Department of Physical Geology

The Department of Physical Geology was established in 1961. Its first head was Prof. Dr. Józef Oberc. Subsequently, from 1990 to 2011, the head of the Department was Prof. Dr. Teresa Oberc-Dziedzic, and since 2011 the position has been held by Dr. hab. Jacek Szczepański.

Home page of the Department

Team composition

Dr. hab. Jacek Szczepański, Prof. UWr – head of the department
Prof. Dr. hab. Teresa Oberc-Dziedzic (professor emeritus)
Dr. Elżbieta Słodczyk (assistant professor)
Dr. Dawid Białek (assistant professor)
Dr. Stanislaw Madej (assistant professor)
Dr. Grzegorz Ziemniak (assistant professor)
Dr. Waldemar Sroka (senior lecturer)
Małgorzata Nowak, MA (PhD student)
Kamil Bulcewicz, MA (PhD student)

The scientific projects carried out by the Department of Physical Geology cover a wide range of topics such as:

tectonometamorphic evolution of orogens, which includes the reconstruction of PT paths of rock complexes based on thermodynamic modeling of the stability of mineral parageneses (mainly mica schists and metabasites), research on high-temperature and high-pressure metamorphism, studies on the rate of orogenic processes based on dating minerals formed during metamorphism and dating of syn-deformation magmatic intrusions, classical structural analysis, and microstructural analysis,
analysis of paleotectonic environments based on the geochemistry of magmatic and sedimentary rocks,
provenance analysis of detrital material based on the chemical composition of entire rocks and heavy minerals, especially the dating of detrital zircons,
studies on the evolution of the continental crust: links between acidic plutonism and volcanic rocks,
examination of the impact of magmatic intrusions on surrounding rocks,
analysis of thermal conditions of acidic magmatic systems based on trace element composition in quartz,
studies on the mechanisms of layering in granitoid intrusions based on combined microstructural and geochemical analyses,
reconstructing paths of origin (identifying the magma source) and development (identifying processes) of acidic volcanic systems based on combined isotopic analyses and trace elements in accessory minerals.

In recent years, the Department’s staff have carried out the following research projects:

NCN OPUS No. 2015/17/B/ST10/02212	Recycling of a pre-Variscan continental crust during Variscan orogeny in the Kamieniec Metamorphic Complex and the Doboszowice Metamorphic Complex (Central Sudetes, Bohemian Massif).	Head: Dr. hab. Jacek Szczepański
NCBR (project implemented under Polish-Norwegian funds) No. PL12-0109	Physicochemical effects of CO₂sequestration in the Pomeranian gas bearing shales (SHALESEQ). We carried out a research package entitled: Microstructural and mineralogical studies of shales.	Head of the research project Dr. hab. Jacek Szczepański
NCN PRELUDIUM (UMO-2013/09/N/ST10/00655)	Reconstruction of magmatic processes and evolution of continental crust in the western part of the Polish Lowland.	Head: Elżbieta Słodczyk

We teach classes in dynamic geology, microtectonics, microstructural analysis methods, among others.