Carbonatites and their Critical Mineral Systems
01 - 04 December 2026 | TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Sachsen), Germany
Carbonatites and related alkaline rocks are important sources of critical raw materials, in particular the rare-earth elements. Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution, formation, mineralogy and metallogenesis are paramount to the discovery of new deposits and further development of existing resources. Join the 2026 offering of the renowned Freiberg Short Course in Economic Geology to gain a deeper understanding of these unique magmatic and hydrothermal rocks, and the importance they play in the global supply chain of rare-earth elements and many other commodities. The course is ideally suited for graduate and doctoral students in the geosciences, and we welcome all participants with an interest in mineral deposit research and exploration.
The course will be led by international experts on the petrology-geochemistry and metallogeny of carbonatites and related rocks:
Prof. Dr. Max Schmidt, ETH Zurich
Prof. Micheal Anenburg, Australian National University
Prof. Wei Chen, China University of Geosciences
Dr. Michael Marks, Universität Tübingen
Dr. Benjamin Walter,Universität Tübingen
Dr Nolwenn Coint, Geological Survey of Norway
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Tappe, TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Registration will open in May at the course website and questions can be directed to Katie Smart (kathleen-alexandra.smart@extern.tu-freiberg.de)
The course is jointly hosted by Prof. Sebastian Tappe (TU Bergakademie Freiberg) and Professor Jens Gutzmer (Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology).
