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
My research investigates the processes that govern metamorphism, crustal melting, and chemical differentiation in the continental crust. I am particularly interested in how these processes affect the growth, transformation, and chemical behaviour of accessory minerals that host rare earth elements (REE) and actinides (e.g. monazite, allanite or zircon), and how these minerals record the timing and conditions of crustal evolution.
A central focus of my work is understanding early Earth processes, including Archean metamorphism and crustal evolution. To address these questions, I study rocks from the Isua Supracrustal Belt in southern West Greenland, one of the oldest preserved sections of continental crust. By integrating petrochronology, trace element geochemistry, and microstructural analysis, I aim to reconstruct the pressure, temperature, and time (P–T–t) histories of early metamorphic events.
I also investigate crustal melting and high-grade metamorphism in younger geological settings, such as the Variscan orogen in Central Europe. Field samples from these regions allow me to examine the evolution of partial melting, melt segregation, and trace element redistribution under varying metamorphic conditions.
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.EES.307.3 Petrochronology of accessory phases
M.EES.307.2 Phase equilibria
2022 – 2023 M.Geo.104, Submodule 2: Regional geology excursion (Field Course)
2021 – 2024 M.Geo.121, Polarization microscope petrography of metamorphic rocks
Publications