Raman spectroscopy
  • Approaches to a modular compilation of data sets for mineralogical teaching using selected examples from the ground glass and rock teaching collection of the Institute of Geosciences [Bachelor's dissertation] - Methods: light microscopy, SEM, µ-XRF, Raman spectroscopy