Marie-Therese Mackowsky

Marie-Therese Mackowsky (1913-1986) was a German mineralogist.

Early life

Marie-Therese Mackowsky was born on December 7, 1913, in Koblenz, Germany. After earning her doctorate in 1938 with a dissertation on the relationship between the optical and chemical properties of garnet, she would begin working at the Syndicate for Mining Interests (Verein für die bergbaulichen Interessen) on January 1, 1940.

She completed her inaugural dissertation in 1944 at the then Clausthal School of Mining (Bergakademie Clausthal). In 1951, she received the venia legendi from the University of Münster, and became Visiting Professor in 1957. She lectured in technical mineralogy and coal petrology up until her last days.

Career Mackowsky was fluent in both English and French. She also spoke and translated to Russian and German. Marie gave assistance in the care and instruction of many foreign visitors to Essen. She also became a founding member of the ICCP. She was not able to pursue her professional preference, the mineralogy of precious stones but took up work at the test laboratory for coal properties with Verein fir die Bergaulichen. During her employment, Mackowsky would have a profound influence on the Research Department for Raw Materials, helping it develop into the world renowned Coal Petrology Laboratory of the Bergbau-Forschung GmbH. Her work would be officially recognized on January 1, 1965, when she was promoted to the Director of the Section for Mineralogy and Petrology in the Bergbau-Forschung GmbH.

Marie-Therese Mackowsky’s made her scientific work on the investigations on mineralogy and petrography accessible to colleagues and scientists. Because of her initiative, the Essen laboratories, which later became the Department of Mineralogy and Petrography in Bergbau-Forschung, became a training center for scientists in coal petrography globally. She studied the development of preventative methods to combat coke oven damage. Through her research, she was able to explain the changes in coke quality which resulted from these pyrolytic deposits. Marie’s phenomenal efforts are the reason why any coals used for chemical examinations are completely characterized from the petrographic and the mineralogic aspect. In 1979, the Chemistry and Mineralogy/Petrology sections unified to make research more effective and efficient. Marie began in Garnets but moved to the more applied research of coal mineralogy. Furthermore, Mackowsky (alongside Echteroff) analyzed the transition of coal to coke (under specific experimental circumstances) in 1960, which was the first completed investigation conducted of its kind.

Publications The topics of Mackowsky's publications evolved as her areas of interest and research fluctuated. In 1942 her publications generally revolved around the topic of mineralogy, and in 1943 coals and cokes where the topics which she mainly focused on. Furthermore, in 1952 she published a vital article alongside peer Ambramski regarding coke microscopy. Her vast publications contributed to the improvement of coal measurement techniques and as well as the characterization and classification of coal. In 1983 she released her final publication, "The Application of Coal Petrography".

Retirement In 1978 she would retire, having spent her entire career at the Syndicate. Despite her retirement on December 31, 1978, she chose to remain active in her profession as a volunteer in Essen. Furthermore, she helped PhD students with their research and theses, who benefited from her years of experience in the field.

Death After being diagnosed with a short severe illness, Mackowsky moved to Bad Mergentheim, Germany in hopes of overcoming her illness. She died on August 4, 1986, at the age of 73

Honours and awards Chair of Commission III, International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP), (1971-1975) President, International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP), (1976-1979) President, German Union of Soroptimist International Fellow, Institute of Fuel Reinhardt-Theissen Medal, International Committee for Coal Petrology, (1971) Carl-Engler Medal, German Society for Mineral Oil Science, (1978) Georg Agricola Medal, German Mineralogical Society, (1979)