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]

Selected works

  • Mineralogische Reisen durch das Herzogthum Weimar und Eisenach und einige angränzende Gegenden, 1785 – Mineralogical trips through the duchy of Weimar and Eisenach and some neighboring areas.
  • Mineralogische Reise von Weimar über den Thüringer Wald, Meiningen, die Rhönberge, bis Bieber und Hanau, 1786 – Mineralogical trip from Weimar of the Thuringian Forest, Meiningen, the Rhön Mountains, up until Bieber and Hanau.
  • Mineralogische beschreibung des hochstifts Fuld und einiger merkwürdigen gegenden am Rhein und Mayn, 1794 – Mineralogical description of Hochstift Fulda and some unique locations on the Rhine and Mayn.
  • Practische gebirgskunde, 1797 – Practical mountain studies.
  • Kleine mineralogische schriften (2 volumes, 1799–1800) – Smaller mineralogical writings.
  • Versuch einer Geschichte der Steinkohlen, der Braunkohlen und des Torfes, etc. (2 volumes, 1802–05) – Essay on the history of coal, lignite and peat.
  • Geschichte des Ilmenauischen Bergbaues nebst einer geognostischen Darstellung der dasigen Gegend, 1821 – History of mining at Ilmenau together with a representation of the geognostic area.[6]

References

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