Overview: GFZ

Santa Gracia, Chile *(Photo: D. Scherler)*

Basalt river on La Réunion, France *(Photo: H. Wittmann-Oelze)*

Spheroidal weathering in Soils: Jointed bedrock is concentrically dissolved by rock weathering. *(Photo: F. v. Blanckenburg)*

Spectro - Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) — Spectro Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) *(Photo: J. Holtz)*

The source of the Lison, France *(Photo: H. Wittmann-Oelze)*

Plants take up nutrients from rock. *(Photo: F. v. Blanckenburg)*

Clean Laboratory for Cosmogenic Nuclides, Helmholtz Laboratory for the Geochemistry of the Earth Surface (HELGES) *(Photo: J. Holtz)*

Nahuelbuta National Park, Chile *(Photo: D. Scherler)*

River Ganges close to Devprayag, India *(Photo: P. Frings)*

Mont Blanc Massif with Aiguille Verte, France *(Photo: D. Scherler)*

Clean Laboratory For Stable Metal(loid) Isotopes, Helmholtz Laboratory for the Geochemistry of the Earth Surface (HELGES) *(Photo: K. Zergiebel)*

Swabian Alb, Southern Germany *(Photo: H. Wittmann-Oelze)*

UV-Femtosecond-Laser-Ablation coupled to Neptune (Multicollector-)Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer — UV Femtosecond laser ablation coupled to Neptune multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) *(Photo: J. Holtz)*

New developments in geochemistry opened up an entirely new perspective on the constantly changing land surface. Here rock meets water, air and all forms of life. In the course of this weathering and erosion huge material turnovers and chemical reactions are triggered. Chemical elements and sediment are released. Plants are nourished with nutrients and soils can develop. The forces of the Earth’s interior lead to the uplift of mountains and, and compete with climatic forces and the influence of humans that simultaneously erode the mountains. In our Section 3.3 Earth Surface Geochemistry we measure the velocities of these processes and the age of the resulting landforms with cosmogenic nuclides. We investigate the causes of biogeochemical transformations using novel methods of stable metal isotopes. In brief, we want to trace the material turnovers on the Earth's surface by using geochemical fingerprints.

Take a look at our detailled topic page. Learn more about the unique Helmholtz Laboratory for the Geochemistry of the Earth Surface - HELGES. And take a look at our interesting posts on Outreach.

Highlights & Milestones

Major Grants

2022 DFG-ANR Grant PALAVAS (H. Wittmann)
2022 ERC Advanced Grant DEVENDRA (F. von Blanckenburg)
2022 ERC Consolidator Grant PETRARCH (M. Henehan; ERC funding approved, but not started due to appointment at the University of Bristol; funding by UKRI)
2018 ERC Starting Grant COLD (D. Scherler)
2016 DFG SPP EarthShape (F. von Blanckenburg, Co-Coordinator)
2014 FP7 ITN IsoNose (Coordinator: F. von Blanckenburg)

Awards

2022 David Uhlig receives Hans-Cloos Award of the German Geological Society - Geological Association
2021 Hella Wittmann-Oelze received Eugen-Seibold-Medal of the German Geological Society - Geological Association
2020 David Uhlig received Potsdam Award for Young Scientists
2020 Friedhelm von Blanckenburg awarded Member of the Academia Europaea
2018 Friedhelm von Blanckenburg awarded Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
2017 Dirk Scherler received Geomorphology Division Early Career Award of the European Geosciences Union
2016 Friedhelm von Blanckenburg awarded Fellow of the US Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry
2015 Friedhelm von Blanckenburg awared Member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
2013 Hella Wittmann-Oelze received Viktor-Moritz-Goldschmidt Award of the German Mineralogical Society
2010 Friedhelm von Blanckenburg received Ralph Alger Bagnold Geomorphology Medal of the European Geosciences Union
2009 Friedhelm von Blanckenburg awarded Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

Appointments

2024 Chenyu Wang accepts Lectureship at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
2024 Kai Deng accepts tenure-track Associate Professorship at the Tongji University, Shanghai
2024 Richard F. Ott accepts Assistant Professorship at the University of Amsterdam
2022 Michael Henehan accepts Lectureship at University of Bristol
2020 Michael Tatzel accepts Junior Professorship at the University of Göttingen
2018 Sanjay K. Mandal accepts Assistant Professorship at the IISER Kolkata
2010 Jane Willenbring accepts Assistant Professorship at the University of Pennsylvania