Education:

• 1987: B.Sc. Geology/Paleontology at Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Germany
• 1990: M.Sc. Applied Geology: Leibnitz-University of Hannover, Germany
• 1998: Ph.D. Geochemistry & Mineralogy: University of Pretoria
• 2004: Habilitation contract Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany

Positions held:

• 1990-1991: Rig geologist in Natural Gas /Oil exploration with GeoData GmbH; drilling techniques, liquid & mud control, drillhole geophysics, petrography & determination of stratigraphic boundaries.
• 1991-1995: Research Fellow at the Bushveld Research Institute of the Univ. of Pretoria: Ph.D. study on the petrogenesis of the Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide deposit Uitkomst Complex, Mpumalanga Province; ore petrography & extraction; Anglo American Prospecting Services bursar.
• 1995–1998: Mine and Exploration geologist, aspects of exploration, mining, extraction and beneficiation for AVMIN Ltd.:  in Barberton (R.S.A.): Nkomati Ni-Cu-PGE Mine, Lode Gold deposits, Windhoek (Namibia): VMS-Cu deposits, Chingola (Zambia) Konkola North stratiform Cu-Co deposit and slags of Nkana, Nchanga und Chambishi. AVMIN head office target generation in 1998.
• 1999-2005: Assistant Professor of the Petrology & Economic Geology Research Group at the Institute for Geological Sciences of Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany: ore upgrading and enrichment in precious metals in SHMS deposits by tektono-metamorphic processes, Mn-contamination, dump ores.
• 2005 ongoing: Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor (2008) for Economic Geology at the Dept. of Geol., Univ. of the Free State, Bloemfontein.
• Consulting activities in questions of applied mineralogy for various companies & institutions: Etruscan Resources, Xstrata Alloys, Deutsche Rohstoff AG, KumbaResources, Ambase Namibia, Placer Dome Eurasia, Anglo American Corp. Ltd. ED, RW Industrial Minerals and GFZ Potsdam.
• 2016 ongoing: Departmental Head Applied Geology / Georisks Unit of Geological Survey of Saxony-Anhalt, Halle/Saale, Germany. Main focus: Concept and coordination of applied-geoscience surveying; Coordination of drafting of an expert`s report on mining procedures. Concept of form and content of fostering of factual information systems (inter alia implementation of INSPIRE-requirements, EU-Water framework guidelines); development, realization and management of raw material provision, hydrogeology, and engineering geology. Participation in further development of nationally coordinated applied-geological rules and standards by assisting professional bodies;   Consultation of public authorities and companies regarding applied – geoscientific questions.
• 2016 ongoing: Federal-State Committee Geological surveys of Germany: Member of national work group on raw materials, semi-annual meetings and advisory report.
• 2019 ongoing: Chairman of the Deposits and Raw Materials Management Technical Committee of the Society of Metallurgists and Miners reg. assoc. (GDMB), annual conferences and technical articles in “World of Mining”
• 2021 ongoing: Member of Stakeholder Council in the GeoERA programme (GeoERA | Establishing the European Geological Surveys Research Area to deliver a Geological Service for Europe ) and its 15 sub-projects, evaluating projects at level 4.

Peer-reviewed articles:

Beukes J.J., Roelofse F., Gauert C.D.K., Iaccheri L. and Grobler D.F. (under review). Neodymium isotope variations in the Flatreef on Macalacaskop, northern limb, Bushveld Complex. Submitted to ~8p.

Gauert, C., & Zeh, A. (2022). Downdip Development of the Ni-Cu-PGE-Bearing Mafic to Ultramafic Uitkomst Complex, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Minerals, 12(1), 22.

Keet, J. J., Roelofse, F., Gauert, C. D., Grobler, D., & Butler, M. (2021). A Comparative Study of Sulfur Isotope Variations within the Flatreef and Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. The Canadian Mineralogist, 59(6), 1363-1380.

Ungewitter, C. and Gauert, C. (under revision, 2021). Talc-carbonate-alteration of the Chromitiferous Harzburgite unit of the Nkomati Nickel Mine in the Uitkomst Complex, South Africa. S.Afr. Jl Geol.

Kotzé, E., Gauert, C. (2020). PGE distribution in the chromitite layers at Eastern Chrome Mine, Eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa: A descriptive study with comparison of EPMA and LA-ICP-MS methods for detection of trace PGE in base metal sulphides. South African Journal of Geology, 123 (4), p.22. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.123.0033, 22p.

Beukes, J.J., Roelofse, F., Gauert, C., Grobler D.F., and Ueckermann H. (2020). Strontium isotope variations in the Flatreef on Macalacaskop, northern limb, Bushveld Complex: Implications for the source of PGEs in the Merensky Reef. Mineralium Deposita, ~20p.

Mateos, R. M., López-Vinielles, J., Poyiadji, E., Tsagkas, D., Sheehy, M., Hadjicharalambous, K., ... Gauert, C. & Herrera, G. (2020). Integration of landslide hazard into urban planning across Europe. Landscape and urban planning, 196, 103740.

Giebel, R.J., Marks, M.A.W., Gauert, C.D.K., and Markl, G. (2019). Phlogopites and tetraferriphlogopite (and apatite) from the Palabora Carbonatite Complex, South Africa: Insights into the petrogenetic evolution of carbonatite-phoscorite assemblages related to a model specified for Palabora type carbonatites, Lithos 324–325, 89–104.

Mennicke, J., Vines, M., Hofmann, A. and Gauert, C. (2019) Carbonatization of the Antimony Line in the Murchison Greenstone Belt (South Africa): geochemical investigations along two drill cores. Proceedings of the 15th SGA Biennial Meeting, 27-30 August 2019, Glasgow, Scotland. Proceedings, pages 275-278.

Trubac, J, Ackerman,L, Gauert C.,  Durišová,J, and Hrstka, T (2018). Platinum-Group Elements and Gold in Base Metal Sulfides, Platinum-Group Minerals, and Re-Os Isotope Compositions of the Uitkomst Complex, South Africa, Economic Geology 113, pp. 439–461.

Burron, I., da Costa, G., Sharpe, R., Fayek, M., Gauert, C., and Hofmann, A. (2018) 3.2 Ga detrital uraninite in the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa: Evidence of a reducing Archean atmosphere. Geology, 4p.

Giebel, R.J., Gauert, C.D.K., Marks, M.A.W., Costin, G., and Markl, G. (2017). Multi-stage formation of REE minerals in the Palabora Carbonatite Complex, South Africa. American Mineralogist 102, 1218–1233.

Gauert, C., Schannor M, Hecht L, Reinholz U, Radke M (2015). A comparison of trace element analytical methods measuring in-situ gold samples from various South African gold deposits; Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research; 23 pages. Online: Volume doi: 10.1111/j.1751-908X.2015.00362.x

Beukes J.J., Gauert C.D.K., and Giebel R.J. (2016). Cryptic mineral variation and PGE distribution in the Merensky Reef and its discontinuous mela-gabbronoritic hanging wall (“Brown Sugar Norite” - BSN) at Two Rivers Platinum Mine, Eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa, S. Afr. Jl. Geol., 119(1) doi:10.2113/gssajg.119.1.0, 30p.

Mielke, C., Muedi, T., Papenfuß, A., Boesche, N. K., Rogass, C., Gauert, C. D. K., de Wit, M. J. (2016). Multi-and hyperspectral spaceborne remote sensing of the Aggeneys base metal sulphide mineral deposit sites in the Lower Orange River region, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, 119(1), 63-76.

Gauert C. (Ed., 2018). Raw materials report 2018 - Stone and earth, deep-seated and energy raw materials in Saxony-Anhalt - new state of affairs. Communications on Geology and Mining of Saxony-Anhalt, Vol. 19, Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Geology and Mining, Halle (Saale), 96p., ISSN 1861-8723.

Borg, G. and Gauert, C.D.K. (2018). The African Metallotects of SW Gondwana, chapter 23, p. 615-676. In: Siegesmund,S., Basei, M., Oyhantçabal, P. and Oriolo, S. (Eds.) Geology of Southwest Gondwana. Regional Geology Reviews Series. Springer Editors, 1156p.

Gauert C. (Ed., 2022). Raw Materials Report 2022, Anniversary edition 20 years LAGB Saxony-Anhalt, Vol. 21, Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Geology and Mining, Halle (Saale), ~120p.

Robert Netshitungulwana, Bisrat Yibas, Christoph Gauert, Danie Vermeulen, Obed Novhe and Tshepa Motlakeng (2015). Investigation of the Metal Contamination in the Upper Olifants Primary Catchment by Using Stream Sediment Geochemistry, Witbank Coalfield, South Africa, p. 169-186, In: Heininger, Peter, Cullmann, Johannes (Eds.) Sediment Matters, Springer Verlag,  ISBN 978-3-319-14695-9, 247 pages.

Gauert, C.D.K., 2005. Geochemistry and provenance of clastic meta-sedimentary host rocks of the Rosh Pinah Zn-Pb-Ag(-Cu-Au) deposit, Southern Namibia: 8th Biennial SGA meeting, 18-21.8.05, Beijing, thematic session: Basin evolution: base and precious metal mineralization in sediments, chapter 2-12, p. 123-126.

My current research is aimed to improve the understanding of metallogenetic enrichment and chemical dispersion processes active in ore-forming systems both of magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal nature, among which are:
- Crystallization history / textures of igneous cumulate rocks, mineralogy and (PGE-)geochemistry of the chromitite layers, Bushveld Complex.
- Rb-Sr isotopy of plagioclases and Sm/Nd of clinopyroxenes of the Critical / Main Zone transition, eastern Bushveld Complex.
- Geochemical and mineralogical vectors to ore of Ni-Cu-PGE deposits in dynamic magmatic settings, and of SHMS and VMS deposits
- Geochemical fingerprinting of gold and pyrite as well as other heavy minerals in conglomerate-hosted reefs of the Dominion, Witwatersrand and Black Reef.
- Petrogenesis of the Uitkomst Complex, magma country rock interaction, mapping and geotechnical aspects of open-pit operations of the Nkomati Ni Mine, Mpumalanga Province.

I am collaborating with various national and international organizations, including the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (Dr. Bob Trumbull, Ilya Veksler, Prof. Hermann Kaufmann) and the Department of Research, Natural History Museum Berlin (PD Dr L Hecht, Prof. Dr. U Reimold), where I am a visiting investigator (sabbatical 2014); with Eckard-Karls-University Tuebingen (PD M Marks and Prof G Markl), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Prof. G Borg), Germany, Univ. of Lorraine, France (Prof. M. Cuney), the Natural-History Museum Berlin, Germany, and the Karl-Franzens-University of Graz, Austria (Profs. C Hauzenberger and A Mogessi). I am visiting professor of the Panzihua University in Yunnan, SW China.

Post-graduate students with excellent academic records are encouraged to contact me should they want to become involved in my research endeavors.

- Mineralogical, geochemical and stable isotope investigation (EMPA, XRF, XRD, MS) of vertical and lateral compositional variations of the ultramafic to mafic layered Uitkomst Complex, Mpumalanga Province, Republic of South Africa. Field mapping of intrusive contacts and chilled margin facies, logging sampling and correlation of extensive drillcore material. In order to identify cryptic variation of mineral chemistry, a large number of EMPA analyses on the cumulate and interstitial as well as alteration minerals of igneous rocks have been carried out. Subsequently, I have continued to investigate the mechanisms leading to the accumulation of an immiscible sulphide melt using the distribution of noble and rare elements (PGE’s and REE) in mafic to ultramafic intrusions. Discussion of initial magma composition and a possible Bushveld connection / B1-B3 magma affinity. Evaluation of open/closed system conditions in a magma conduit using trace element modelling;

Investigation of the robustness of proximity indicators to hydrothermal mineralisation in deformed metamorphic terrains: objects of research were sediment-hosted massive sulphide deposits/prospects in Namibia, South Africa and Kazakhstan. Mineralogical and geochemical parameters have turned out to be the most effective vectors, indicating proximity or distance to fluid–discharge areas or mineralized sections. Prime goal of this investigation is to identify such proxis (vectors to ore) to mineralized hydrothermal deposits, which have proven to be least vulnerable by a tectono-metamorphic overprint. Geochemistry and provenance of metasediments, e.g. argillites and arenites, has been determined with the help of REE contents and ratios. The proximity concept has been validated for the Zn-Pb-Ag(-Cu-Au) hydrothermal systems Rosh Pinah, Gariep Belt as well as Tsongoari and Rendezvous in the Kaoko Belt of Namibia, the Zhayrem deposits, Kazakhstan and Aggeneys/Black Mountain/Gamsberg, South Africa. Scientific aims and methods used:

• REE pattern (INAA, ICP-MS) of exhalite horizons of metasediments and meta-exhalites with distance to fluid discharge sites,
• Mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermally altered and unaltered metasediments (SEM-EDX, EMPA, XRF, ICP-MS, cathodoluminescence), lateral geochemical halos (Mn, Fe, V),
• Microthermometrie of hydrothermal phases (Fluid stage, IR-microscope),
• Trace elements in secondary/metamorphic phases: i.e. Ba in K-feldspar and muscovite; Zn and Cu in biotite, muscovite, amphibole (winchite); Fe-rich chlorite,
• Isotope signatures of to characterise metal sources, transport processes and temperatures of formation (C,O isotope ratios of calcite, S isotope ratios of sulfides and sulfates, Rb/Sr initial ratios of barite).

For more information, please see my Google Scholar and ResearchGate profiles:

 Google scholar citations

Research Gate

• Teaching and research of economic geology, metal exploration, industrial minerals, raw material markets and economy of natural resources
• Experience in research projects on metallogenesis with regard to improved mineral supply
• Knowledge of the evaluation of proximity indicators to various metal deposits, in order to successfully revise exploration strategies
• Experience in the enhancement of ore deposit models with exploration technical and economic aspects
• Ore reserve and mineral resource estimation of mineral deposits; appraisal of ore deposit potential as a function of time against the background of increased company experience
• Active cooperation with mineral industry and consultants as well as active networking with industry and research centres
• Interest in state-of-the-art micro-analytical instrumentation
• Concept and coordination of applied-geoscience surveying; Coordination of drafting of an expert`s report on mining procedures.
• Concept of form and content of fostering of factual information systems (inter alia implementation of INSPIRE-requirements,EU-Water framework guidelines); development, realization and management of raw material provision, hydrogeology, and engineering geology.
• Participation in further development of nationally coordinated applied-geological rules and standards by assisting professional bodies;   Consultation of public authorities and companies regarding applied – geoscientific questions.

Undergraduate
GLGY 3724 Economic and Exploration Geology
GLGY 3764 Exploration Geochemistry
u/g Gold Mine one-day trip Harmony Welkom (3rd year)
Openpit mapping course at

Postgraduate
GLGY 6826 Economic Geology including Field and Mine trip (12 days)

GLGY 6863 Mineral Exploration

GLGY 6893 Honours research projects

Research based
GLGY 4792 Research Master projects in metallogeny (currently 3)

GLGY 4710 Research Ph.D. projects in metallogeny and environmental impact assessment (currently 3)

Exogenic and endogenic dynamic Earth processes, economic geology, volcanoes, industrial minerals, exploration, oil and gas formation.