Gustav Bischof
| Gustav Bischof | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 18, 1792 Nuremberg, Bavaria |
| Died | November 30, 1870 (aged 78) Bonn, Germany |
| Fields | Chemical geology |
| Institutions | University of Bonn |
| Alma mater | Erlangen |
| Notable awards | Wollaston Medal |
Karl Gustav Bischof (January 18, 1792 – November 30, 1870) was a German chemist, born in Nuremberg, Bavaria. He studied at Erlangen where he became a university tutor. In 1819 he became an extra-Ordinary Professor of Chemistry at Bonn, and in 1822 a full professor. The University of Bonn was a leading center for geologists including Ferdinand von Roemer, Georg August Goldfuss, and Gerhard vom Rath as well as Bischof.
Bischof himself has been considered the founder of chemical geology. More a chemist than a geologist, he introduced chemical analysis into widespread use in geology. His Lehrbuch der chemischen und physikalischen Geologie (Bonn: Marcus, 1847−1866) was the standard text of geochemistry and a classic reference work. The first volume (in 2 parts) considers the actions of water both on the earth and internal to it, including the temperature, chemical composition and effects of springs on rocks around them. His was the first account to scientifically address springs. Volume II (in 7 parts) discusses mineralogy, petrology, and the origin of rocks. He describes the chemical composition, structure, texture, and the chemical and mechanical forces involved in the decomposition of minerals and rocks, including the effects of decomposing organic remains. In doing so, he created a new branch of geology. Bischof's work was highly valuable for its extensive and careful chemical analyses. Bischof was less successful in the interpretations he placed on his results, as he supported theories of Neptunism, later disproved.
Addressing dynamical geology, he noted that substances such as carbonic acid, hydrochloric acid, and other gases as well as water vapor played a part in volcanic eruptions. By studying the cooling of large balls of melted basalt, Bischof estimated the possible cooling time of the planet earth, arriving at a value of 350 million years. He also experimented with variations in cooling temperature, observing that manipulations of temperature and pressure during cooling could lead to the formation of different crystalline forms. He suggested that the both asphalt and petroleum were likely derived from decaying plant matter, and predicted that the effects of air, heat and pressure might explain the formation of different types of coal. He studied experimented on inflammable gases such as those found in coal mines. He experimented with the development of safety-lamps and wrote an essay on the avoidance of explosions in mines.
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