Hans Leitmeier (1885-1967)
- Author(s)
- Vera M. F. Hammer, Franz Pertlik
- Abstract
Hans Leitmeier (*1885; +1967) - academic teacher, dean, scientist and collector at the turn fromanalytic to experimental mineralogy. At the end of the 19th century the investigation of minerals turns from an absolute descriptive method according to their physical characteristics established by Friedrich Mohs (*1773; +1839) and later on extended by chemical analyses of Franz Leydolt (*1810; +1859) and Josef Grailich (*1829; +1859) to a paradigmatic turning point. Based on experimental mineral syntheses of Cornelio Doelter (*1850; +1930) at the University of Graz in Styria, the knowledge about crystals and minerals was extended. At this time of scientific change, H. Leitmeier starts his studies at the University of Graz, which gave distinction for his further path of life. H. Leitmeier, born in 1885 in Vienna, finished compulsory education in Vienna, Brunn/ Pitten (Lower Austria) and in Graz. From 1904/1905 he studied mineralogy, geology, chemistry and philosophy at the University of Graz. 1908 H. Leitmeier finished his thesis "Der Basalt von Weitendorf in Steiermark und die Mineralien seiner Hohlräume", under the direction of his academic teacher C. Doelter. After his graduation he followed C. Doelter to the Institute of Mineralogy at the University of Vienna, where he accepted an appointment as demonstrator. In the years 1908 to 1912 H. Leitmeier investigated problems of colloidal chemistry and its significance for mineralogical and geological research, inspired by his colleague and personal friend Felix Cornu (*1882; +1909). His habilitation treatise "Zur Kenntnis der Carbonate" was followed by the postdoctoral lecture qualification in 1916. Between the years 1912 to 1918 H. Leitmeier was author of numerous articles and chapters in the "Handbuch der Mineralchemie" of C. Doelter. After the First World War he continued this lexical work and became co-editor in 1925 and after C. Doelters´s death in 1930 he finished this great compilation in mineralogy, an early history of geochemistry studies including a large number of new mineral species. Furthermore H. Leitmeier was author of entries in the German dictionary "Goethe Handbuch", as well as of nearly 100 further publications. Shortly before his deposition by the Nazi-Regime in 1938 he was distinguished as a university professor. After Second World War in 1945 he was re-nominated, this time as professor for mineralogy and petrography; in 1949/1950 H. Leitmeier became dean of the faculty of philosophy; in 1957 he was retired. The mineral and ore collection of H. Leitmeier, with about 1.800 typical specimens from alpine and south-alpine deposits was transferred 1995 from the Institute of Petrology (University of Vienna) to the Natural History Museum in Vienna, the petrographic collection of about 1.550 rock samples remains at the university.The commitment of H. Leitmeier concerning adult education was reflected in his active membership of the Austrian Mineralogical Society (till 1947 Viennese Mineralogical Society)and by numerous public lectures about the natural history, the typical minerals and the geology of the Alpine region. H. Leitmeier passed away in 1967 in Vienna, incinerated in closed family circle.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Mineralogy and Crystallography
- External organisation(s)
- Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NHM)
- Journal
- Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft
- Volume
- 160
- Pages
- 73-108
- No. of pages
- 36
- ISSN
- 1609-0144
- Publication date
- 2014
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 107003 History of natural sciences, 105116 Mineralogy
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/0e61400f-a01e-4fb6-ab9e-0093955398e3