Section for Mineralogy, Petrology & Geochemistry
print

Language Selection

Breadcrumb Navigation


Content

Portrait

The Section for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry of the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich covers a broad spectrum of geoscientific research performed in the four fields of expertise as stated in the following sections:

Planet Earth – Evolution in Space and Time

EarthThe chemical differentiation of planets in time and space are quantified through the study of Earth and Planetary materials. The primary tools are high pressure- high temperature experiments, and isotopic age dating.

Geomaterials – The Nature of Rock

Inferences about the pressure-temperature-time history of metamorphic rocks are derived from physicochemical characterization of rocks in terms of their age, mineralogy, chemistry, texture, structure and geological environment. The tools are field-based mapping campaigns and microscopic microanalytical investigation.

Melting the Earth  - Magma Dynamics

VolcanoThe physico-chemical investigation of the gene ration, transport and eruption of magma (molten rock). The primary approaches are experimental including magma rheology, fragmentation, and thermal analysis.

Experimental Volcanology –  Processes and Hazards

The eruption of magma from the depth to the surface of Earth is the subject of volcanology. Under well-defined laboratory conditions we recreate eruptive conditions for historic eruptions. The ash clouds generated are captured in tanks and analyzed in detail.

Dynamic Earth - tracing geological processes with geochemical tools

We use the chemical and isotopic composition of rocks, minerals, and fossils to decipher the geological history of our planet. Geochemistry is by nature an interdisciplinary science and provides clues to almost the entire spectrum of geoscientific challenges in fields such as plate tectonics, global geochemical cycles, and environmental change.

We highly encourage and seek students from all over the world to contact us and participate in this exciting endeavor. Funding opportunities by the  THESIS program (a highly selective PhD graduate program for German and international students) funded by the Bavarian government, the activities of the Section for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry and the exciting location of Munich, ensure an exceptional research environment for pursuing advanced degrees.