Introduction - Department of Mineralogy and Geology

Dear Guest! You are welcome on the home page of the Department of Mineralogy and Geology! 

Zsolt BenkóFirst of all, please let me briefly introduce the Department of Mineralogy and Geology! 

Our Department represents the discipline of geology within the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Debrecen. The research topics of our researchers cover almost all subfields of geology, including mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, economic geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology and structural geology. We are teaching various subjects (mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, and structural geology) for Earth Science, Geography and Biology BSc as well as for Chemistry MSc students, but we also offer the opportunity to study about gemstones, meteorites and trace fossils.
The history of the department and the teaching of earth sciences at the University of Debrecen dates back to more than 100 years. We have a long tradition of the mapping of the Tokaj Mts, sequence stratigraphy, differential-thermo-analysis, as well as of anthropogenic geology. The current research topics of the department are based mainly on these traditional subjects, but we are opening towards the modern directions of geochemistry (noble gas isotope studies, radiometric age dating), geomathematics (coding), cosmochemistry, as well. We are in close collaboration with various companies (Isotoptech Zrt), research institutes (Institute for Nuclear Research; Geochemical Research Institute, Czech Geological Survey), and universities (ELTE, Budapest; University of Pécs; University of Szeged, etc.). We are giving courses for chemists, biologists, engineers, and geography students at the University of Debrecen and many other courses at other universities (ELTE, SZTE).   

But why is education of geology crucial in the 21th century? 

The period of cheapness and relative abundance of traditional raw materials (copper, gold, lead, zinc, platinum, etc.) characterizing the second half of the 20th century is over. Increasing population and new technologies (chips, space sciences, accumulators, solar power plants, hydrogen cells) require not only more raw materials, but the discovery and research of new resources as well (Li, Mg, rare earth elements, etc.). There is a global lack of sand, gravel, perlite and many other commodities that appeared to be inexhaustive in the past. Therefore, discovery, evaluation and exploitation of these new deposits, as well as the handling of the geological risk requires experts with well-established general geological background and specialization.  
Education of geologist and the support of the geological research were less favored in the past few decades. However, the introduction of new technologies, wars, and exhausting traditional mineral deposits result in a growing demand for experts on the field of geology, worldwide. Our mission is that young students, who come to study geology at the University of Debrecen receive such a solid scientific background that is reliably establishing their further career at any fields of geology or during their further studies (MSc and PhD). With this in mind we are permanently updating and refreshing our lectures and education portfolio.      
Please find further information about the colleagues, research topics, laboratories and collaborations on our home page! 

Sincerely Yours, 

Dr. Benkó Zsolt
Head of the Department of Mineralogy and Geology

Last update: 2023. 06. 08. 11:24