Department of Lithospheric Research
The Department of Lithospheric Research deals with all aspects of the geological investigation of Earth's lithosphere. Main fields of interest are the petrological, geochemical and geochronological characterisation of magmatic, ophiolitic, and metamorphic rock units of the continental and oceanic crust, respectively, with an emphasis on understanding geological processes and on extracting information about timing and rates. Beyond natural samples, the research carried out at the Department involves experimental analogues of natural systems as well as artificial (industrial) materials containing mineral phases. Other topics of interest include the role of mineral surfaces in atmospheric ice nucleation, the investigation of geochemical and metasomatic processes in the upper sub-continental mantle in South America and Siberia, the investigation of meteorite impacts on Earth and their influence on the environment, the investigation of meteorites, and the archaeometrical characterisation of artefacts.
- Head of the Department: Gerlinde Habler
- Deputy Head: Urs Kloetzli
News
The Faculty for Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy in the public
In den Medien
- Wie "natürlich" sind Naturkatastrophen wirklich? (Der Standard, 15.10.2025)
- Neue Mond-Geheimnisse: Unterschied im Gestein (Ö1, 07.10.2025)
- Life on Mars? 'Leopard-spot' rocks could be biggest clue yet (BBC, 10.09.2025)
- Woher bekommen Korallen ihre vielen Farben? (Die Presse, 08.09.2025)
- Feenkreise könnten Hinweise auf tiefe Wasserstoffquellen liefern (Geo.de, 03.09.2025)
- As Simple as Possible: The Importance of Idealized Climate Models (EOS, 28.08.2025)
- Mikroplastik - Luftverschmutzung von der Quelle bis zur Senke (APA Science, 04.08.2025)
- Neues Mineral nach Österreicher benannt (Der Standard, 30.07.2025)
- Science and Society in Central Asia: Dr Uğur Öztürk on Risk Communication and Climate Challenges (Cronos Central Asia, 21.07.2025)
Auszeichnungen und Erfolge
- Malena Haas wurde für ihre Masterarbeit "Kinder- und jugendgerechte Städte" vom Deutschen Verband für Angewandte Geographie e.V. ausgezeichnet
- Stephan Glatzel appointed to the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2025-2028
- Erich Draganits received award for geoarchaeological research by the municipality of Mazara del Vallo
- Mostafa Mohammed Sayed won the William Sliter Research Award 2025 from the Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research
- Theresa Nohl received the 2024 reviewer award of the Geological Society of London
- Andreas Bechtold, Dissertant am Department für Lithosphärenforschung, ist Ko-Autor eines Nature-Artikels zu möglicher Biosignatur am Mars
- AGU Advanced Article co-authored by Aiko Voigt featured in Editor's Highlight on Eos
- Ertlit: Neues Mineral nach Andreas Ertl vom Institut für Mineralogie benannt
- Meike Levin-Keitel in den Beirat für Raumentwicklung in der 21. Legislaturperiode des Deutschen Bundestages berufen