Johann Karl Wilhelm Voigt
Johann Karl Wilhelm Voigt (20 February 1752 in Allstedt – 2 January 1821 in Ilmenau) was a German mineralogist and mining engineer.
He initially studied law at the University of Jena, then in 1776 enrolled at the Mining Academy in Freiberg as a pupil of Abraham Gottlob Werner.[1] He later relocated to Weimar, where in 1783 he was named secretary of the Bergwerkskommission (mining commission).[2] During his time spent in Weimar he developed a close friendship with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — through Voigt, Goethe received an education in mineralogy.[3] From 1789 to 1821, he served as Bergrath (councillor of mines) in Ilmenau.[1]
He is best remembered for his dispute with Werner in regards to latter's theory of Neptunism; with Voigt maintaining that basalt was of volcanic origin.[1] In 1800 he introduced the term "lettenkohle" to describe coal with a large content of letten (regional German word for clay and mud).[4]
The thoroughfare Bergrat-Voigt-Straße in Erfurt commemorates his name.[5]
Selected works[edit]
- Mineralogische Reisen durch das Herzogthum Weimar und Eisenach und einige angränzende Gegenden, 1785 – Mineralogical trips through the duchy of Weimar and Eisenach and some neighboring areas.
- Mineralogische Reise von Weimar über den Thüringer Wald, Meiningen, die Rhönberge, bis Bieber und Hanau, 1786 – Mineralogical trip from Weimar of the Thuringian Forest, Meiningen, the Rhön Mountains, up until Bieber and Hanau.
- Mineralogische beschreibung des hochstifts Fuld und einiger merkwürdigen gegenden am Rhein und Mayn, 1794 – Mineralogical description of Hochstift Fulda and some unique locations on the Rhine and Mayn.
- Practische gebirgskunde, 1797 – Practical mountain studies.
- Kleine mineralogische schriften (2 volumes, 1799–1800) – Smaller mineralogical writings.
- Versuch einer Geschichte der Steinkohlen, der Braunkohlen und des Torfes, etc. (2 volumes, 1802–05) – Essay on the history of coal, lignite and peat.
- Geschichte des Ilmenauischen Bergbaues nebst einer geognostischen Darstellung der dasigen Gegend, 1821 – History of mining at Ilmenau together with a representation of the geognostic area.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Wilhelm von Gümbel: ADB:Voigt, Johann Karl Wilhelm In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 40, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1896, S. 205.
- ^ Thies - Zymalkowski, edited by Rudolf Vierhaus Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopaedie
- ^ Voigt, Johann Carl Wilhelm Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine The Mineralogical Record
- ^ Lettenkohle, Lettenkeuper, Unterkeuper — Vom Gesteinsnamen zum stratigraphischen Begriff
- ^ Bergrat-Voigt-Straße Erfurt.web.de
- ^ Most widely held works by Johann Carl Wilhelm Voigt WorldCat Identities
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