Johann_Karl_Wilhelm_Voigt
Johann Karl Wilhelm Voigt
German geologist
Johann Karl Wilhelm Voigt (20 February 1752 in Allstedt – 2 January 1821 in Ilmenau) was a German mineralogist and mining engineer.
He initially studied law at the University of Jena, then in 1776 enrolled at the Mining Academy in Freiberg as a pupil of Abraham Gottlob Werner.[1] He later relocated to Weimar, where in 1783 he was named secretary of the Bergwerkskommission (mining commission).[2] During his time spent in Weimar he developed a close friendship with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — through Voigt, Goethe received an education in mineralogy.[3] From 1789 to 1821, he served as Bergrath (councillor of mines) in Ilmenau.[1]
He is best remembered for his dispute with Werner in regards to latter's theory of Neptunism; with Voigt maintaining that basalt was of volcanic origin.[1] In 1800 he introduced the term "lettenkohle" to describe coal with a large content of letten (regional German word for clay and mud).[4]
The thoroughfare Bergrat-Voigt-Straße in Erfurt commemorates his name.[5]