Prof. Dr. Horst Marschall

Wilhelm-Heraeus-Professor for Deep Earth Processes


Professional Career

  • 2019–
    Co-director, FIERCE (Frankfurt Isotope & Element Research Center), Goethe Universität
  • 2017–2023
    Vice-head and Head of Department, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Goethe Universität
  • 2016–
    Wilhelm Heraeus Professor for Deep Earth Processes, Goethe Universität Frankfurt (Germany)
  • 2015–2016
    Associate Scientist, WHOI (Massachusetts, USA)
  • 2011–2015
    Assistant Scientist, WHOI
  • 2007–2010
    Post-doctoral Research Assistant, University of Bristol (UK)
  • 2005–2007
    Marie-Curie post-doctoral Fellow, University of Bristol (UK)
  • 2005
    Doctoral degree, Universität Heidelberg (Germany)
  • 2000
    Diplom Mineraloge (MSc equivalent), Universität Heidelberg
  • 1996–2000
    Undergraduate, Universität Heidelberg

Honors, Awards, etc.

  • Chairman of the Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft (DMG, 2023–24)
  • Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America (MSA, 2023)
  • Wilhelm Heraeus Professorship for Deep Earth Processes, Goethe Universität Frankfurt (since 2016)
  • Research associate, American Museum of Natural History, NYC (2011–2014)
  • NERC post-doctoral advanced fellowship 2010 (5 years; award declined)
  • Ruprecht-Karls Prize 2006 of the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
  • Marie-Curie post-doctoral fellowship of the European Union 2005 (24 months)
  • Paul-Ramdohr Prize 2005 of the Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft (DMG)
  • Doctoral degree with “Summa Cum Laude”, Universität Heidelberg, 2005
  • Award of Excellence for Diplom thesis, Department of Mineralogy, Universität Heidelberg

Research Interests

Metamorphic Petrology, Geochronology and Isotope Geochemistry

Part of my research is concerned with the petrology and geochemistry of (ultra)high-pressure metamorphic rocks as probes into physico-chemical processes operating at convergent plate margins.

My focus is here is on crust-mantle interaction processes in subduction zones. My other interest is in the formation and internal fractionation of the continental crust, including high-temperature metamorphism, partial melting and granite formation. Elemental and isotopic fractionation of lithium and boron and their redistribution during metasomatic processes play some role in these studies.

Diffusion, dating, trace element and isotope studies on accessory minerals, such as rutile, tourmaline, zircon, and apatite are core to these studies.