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Cooperation with university geologists from the University of Leoben

The Montanuniversität Leoben is another partner of the geologists from the Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of Wrocław in the partnership network within the framework of the European Union programme Erasmus+! The agreement between the universities was concluded thanks to the efforts of dr Piotr Wojtulek from the Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of Wrocław, who is carrying out joint research projects in the field of economic geology with scientists from Leoben. Both universities are connected through Prof. Walther Petrascheck, a geologist and the director of the pre-war Institute of Mineralogy at the University of Wrocław, who later became the long-standing rector of the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Leoben after the war.

The Montanuniversität Leoben is a university with a long tradition, founded in 1840 by Archduke John of Austria. The famous Polish geologist prof. Wawrzyniec Teisseyre, discoverer of the TT (Teysseyre-Tornquist) zone, studied geology at this university. The university specialises in many areas and is a research university. Through close cooperation with industry, it provides know-how in the fields of environmental protection, mining technology, recovery of mineral resources from waste and energy for Austrian companies. Dr Piotr Wojtulek is on a scholarship at the Department Applied Geosciences and Geophysics, where he works with Prof. Frank Melcher’s research group, which deals with deposit geology. As part of his scholarship, he is researching the ore mineralisation of the Stara Kamienica mountain range in the Jizera Mountains, using modern methods to determine trace elements such as lanthanides in ore minerals (sphalerite, chalcopyrite and other sulphides).

In addition to his research work, the scientist teaches deposit geology at the Montanuniversität Leoben, focusing on copper and zinc-lead deposits of the Kupferschiefer and MFT (Missisipi Valley Type) type. He also held a seminar for the academic community of the Department entitled ‘Museum or Golden Age – Future of Geology in Poland’, summarising current trends in the exploration of mineral resources in Poland. Thanks to the hospitality of the Austrian side, dr Wojtulek was able to visit the most famous Styrian mining plants, including Breitenau (magnesite) and Kaisersberg (graphite), whose owners donated rock samples to the didactic collection of the University of Wrocław in the field of deposit geology. He also prepared a fieldwork plan for the university in the Styrian Alps for geology students at the University of Wrocław, which is planned for 2026. Its organisation will be possible thanks to the cooperation between our universities that has just been established.

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