August Breithaupt
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt (May 16, 1791 – September 22, 1873) was a German mineralogist and professor at Freiberg Mining Academy
Freiberg University of Mining and Technology
The Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg is a small German University of Technology with about 5000 students in the city of Freiberg, Saxony...

 in Freiberg, Saxony
Freiberg, Saxony
Freiberg is a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, administrative center of the Mittelsachsen district.-History:The city was founded in 1186, and has been a center of the mining industry in the Ore Mountains for centuries...

.

Biography

He was born in Probstzella
Probstzella
Probstzella is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany.-History:Between 1945 and 1990 Probstzella station served as East German inner German border crossing for rail transport...

. He received his doctorate at the Universities of Jena and Marburg. He studied under Abraham Gottlob Werner
Abraham Gottlob Werner
Abraham Gottlob Werner , was a German geologist who set out an early theory about the stratification of the Earth's crust and coined the word Neptunism...

 at the Freiberg Mining Academy where he received an appointment in 1813 as teacher and lapidary, and became professor of mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...

 after the departure of Friedrich Mohs
Friedrich Mohs
Carl Friedrich Christian Mohs was a German geologist/mineralogist.- Career :Mohs, born in Gernrode, Germany, studied chemistry, mathematics and physics at the University of Halle and also studied at the Mining Academy in Freiberg, Saxony...

 in 1826. He held that position until 1866.

Research

He is credited with the discovery of 47 valid mineral species. The mineral breithauptite
Breithauptite
Breithauptite is a nickel antimonide mineral with the simple formula NiSb. Breithauptite is a metallic opaque copper-red mineral crystallizing in the hexagonal - dihexagonal dipyramidal crystal system. It is typically massive to reniform in habit, but is observed as tabular crystals...

 was named in his honor. His work included important contributions to crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...

 and the physical and chemical properties of minerals. He developed the concept of mineral paragenesis
Paragenesis
Paragenesis is a petrologic concept meaning an equilibrium assemblage of mineral phases. It is used in studies of igneous and metamorphic rock genesis and importantly in studies of the hydrothermal deposition of ore minerals and the rock alteration associated with ore mineral deposits...

.

Works

His publications include:
  • Ueber die Echtheit der Krystalle (1815, on pseudomorphs)
  • Characteristik des Mineral Systems (1820; 3d improved ed., 1832)
  • Vollständiges Handbuch der Mineralogie (1841)
  • Die Bergstadt Freiberg (1825; 2d ed., 1847)
  • Die Paragenesis der Mineralien (1849)
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