Section

The laboratories of the section fulfill important service functions for research and advice, both inside and outside the institute:

For the mineral separation and grain size analysis a processing laboratory is available.

In the grinding and preparation laboratory, various cutting, grinding and polishing machines are used for polished and thin section preparation.

In the fission track laboratory, fission track data from the Saxonian basement and from the Ries crater are modeled.

The X-ray fluorescence laboratory provides analysis for geochemical composition of geological and archaeological samples.
 
Another area is the support of the extensive petrographic  The comprehensive collections of over 70,000 rocks split into several special sections. The collection of Saxonian rocks contains a large completeness of rock units from all over this state. Many of these specimens serve as unique reference samples. Of further importance are the collections of non-Saxonian rocks, of fluvial and glacial boulders and of building and decoration stones. Additionally, a collection of microscopic thin section as well as a collection for teaching and training purposes exist.
 
The history dates back to 1560, when Elector August built the Electoral Art Chamber. In 1587, the collection of Saxonian rocks of the Swiss court sculptor and builder Giovanni Maria Nosseni was already an important component. The petrographic collections would sense recovery through the work of Ernst Kalkowsky, who acquired a large number of rock specimens and thin sections. The long-time curator of the collection, Dieter Beeger, established a comprehensive collection of building and decoration stones.

The staff of the Petrography Section are involved with teaching at universities in Saxony, particularly at the Bergakademie Freiberg Technical University and the Dresden Technical University, and take responsibilities at various forms of academic qualifications (diploma, bachelor, master and doctoral theses). There is the possibility of a scientific training for young academics at the division. Furthermore, internships are offered in the context of vocational or university education.

Since about 1980, the study of the collision history of planetary bodies has been intensified and in this context, the long-time little-noticed findings of tektites in fluvial gravels from the Lausitz became of scientific interest. These glasses are known as moldavites, representing products of the Ries impact from about 15 million years ago. Petrographic and geochemical investigations of the Lausitz moldavites confirm their previously assumed affinity with Bohemian and Moravian moldavites. Methods, allowing a separation of moldavites from different sub-strewn fields, reveal in the Lausitz sub-strewn field a combination of Bohemian and Moravian type moldavites. An exclusively fluvial transportation of the Lausitz moldavites from the Bohemian sub-strewn filed is not likely.

In addition to palaeogeographic consideration and stratigraphic classification of the found layers, especially the physicochemical properties of the Lausitz moldavites confirm these observations. The majority shows characteristics that are unknown to moldavites from Bohemia and only occur at Moravian ones. This leads to the assumption that a separate Lausitz sub-strewn field exists within the moldavite strewn field.

Bouška, V.I.; Lange, J.-M. (1999b): Geology of the moldavite-bearing sediments in Central Europe. – Schriften des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden, 10: 20–24, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Fritzke, B.; Götze, J.; Lange, J.-M. (2015): Cathodoluminescence of Moldavites.– In: Bridging the Gap III: Impact Cratering in Nature, Experiments, and Modeling, 21 – 26 Sept 2015, Freiburg [#1063]. 

Fritzke, B.; Götze, J.; Lange, J.-M. (2017): Cathodoluminescence of moldavites. – Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 52 (7): 1428–1436, Tucson (Wiley). DOI: 10.1111/maps.12852

Krieger, F.; Kleber, A.; Lange, J.-M.; Wauschkuhn, B.; Jonckheere, R.; Ratschbacher, L. (2010): Refining the thermal signal of the Ries meteorite impact. – Thermo2010. 12th International Conference on Thermochronology: 133.

Lange, J.-M. (1988a): Untersuchungen an Tektiten und tektitführenden Sedimenten der DDR. – Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald: 1–85, 53 Taf., 10 Anl., Greifswald.

Lange, J.-M. (1988b): Untersuchungen an Tektiten der DDR. – IV. Zentrale Wissenschaftliche Studentenkonferenz für Geologische Wissenschaften, Kurzfassungen: 46, Greifswald.

Lange, J.-M. (1990a): Tektite der Niederlausitz. – Natur und Landschaft im Bezirk Cottbus, 12: 77–94, Cottbus.

Lange, J.-M. (1994): Über Lausitzer Moldavite und ihre Fundschichten. – Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg: 1–102, 4 Taf., 10 Anh., 3 Anl., Halle (Saale).

Lange, J.-M. (1995a): Lausitzer Moldavite und ihre Fundschichten. – Schriftenreihe für Geowissenschaften, 3: 1–134, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M. (1995b): Lausitzer Moldavite und ihre Fundschichten. – In: Schröder, B. (Ed.): Süddeutsche Großscholle. Materialien zur 4. Jahrestagung, Nördlingen. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 195: 53–54, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M. (1996): Tektite glasses from Lusatia (Lausitz), Germany. – Chemie der Erde – Geochemistry, 56 (4): 498–510, Jena.

Lange, J.-M. (2005a): Tektite. Zeugnisse der Katastrophe. Entstehung und Verbreitung. – In: Czoßek, J.; Koch, F. (Eds.): Zielscheibe Erde. Meteorite, Tektite, Moldavite. – 48–65, Kamenz (Museum der Westlausitz Kamenz).

Lange, J.-M. (2006d): Meteoritenkrater und Tektite – Zeugnisse katastrophaler kosmischer Ereignisse in der Erdgeschichte. – In: Lange, J.-M.; Kühne, E. (Eds.): Das Museum für Mineralogie und Geologie in den Staatlichen Naturhistorischen Sammlungen Dresden. Von der kurfürstlichen Kunstkammer zum staatlichen Forschungsmuseum; 1857 bis 2007, 150 Jahre geowissenschaftliches Fach- und Forschungsmuseum; 1728 bis 2003, 275 Jahre geowissenschaftliches Kabinett und Museum; 1560 bis 2010, 450 Jahre geowissenschaftliche Sammlungen. – 162–163, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Lange, J.-M.; Bollinger, K.; Horn, P.; Jessberger, E.K.; Schaaf, P.; Storzer, D. (1995): Moldavites from Lusatia (Germany) III: Sr-Isotope-, Ar40 Ar39, and Fission Track-Studies. – Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 26: 823–824, Houston.

Lange, J.-M.; Bouška, V.I. (1999): Zur Geochemie der Moldavite. – In: Brause, H.; Hoth, K. (Eds.): Tagungsband zur 8. Jahrestagung in Görlitz 1999 zum Hauptthema „Westsudeten“. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 206: 39–41, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Knuth, G. (1999): Beitrag zu sedimentpetrographischen Kenntnis jungtertiärer Sedimente der Lausitz. – In: Brause, H.; Hoth, K. (Eds.): Tagungsband zur 8. Jahrestagung in Görlitz 1999 zum Hauptthema „Westsudeten“. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 206: 36–39, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Meisel, T. (1995): Inhomogeneities between and within moldavites. – Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 30: 532–533, Lawrence.

Lange, J.-M.; Störr, M. (1988): Tektite der DDR. – Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Geologische Wissenschaften der DDR, 16: 1–62, Berlin.

Lange, J.-M.; Störr, M. (1991): Untersuchungen an Tektiten und tektitführenden Sedimenten der Lausitz. – Zeitschrift für Geologische Wissenschaften, 19 (2): 217–238, Berlin.

Lange, J.-M.; Suhr, P. (1999): Die Lausitzer Moldavite und ihr geologisches Umfeld. – Schriften des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden, 10: 71–99, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Lange, J.-M.; Suhr, P. (2009): Paläogeographie und vergleichende Stratigraphie des Riesereignisses. – In: Röhling, H.-G.; Linnemann, U.-G.; Lange, J.-M. (Eds.): GeoDresden 2009. Geologie der Böhmischen Masse – Regionale und Angewandte Geowissenschaften im Zentrum Mitteleuropas. Kurzfassungen der Vorträge und Poster/Abstracts. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 63: 48–49, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Suhr, P. (2013): Paleogeography and comparative stratigraphy of the Ries impact event. – In: Žak, J.; Zulauf, G.; Röhling, H.-G. (Eds.): Crustal evolution and geodynamic processes in Central Europe. Proceedings of the Joint conference of the Czech and German geological societies held in Plzeň (Pilsen), September 16 – 19, 2013. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 82: 71, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Wagner, H. (1992): Die Tektite der Lausitz – eine Übersicht. – Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Musei Moraviae Occidentalis Třebíč, 18: 60–71, Třebíč.

Lange, J.-M.; Alexowsky, W.; Horna, F. (2009): Neogen und Quartär im Elbtal und in der Westlausitz. – In: Lange, J.-M.; Linnemann, U.-G.; Röhling, H.-G. (Eds.): GeoDresden 2009. Geologie der Böhmischen Masse – Regionale und Angewandte Geowissenschaften im Zentrum Mitteleuropas. Exkursionsführer. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 241: 151–164, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Fehr, K.T.; Grund, T.; Langenauer, M.; Meisel, T.; Palme, H.; Spettel, B.; Stöffler, D. (1995): Moldavites from Lusatia (Germany) II: A chemical comparision with Czech moldavites. – Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 26: 825–826, Houston.

Lange, J.-M.; Knuth, G.; Wagner, H. (1995): Moldavites from Lusatia (Germany) I: Occurrences and geology of their host sediments. – Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 26: 827–828, Houston.

Lange, J.-M.; Meisel, T.; Bouška, V.I. (2000a): Chemical Classification of Central European Tektites (Moldavites). – 31st International Geological Congress.

Lange, J.-M.; Meisel, T.; Bouška, V.I. (2000b): Chemical Classification of Central European Tektites (Moldavites). – Schriften des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden, 11: 88, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Lange, J.-M.; Meisel, T.; Stöffler, D.; Wagner, H. (1993): Die Lausitzer Moldavite im mitteleuropäischen Tektitstreufeld – ein geochemischer Vergleich. – Berichte der Deutschen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft, Beihefte zu European Journal of Mineralogy, 5: 210, Stuttgart.

Meisel, T.; Lange, J.-M. (1998): Reply to Comment by W. von Engelhardt and J. Arndt _mce_on “The chemical variation of moldavite tektites: Simple mixing of terrestrial sediments”. – Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 33 (3): 536, Lawrence.

Meisel, T.; Lange, J.-M.; Krähenbühl, U. (1997): The chemical variation of moldavite tektites: Simple mixing of terrestrial sediments. – Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 32 (4): 493–502.

Meisel, T.; Lange, J.-M.; Langenauer, M.; Fehr, K.T. (1993): The Lusatian moldavites and Muong Nong-type moldavites. – Meteoritics, 28: 397–398, Lawrence.

Rantzsch, U.; Kloess, G.; Franz, A.; Berkes, M.; Lange, J.-M. (2009): Fractal roughness as classifier for tektite substrewn fields. – 87. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft: 197.

Rantzsch, U.; Kloess, G.; Lange, J.-M. (2010): Gladstone-Dale Relationship-Application for Moldavites. – From Dust to Dust. Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft, 88th Annual Meeting: 263–264.

Rantzsch, U.; Kloess, G.; Lange, J.-M.; Witzke, T. (2011): Gladstone–Dale relationship — Application for tektites. – Chemie der Erde – Geochemistry, 71 (2): 197–199, Jena.

Störr, M.; Lange, J.-M. (1992): The occurrence of tektites northeast of Dresden, Germany. – Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 56 (7): 2937–2940, Oxford.

Storzer, D.; Jessberger, E.K.; Kunz, J.; Lange, J.-M. (1995): Synopsis von Spaltspuren- und Kalium-Argon-Datierungen an Ries-Impaktgläsern und Moldaviten. – In: Schröder, B. (Ed.): Süddeutsche Großscholle. Materialien zur 4. Jahrestagung, Nördlingen. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 195: 79–80, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Suhr, P.; Schneider, W.; Lange, J.-M. (1992): Facies relationships and depositional environments of the Lausitz (Lusatic) Tertiary. – In: Falk, F. (Ed.): 13th IAS Regional Meeting on Sedimentology, Excursion guide-book. – 229–260, Jena (International Association of Sedimentologists und Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena).

Wauschkuhn, F.; Wauschkuhn, B.; Lange, J.-M.; Jonckheere, R. (2013): Apatit-Spaltspurendatierung an Kernproben der Forschungsbohrung Nördlingen 1973: Das thermische Signal des Riesimpakts. – Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 164 (3): 447–458, Stuttgart (Schweizerbart).

Wolf, L.; Alexowsky, W.; Dietze, W.; Hiller, A.; Krbetschek, M.; Lange, J.-M.; Seifert, M.; Tröger, K.-A.; Voigt, T.; Walther, H. (1994): Fluviatile und glaziäre Ablagerungen am äußersten Rand der Elster- und Saale-Vereisung; die spättertiäre und quartäre Geschichte des sächsischen Elbgebietes. – Altenburger naturwissenschaftliche Forschungen, 7: 190–235, Altenburg.

The thermal and tectonic evolution of the Saxonian basement during the Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic can be classified only in insufficient time. This particularly effects the probably Neogenic exhumation of the Erzgebirge and with lesser amounts the Oberlausitz. As a result, a long-range fluvial aggradation, whose chronology is also largely uncertain, took place in the north adjacent foreland. Previous works have mostly ignored the influence of vertical tectonic movements on the morphogenesis. The uplift of the Erzgebirge and the Lausitz as well as the associated formation of a river system mark important factors for the development of the Tertiary landscape the main features of which the present landscape was created by. The research project combines the fission track analysis technique with the sediment-petrographic studies and thus opens the possibility of a comprehensive reconstruction of Saxony’s recent uplift and fluvial history.

Bouška, V.I.; Lange, J.-M. (1999b): Geology of the moldavite-bearing sediments in Central Europe. – Schriften des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden, 10: 20–24, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Eckelmann, K.; Lange, J.-M. (2009): Die Bautzener Elbe und ihre Sedimente: Verbreitung, Zusammensetzung und Rekonstruktion. – In: Röhling, H.-G.; Linnemann, U.-G.; Lange, J.-M. (Eds.): GeoDresden 2009. Geologie der Böhmischen Masse – Regionale und Angewandte Geowissenschaften im Zentrum Mitteleuropas. Kurzfassungen der Vorträge und Poster/Abstracts. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 63: 80, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Eckelmann, K.; Lange, J.-M. (2013): The sediments of the Bautzen Elbe River: distribution, composition and reconstruction of the river course. – Geologica Saxonica, 59: 31–43, Dresden (Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Fischer, M.H.; Kaden, M.; Lange, J.-M.; Richardt, N. (2012): Auf der Elbe von Bad Schandau nach Diesbar-Seußlitz. – Miniaturen zur Geologie Sachsens. GeoRouten, 1: 1–68, Dresden (Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden). 

Lange, J.-M. (1988a): Untersuchungen an Tektiten und tektitführenden Sedimenten der DDR. – Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald: 1–85, 53 Taf., 10 Anl., Greifswald.

Lange, J.-M. (1990b): Die Flußgeschichte der Lausitz: Elbe, Spree, Neiße, Schwarze Elster und Urstromtäler. – Bezirksmuseum Cottbus: 1–20, 5 Anl., Cottbus.

Lange, J.-M. (1994): Über Lausitzer Moldavite und ihre Fundschichten. – Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg: 1–102, 4 Taf., 10 Anh., 3 Anl., Halle (Saale).

Lange, J.-M. (1995a): Lausitzer Moldavite und ihre Fundschichten. – Schriftenreihe für Geowissenschaften, 3: 1–134, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M. (1995b): Lausitzer Moldavite und ihre Fundschichten. – In: Schröder, B. (Ed.): Süddeutsche Großscholle. Materialien zur 4. Jahrestagung, Nördlingen. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 195: 53–54, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M. (2006e): 16 Millionen Jahre Elbe – Forschungen zur Geschichte des größten sächsischen Stromes. – In: Lange, J.-M.; Kühne, E. (Eds.): Das Museum für Mineralogie und Geologie in den Staatlichen Naturhistorischen Sammlungen Dresden. Von der kurfürstlichen Kunstkammer zum staatlichen Forschungsmuseum; 1857 bis 2007, 150 Jahre geowissenschaftliches Fach- und Forschungsmuseum; 1728 bis 2003, 275 Jahre geowissenschaftliches Kabinett und Museum; 1560 bis 2010, 450 Jahre geowissenschaftliche Sammlungen. – 166–167, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Lange, J.-M. (2012): Die Elbe im östlichen Sachsen. – In: Leder, R.M.; Czoßek, J. (Eds.): Klimawandel im Tertiär. Tropenparadies Lausitz? – 18–55, Kamenz (Museum der Westlausitz Kamenz).

Lange, J.-M.; Knuth, G. (1999): Beitrag zu sedimentpetrographischen Kenntnis jungtertiärer Sedimente der Lausitz. – In: Brause, H.; Hoth, K. (Eds.): Tagungsband zur 8. Jahrestagung in Görlitz 1999 zum Hauptthema „Westsudeten“. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 206: 36–39, Berlin (Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Störr, M. (1991): Untersuchungen an Tektiten und tektitführenden Sedimenten der Lausitz. – Zeitschrift für Geologische Wissenschaften, 19 (2): 217–238, Berlin.

Lange, J.-M.; Suhr, P. (1996): Erste Funde von Lebensspuren in den jungtertiären Elbeschottern von Ottendorf-Okrilla. – Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, 147: 475–479, Stuttgart (Schweizerbart).

Lange, J.-M.; Suhr, P. (1999): Die Lausitzer Moldavite und ihr geologisches Umfeld. – Schriften des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden, 10: 71–99, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Lange, J.-M.; Suhr, P. (2007): Rhizocorallium in neogenen EIbeschottern. – Wissenschaftliche Mitteilungen des Instituts für Geologie der TU Bergakademie Freiberg, 36: 76–77, Freiberg.

Lange, J.-M.; Tonk, C. (2006): Spaltspuren in Apatit – Radiometrische Uhr und Thermometer für Gesteine. – In: Lange, J.-M.; Kühne, E. (Eds.): Das Museum für Mineralogie und Geologie in den Staatlichen Naturhistorischen Sammlungen Dresden. Von der kurfürstlichen Kunstkammer zum staatlichen Forschungsmuseum; 1857 bis 2007, 150 Jahre geowissenschaftliches Fach- und Forschungsmuseum; 1728 bis 2003, 275 Jahre geowissenschaftliches Kabinett und Museum; 1560 bis 2010, 450 Jahre geowissenschaftliche Sammlungen. – 160–161, Dresden (Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden).

Lange, J.-M.; Alexowsky, W.; Haubold, F. (2016): Excursion B – Die Entwicklung der Elbe und ihr Einfluss auf die quartäre Landschaftsformung in der Umgebung von Dresden. – In: Erkundungen in Sachsen und Schlesien – Quartäre Sedimente im landschaftsgenetischen Kontext. – DEUQUA EXCURSIONS, Exkursionsführer anläßlich der DEUQUA-Tagung in Dresden, 25.–30. September 2016: 13–30, Berlin (Geozon Science Media). 

Lange, J.-M.; Alexowsky, W.; Horna, F. (2009): Neogen und Quartär im Elbtal und in der Westlausitz. – In: Lange, J.-M.; Linnemann, U.-G.; Röhling, H.-G. (Eds.): GeoDresden 2009. Geologie der Böhmischen Masse – Regionale und Angewandte Geowissenschaften im Zentrum Mitteleuropas. Exkursionsführer. – Exkursionsführer und Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 241: 151–164, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Gaitzsch, B.; Breitkreuz, C. (2009): Faziesanalyse an Schottern der Senftenberger Elbe in Ottendorf-Okrilla. – In: Röhling, H.-G.; Linnemann, U.-G.; Lange, J.-M. (Eds.): GeoDresden 2009. Geologie der Böhmischen Masse – Regionale und Angewandte Geowissenschaften im Zentrum Mitteleuropas. Kurzfassungen der Vorträge und Poster/Abstracts. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 63: 85, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Lange, J.-M.; Gaitzsch, B.; Breitkreuz, C. (2015): Der frühe Elbstrom – Architektur und Rekonstruktion des Senftenberger Laufes. Fallstudie Ottendorf-Okrilla. – In: Geologische Exkursionen in Sachsen und weitere wissenschaftliche Beiträge. 136. Tagung des Oberrheinischen Geologischen Vereins, 7.–11. April 2015, Freiberg. – Jahresberichte und Mitteilungen des Oberrheinischen Geologischen Vereins, N.F., 97: 301–320, Stuttgart (Schweizerbart).

Lange, J.-M.; Janetschke, N.; Kaden, M.; Preuße, M. (2015): Landschaftsentwicklung in der Umgebung von Dresden – Sedimentation, Vulkanismus und Tektonik im Känozoikum (Exkursion D am 9. April 2015). – In: Geologische Exkursionen in Sachsen und weitere wissenschaftliche Beiträge. 136. Tagung des Oberrheinischen Geologischen Vereins, 7.–11. April 2015, Freiberg. – Jahresberichte und Mitteilungen des Oberrheinischen Geologischen Vereins, N.F., 97: 69–102, Stuttgart (Schweizerbart).

Lange, J.-M.; Jonckheere, R.; Wagner, G.A. (1998): Zur Hebungsgeschichte des Erzgebirges. – In: Standke, G.; Suhr, P. (Eds.): Vulkane – Flüsse – Küstenmoore: Die fazielle Vielfalt am Südrand der Nordwest-Europäischen Tertiärsenke. – Terra Nostra, 98/4: 81–82, Berlin.

Lange, J.-M.; Knuth, G.; Wagner, H. (1995): Moldavites from Lusatia (Germany) I: Occurrences and geology of their host sediments. – Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 26: 827–828, Houston.

Lange, J.-M.; Tonk, C.; Wagner, G.A. (2008): Apatitspaltspurdaten zur postvariszischen thermotektonischen Entwicklung des sächsischen Grundgebirges – erste Ergebnisse. – Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 159 (1): 123–132, Stuttgart (Schweizerbart).

Menz, M.; Gärtner, A.; Müller, A.; Lange, J.-M. (2014): Sedimentary provenance analysis _mce_on zircon grains of Oligocene marine deposits in northeastern Germany. – In: Röhling, H.-G.; Zulauf, G. (Eds.): GeoFrankfurt 2014, Dynamik des Systems Erde/Earth System Dynamics, September 21 – 24, 2014, Abstract volume. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 85: 100, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

Schwarz, D. (2011a): Achate und Jaspisse in den Schotterterrassen der Elbtalwanne zwischen Riesa und Mühlberg. – In: Achate III. – 193–201, Haltern (Bode).

Schwarz, D. (2017): Quarze südlichen Ursprungs. – Finsterwalder Heimatkalender, 2018: 14–17, Finsterwalde (Verein der Freunde zur Förderung der Heimatschrift „Finsterwalder Heimatkalender“ e.V.).

Schwarz, D.; Lange, J.-M. (2013): Leitgerölle in den pleistozänen Elbeterrassen zwischen Riesa und Torgau. – Veröffentlichungen des Museums für Naturkunde Chemnitz, 36: 143–156, Chemnitz (Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz).

Schwarz, D.; Lange, J.-M. (2015): Labské valouny z Brd (Středoceská pahorkatina). – Minerál, XXII (2): 104–111, České Budějovice.

Schwarz, D.; Lange, J.-M. (2017): Gravitationsgebänderte Achate in Elbeschottern nördlich von Dresden. – Veröffentlichungen des Museums für Naturkunde Chemnitz, 40: 167–178, Chemnitz (Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz).

Schwarz, D.; Lange, J.-M.; Riedrich, G. (2012): Elbeleitgerölle aus den Brdy (Mittelböhmisches Waldgebirge). – Veröffentlichungen des Museums für Naturkunde Chemnitz, 35: 61–72, Chemnitz (Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz).

Suhr, P.; Schneider, W.; Lange, J.-M. (1992): Facies relationships and depositional environments of the Lausitz (Lusatic) Tertiary. – In: Falk, F. (Ed.): 13th IAS Regional Meeting on Sedimentology, Excursion guide-book. – 229–260, Jena (International Association of Sedimentologists und Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena).

Tonk, C.; Lange, J.-M.; Wagner, G.A. (2004a): Spaltspurenuntersuchungen zur postvariszischen thermotektonischen Entwicklung des sächsischen Grundgebirges. – In: Jacobs, F.; Röhling, H.-G.; Uhlmann, O. (Eds.): GeoLeipzig 2004 – Geowissenschaften sichern Zukunft. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, 34: 111, Hannover (Deutsche Geologische Gesellschaft e.V.).

Tonk, C.; Lange, J.-M.; Wagner, G.A. (2004b): The post-Variscan thermotectonic history of the Saxonian basement: A view from fission-track data. – 10th International Conference on Fission Track Dating and Thermochronology.

Wolf, L.; Alexowsky, W.; Dietze, W.; Hiller, A.; Krbetschek, M.; Lange, J.-M.; Seifert, M.; Tröger, K.-A.; Voigt, T.; Walther, H. (1994): Fluviatile und glaziäre Ablagerungen am äußersten Rand der Elster- und Saale-Vereisung; die spättertiäre und quartäre Geschichte des sächsischen Elbgebietes. – Altenburger naturwissenschaftliche Forschungen, 7: 190–235, Altenburg.

Wolff, R.; Dunkl, I.; Lange, J.-M.; Tonk, C.; Voigt, T.; Eynatten, H. von (2013): Superposition of burial and hydrothermal events: Post Variscan thermal evolution of the Erzgebirge, Germany. – Geofluids: Lubricants of the Dynamic Earth. Joint Annual Meeting Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft & Geologische Vereinigung e.V./Sediment, September 16–19, 2013, Tübingen, Germany.

Wolff, R.; Dunkl, I.; Lange, J.-M.; Tonk, C.; Voigt, T.; Eynatten, H. von (2015): Superposition of burial and hydrothermal events: post-Variscan thermal evolution of the Erzgebirge, Germany. – Terra Nova, 27 (4): 292–299.

During archaeological excavations in 2007, numerous remains of prehistoric settlements of the Linear Pottery culture (5500–5000 BC), the Stroke-Ornamented Pottery culture (5000–4500 BC) and the Middle Neolithic Age (c. 4000 BC) were discovered and saved from localities around Geithain/Rathendorf. The finds of these remaining settlements include various stone artefacts. These artefacts have been identified as polished stone axes, fragments of grinding stones and rubbing stones, mainly consisting of amphibolites, rhyolites and sandstones. The aim of the scientific study is to determine the provenance of the raw materials. The current debate is about figuring out if the raw materials came from the surrounding area, or if they passed through a long-distance trade relationship. Contributions to this topic provide investigations, based on petrographic and micro-chemical analyses (polarization microscopy, SEM-EDX and μXRF). These methods are applied at both, selected archaeological objects and geological reference samples.

Publikationen zu archäometrischen Themen

Clement, T. (2014): Archäometrische Untersuchungen an Keramik des 17. Jahrhunderts aus Dippoldiswalde. Röntgenfluoreszenzanalysen zur Provenienzbestimmung der Tonrohstoffe. – Diplomarbeit: 1–87; Technische Universität Dresden.

Dittrich, G.; Koppelt, U.; Lange, J.-M.; Wuytack, K. (1998): Top soil conditions and detectability of archeological objects. – Annales Geophysicae, Supplement I, 16: C224.

Heymannn, K. (2011): Petrographische Untersuchungen von Steinartefakten der bandkeramischen Fundstelle Langensteinbach (LST-06) bei Penig (Sachsen). – Diplomarbeit: 1–122; Technische Universität Dresden.

Heymann, K.; Stäuble, H.; Hölzl, S.; Ullrich, B.; Lange, J.-M. (2013): Petrographie und Herkunft des Rohmaterials neolithischer Steinartefakte der archäologischen Ausgrabung Langensteinbach (LST-06) bei Penig (Westsachsen). – Geologica Saxonica, 59: 89–98; Dresden. 

Kotková, M.; Lange, J.-M. (2010): Beziehungen zwischen Nordwestböhmen und dem sächsischen Elbtal im frühen Mittelalter anhand der Keramik des Zabrušaner Kreises. – ZAM Zeitschrift für Archäologie des Mittelalters, 38: 43-83; Bonn.

Ricci, G.; Lange, J.-M.; Kaden, M.; Heide, G.; Calaon, D.; Zendri, E. (2016): Early Medieval globular amphorae from Torcello: Microscopy, porosity and chemical analyses for the study of production techniques. – 41st International Symposium on Archaeometry, 15 – 21 May 2016, Kalamata, Greece [Abstract #410].

Richter, A. (2009): Petrographische Untersuchungen von Artefakten aus archäologischem Fundmaterial neolithischer Fundstellen an der BAB 72 bei Geithain (Sachsen/Deutschland). – Diplomarbeit: 1–89; Technische Universität Dresden.

Richter, A.; Stäuble, H.; Steinmann, C.; Lange, J.-M. (2013): Petrographical investigations and provenance analyses of the raw materials of Neolithic stone tool from different localities southeast of Leipzig (Saxony, Germany). – Geologica Saxonica, 59: 193–204; Dresden. 

Zschornack, L. (2008): Petrographische Untersuchungen von Metabasiten aus archäologischen Fundstellen an der BAB 72 bei Geithain. – Diplomarbeit: 1–97; Universität Leipzig.

Zschornack, L.; Lange, J.-M.; Stäuble, H.; Steinmann, C. (2009): Provenance analysis of amphibolitic stone tools from three Neolithic excavation sites near Geithain (Saxony. Germany). – In: Röhling, H.-G.; Linnemann, U.-G.; Lange, J.-

M. (Eds.): GeoDresden 2009. Geologie der Böhmischen Masse – Regionale und Angewandte Geowissenschaften im Zentrum Mitteleuropas. Kurzfassungen der Vorträge und Poster/Abstracts. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 63: 300–301, Hannover (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften e.V.).

The history of the petrographic collections dates back to the Art Chamber invested by Elector August (1526–1586) in 1560: around 1587, the collection of Saxonian rocks of the italian court sculptor and builder Giovanni Maria Nosseni (1544–1620) contributed an essential portion of the geoscientific collection. 

Nosseni, an experienced master-builder, sculptor and architect from Lugano, was committed to the Saxonian service since 1575 and searched through the Erzgebirge, as well as through the northern adjacent foreland after payable and noble minerals or rocks.

Especially between 1585 and 1587 he was able to identify important deposits. The reference samples were given to Nosseni’s employer and precisely and scientifically labeled and marked, something which was unusual for the late 16th century. These samples were suitable for sculpting and contained white marble from Sandersberg between Rauenstein and Lengefeld in the Erzgebirge, black marble from Kalkgrün, red mable from Wildenfels and white marble from Crottendorf in the Erzgebirge. The inventory of David Ußlaub’s Art Chamber claims that the recently unverifiable samples of Nosseni compose the cadre of the Mineral Cabinet. Ußlaub established the inventory in 1587, after inducement by the inheritors of Elector August and for the first time described out of the ten thousand specified objects, a 43 piece rock collection.

It was stored in the fifth room of the Art Chamber ‘at the library’ ‘on a long table with a green linen sheet’. After 1587, Nosseni only added a few further rocks to the Art Chamber. Apart from the inventory of 1595 and 1640, additional 14 pieces consisting of alabaster from Weißensee, marble from the Erzgebirge and serpentine make up the collection. Nosseni received the lifetime privilege to search for marble, alabaster, serpentine, crystals and amethyst in the electorate. He used this valuable building and decoration material for example for the Lusthaus on the Jungfernbastei, for the main altar of the Sophienkirche (St Sophia’s Church) in Dresden and for the decoration of the Fürstenkapelle in the Freiberger Dom (Freiberg Cathedral).

A major change can be noticed following the employment of the mathematician Lucas Brunn (died in 1628) as the Art Chamber inspector in 1619. He oversaw the collection in a scientific vision and undertook a realignment. On his side were Kaspar Ußlaub, Peter Probsthain, and from 1627, Theodosius Häsel(1595–1658), Brunn’s successor. Häsel completed the regrouping of the collection in 1632, which had been commenced under Brunn. In his catalogue “Inventarium Über die Churfürstliche Sächsische Kunstcammern in Schloß und Vestung Dreßden. Verneuert und aufgericht den 4 Augusti Anno 1640”, Hänsel describes the seventh room ‘which was named mining chamber’. Besides the Nosseni rock collection on two tables, decorated with a green cloth, another petrographic object on ‘a third table near the window’ was described as ‘1 angular black stone from Mount Etna, originated by flame or slag’.

The Art Chamber inspector Tobias Beutel the Elder (1630–1690) released the first printed report about the facility in 1671, “Chur-Fürstlicher Sächsischer stets grünender hoher Cedern-Wald” and documented its establishment in 1560. Herein he described the mining chamber as sixth chamber with the whole content of ‘things of nature / rarely and artificial’. The arrangement in this chamber significantly corresponds the representation of Hänsel in 1640. References include ‘… hand samples from marble country and alabaster …’ and ‘… a big piece of porphyry / originating from a porch of Solomon’s Temple …’.

The latter was sent to be cut in the polishing mill of Johann Friedrich Böttger(1682–1719) in 1714. However, the description of the exhibited natural objects by Beutel is very scarce, in contrast to the detailed descriptions by David Ußlaub in 1587. Likewise, the rocks in the Art Chamber are briefly mentioned in 1680 through Anton Weck and in 1685 through Edward Brown. Brown noted ‘many kinds of polished rocks / which can be found in Saxony and Meissen…’.

On the 25th of March 1701, major parts of the Residence Palace were destroyed through a fire. The Art Chamber, along with the stored pieces of the natural history collections was able to be saved and transferred temporarily to the “Klepperstall” close to the battlement and later to the Holländische Palais, the future Japanische Palais. From 1720 to 1728, the natural scientific collections were housed in the Regimentshaus at the Jüdenhof.

Elector Friedrich August I, known as August the Strong (1670–1733), possessed a passionate interest for natural sciences and ordered for a rearrangement of the Art Chamber soon after his accession to power in 1694. He strived for a division of special cabinets, which were administered and arranged scientifically by skilled personnel. Inspector of the newly created Mineral Cabinet was Christoph Gottlob Lichtwer (died in 1736), who was employed at the Berggemach since 1702.

In 1755s ‘Short draft of the royal Natural Chamber of Dresden’ by Christian Heinrich Eilenburg (1709–1771), alabaster, ‘serpentine stones’, basalts, ‘pebble and paving stones’, as well as dripstones are mentioned besides a ‘… collection of nearly one thousand kinds of local and foreign marble stones …’. In Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbachs (1793–1879) “Leitfaden” (guide) through the Natural History Museum of 1836, he mentions the petrographic collections as part of the ‘Gallery of the Primeval World’. Under the description ‘geognostic fossils’, the ‘systematic suites of geological formations’ classified by Karl Cäsar von Leonhard (1779–1862), were presented.

Outstanding among the petrographic objects was a 4.67 m long flash tube found in 1822 at the Linckesches Bad in Dresden. This object and other important parts of the petrographic inventory were destroyed through a fire in the Zwinger in 1849 during the May Revolution. The collection of Oberbaurat (head building officer) Christian Theodor Sorge consisting of ‘Dresden district conventional avenue materials’ (road materials used in the Dresden area) was delivered in 1869 and formed the basis for rebuilding the rock collection at the former Royal Mineralogical Museum. Furthermore important for the rehabilitation of the collection were the numerous rocks inherited from King Friedrich August II(1797–1854), which originated from Saxony, Italy, England and the Canary Isles. In 1891, under the first and long-time director of the museum, Hanns Bruno Geinitz (1814–1900), the rock types were separated from the fossils and arranged in a new hall, as a ‘… special petrographic division …’.

However, already in 1899 Geinitz complained that the majority of the petrographic collections were disclosed from the public and the halls were only used for working purposes and as a library. In 1892, the lack of space caused the director to transfer the unique volcanological collection of Alphons Stübel(1835–1904) to Leipzig, which was only returned to the museum 100 years later. That same year, a ‘grindery’ was set up. Its main task was the production of rock thin sections, reaching over 900 pieces in 1896.

In 1898, Ernst Kalkowsky (1851–1938), an international significant petrographer, became director of the museum. During his curatorship until 1919, he added numerous petrographic items to the rock collection. These include a plate of 24 large thin sections, mostly from Saxonian rocks, with dimensions of 90 x 110 mm each. Kalkowsky produced these through the renowned company Fuess in Berlin-Steglitz in 1898. Through him a systematically, structured rock collection was established in the museum for the first time. It was based on the textbook of petrography from 1894 by the Leipzig petrographer Ferdinand Zirkel (1838–1912). For this, Kalkowsky bought about 600 hand rock samples for the systematic petrographic collection in the year 1900. As a replacement for the lost flash tube from 1849, a 4.60 m long flash tube from the Tertiary glass sands from Hohenbocka could be purchased. The equipment was expanded for the growing number of petrographic investigations in the years 1927/28 with a petrographic microscope, an analytical balance and an elutriator.

The Second World War brought another break in the collection’s history: Beginning in 1942, the content of the museum from the Zwinger was moved to nearby castles and manors for safety. A large amount of the petrographic collections was stored in Schieritz Manor, north-west of Meißen. The rock collection of Eberhard Rimann (1882–1944), director of the museum from 1920 until 1944, was transferred to Schleinitz Castle, south of Lommatzsch, and to Rehnsdorf Manor, south of Kamenz. His collection of thin sections was brought to Lauterbach Castle, north-east of Meißen. Despite these arrangements, older parts of the collection were partially lost. Moreover, many of the returned pieces lack labels and thus were often not able to be classified.

The restart after the Second World War of the petrographic collections was strongly connected to Dieter Beeger, who was active from 1956 to 1997 at the museum. Upon suggestion of the Institute of Preservation of Historical Monuments of Dresden in 1960, he began research about the destruction and conservation of building stones. Examples include the sandstone of the Golden Gate of the Freiberg Cathedral (1960–1962) and the Großer Wendelstein (large stair tower) at Hartenfels Castle in Torgau (1967–1969), or the rhyolitic tuff of the north portal of the Castle Church in Chemnitz (1963). To complement his research, Beeger established the collection of building and decoration stones systematically in 1967.

In 1956, the collection of Hermann Andert (1879–1945), mainly consisting of rocks from the Saxonian and Bohemian Lausitz, was purchased. The collection achieved important growth in the last decades through the purchase of numerous polished plates of building and decoration stones, the adoption of a collection of South American rocks and the adoption of a collection of Saxonian metamorphic rocks as well as through deliveries from various private collections.

To correspond to requirements of an advanced research collection, the scientific instrument park was considerably modernized and expanded since 1997. With the move to the new division building in Dresden-Klotzsche, the petrographic laboratory possess extensive semi-automatic preparation technology for rock separation, grinding and thin section preparation, gravitation and magnet separation, granulometric analysis etc.

Since 2001, there is a facility for fission track analysis, whose core is an efficient research microscope with attached scanning stage and computer-assisted evaluation.