Abraham Gottlob Werner

Abraham Gottlob Werner , 1750-1817, German geologist. In 1775 he became inspector and teacher in the mining academy at Freiberg, which through his efforts became one of the leading schools in Germany. In the last part of the 18th cent. he was the most notable figure in the investigation of rocks and minerals; he called the new science geognosy and defined it as the study of the layers of mineral matter. He was the first to classify minerals systematically. According to his theory of neptunism, the earth was originally an ocean of water from which were precipitated the solid rocks now forming most of the dry land. Although much of his theory has been rejected, geology is indebted to him for the application of chronology to rock formations as well as for his precise definitions.

Werner, Abraham Gottlob (1750–1817) Professor of mineral science at the Mining Academy, Freiberg, who developed a system of mineral classification which he called ‘oryctognosy’, based on the external characteristics of minerals. He used the term ‘geognosy’ in preference to geology. The theory of the Earth which he taught became known as neptunism. He published little but inspired mining students from all over Europe and much of his terminology was adopted even by those who rejected his theory.