Scientific interest

Magmatic processes such as partial melting and fractional crystallisation are among the fundamental physico-chemical processes that lead to the formation of distinct geochemical reservoirs on Earth throughout its history. The most straightforward result of a planetary scale differentiation is the transformation from an initially hostile planet to a habitable Earth with a stable continental crust, an atmosphere and a core hosting geodynamo shielding higher life from deathly cosmic rays. Beyond the first order implication of forming a habitable Earth, solid - liquid - gaseous phase transitions and thermally driven mass fluxes in the Earth's mantle and crust are the basic mechanisms for the enrichment of distinct chemical elements to form natural mineral deposits. The objective of my research is to provide insight in and increase understanding of planetary scale differentiation processes and related chemical mass fluxes from the Earth's mantle to the crust in space and time.

To tackle these goals I use trace-element and radiogenic isotope geochemistry and petrology, supplemented by Ar-Ar geochronology, and emphazise on the petrogenetic evolution of intraplate volcanic fields and the oceanic and continental crust. In this context, Ar-Ar geochronology allows to elucidate the temporal evolution and sequence of distinct magmatic processes in various geodynamic settings, and to determine their rates.

 

Scientific career

  • 1981 - 1985 Apprenticeship as laboratory assistant for chemistry at BASF AG, Ludwigshafen/Rhein, Germany. Synthesis of organic polymers. 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy on organic compounds (Central Research Laboratories, Analytical Division).
  • 1985 - 1986 Qualification for Fachhochschule in Reutlingen, Germany
  • 1986 - 1990 Studies of Chemistry at Fachhochschule Reutlingen, Germany. Emphasis in Organic and Inorganic Analytical Chemistry (IR, NMR, GC-FTIR, GC-MS, MS, AAS, XRF) and Chemical Engineering. Engineer diploma at MBT Umwelttechnik AG, Z�rich, Switzerland. Development of methods for soil air analyses, development of laboratory methods for the determination of organic pesticides in ground and drinking water.
  • 1987 Two months practical training in the Research Laboratories of ECC-International (English China Clay) in Cornwall, England. REM, TEM and EMP investigation of clay minerals.
  • 1991 - 1996 Studies of Geology at Universität Tübingen. Emphasis on Geochemistry, Geophysics, Structural- and Applied Geology. Diploma in Structural Geology on strain calculation from twinning in calcite. Field work and mapping in the Northern Alps (Totengebirge).
  • 1997 - 2001 Ph.D. at Geochemistry Department, Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Mainz, in cooperation with Universität Mainz (A. Kröner). Ophiolite evolution in the Late Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic Central-Asian Mobile Belt. Field work in 1997 in the Agardagh-Tes-Chem Ophiolite zone and the Tannuola Island-arc complex, Republic of Tuva, Russia (Central Asia). Cooperation with scientists from St. Petersburg (Russia) and Kyzyl (Tuva). In summer 1998, field work in the Bayankhongor-, Khantaishir- and Dariv-ophiolites in Central and SW-Mongolia, together with scientists from Ulaan Bataar (Mongolia), St. Petersburg (Russia), Kyzyl (Tuva) and Leicester (England).
  • 2001 - 2003 Post-Doc at Universität Münster, Institut für Mineralogie (with K. Mezger and C. Münker). High-precision analyses of HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf) and Hf-isotopes in ocean-island basalts by multiple-collector ICP-MS to test the hypothesis of a high-Nb/Ta reservoir of subducted oceanic crust in the deep mantle. Investigation of the HFSE and Hf-isotope inventory of continental basalts to improve the understanding of the interaction of mantle melts with the subcontinental lithosphere.
  • Since 2004 Research scientist, lecturer and head of the Ar-Ar geochronology facility at Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany.
  • 05/2018 Habilitation in Geochemistry at Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany.