Dr. Dominik Sorger
Position: Research Associate in Metamorphic Petrology
Area of expertise: high-T metamorphism, thermodynamic modelling, garnet and monazite growth systematics, Variscan Orogeny
Research Interests
Metamorphic Petrology, Geochronology, Petrochronology.
I use several several state-of-the-art analytical and petrological techniques to create a comprehensive picture of the P–T–X–t history of metamorphic rocks. This includes various kinds of geothermobarometric calculations, thermodynamic modelling combined with geochronology of various minerals such as monazite ((Th–)U–Pb), zircon, rutile, titanite (U–Pb) or garnet (Sm–Nd). A particular focus lies on the chemical zoning and mineral/melt inclusions of garnet porphyroblasts as well as on the formation of mineral reaction textures. Both can indicate a change in the metamorphic conditions and possibly also a (local) change in the chemical system of the rock. I also use various types of phase diagrams (e.g. P–T, T–X, P–X) to model the effects of melt loss and element fractionation during the prograde and retrograde metamorphic evolution. These data then can give explicit implications for the tectonic evolution during orogenies and the processes of mineral growth and crustal melting during high-grade metamorphism. Another part of my research deals with the growth systematics of Th-U accessory phases (e.g. monazite, xenotime, uraninite ...) in metamorphic and magmatic systems. Such accessory phases provide a big potential to investigate the trace element fractionation during crustal melting and melt crystallization, or the systematics of mineral formation in melt bearing systems, including thermodynamic and kinetic aspects.
Profile
since 10/2020: Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter (Research Associate) at the Department of Mineralogy, University of Göttingen
07/2020 – 09/2020: Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter (Research Associate) at the Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials, University of Salzburg, AT
01/2020 – 06/2020: Microprobe Technician at the NAWI Graz Geocenter, University of Graz, AT
10/2016 – 06/2020: PhD studies in Geosciences at the NAWI Graz Geocenter, University of Graz, AT
PhD thesis: Metamorphic and tectonic evolution of the Drosendorf and Gföhl units – Lower Austria, Bohemian Massif
01/2013 – 10/2015: MSc studies in Earth Sciences at the University of Graz, AT
Master thesis: Petrology of low-pressure granulites and migmatites from the Bavarian Unit, Upper Austria
10/2009 – 01/2013: BSc studies in Earth Sciences at the University of Graz, AT
Bachelor thesis: Petrography and petrology of granulites from the Bohemian Massif, Upper Austria
Student education
My teaching at the Georg-August-University includes:
B.Geo.106, TM 2: Übung Polarisationsmikroskopie
B.Geo.207, LV 4: Quantitative Bildanalyse
M.Geo.104, Submodule 2: Regional geology excursion (Field Course)
M.Geo.121, Polarization microscope petrography of metamorphic rocks
Publications