Research

Freiberg is a centre of excellence in geo-science, geo-engineering and mining in Germany. Since Saxony is still suffering from uranium and lignite mining some of the research at the chair for Hydrogeology is focused on mining related questions e.g. pyrite oxidation, reduction and migration of uranium and daughter elements as well as flooding of open pit and underground mines. Passive treatment systems both reactive walls and constructed wetlands are subjects of research. However, we have as well expertise in determining organic contaminants (DNAPL, BTEX, PAH) and e.g. chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT, HCH, Lindane etc.) in water. Groundwater flow and transport modeling including reactive transport is one main emphasis. Other important fields are the investigations of deep groundwater, hydrothermal systems and hot dry rock research. Since there is a couple of foreign PhD students we do as well research according to the local problems of their home countries. The following list gives an overview of our research activities:

Methods	Main emphasis	Regional problems
Sampling and field screening techniques	Deep groundwater	Mining area of Freiberg
Laboratory analysis	Karst ground water
GIS and remote sense based hydrogeological applications	Mining Problems Uranium mining and Hydrogeology Uranium in drinking water / uranium removal
Remote sensing form low flying platforms	Hydrothermal systems	Ragged-Hills, Yellowstone National Park (svg-atlas 10 MB)
	Geothermal energy Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) by supercritical Carbon Dioxide ( scCO2 )	Aral See
	CO2 sequestration Carbon Dioxide Elemination by means of Acid Lakes ( CDEAL )	Fluoride in groundwater
	Deep groundwater	Arsenic in groundwater

technical equipment