Geochemist Klaus Peter Jochum passed away

The Max Planck Institute for Chemistry mourns the loss of its former group leader

Dr. Klaus Peter Jochum was known for his scientific curiosity and open-mindedness throughout his extensive career as a researcher. These traits have significantly influenced his work, since he began working at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in 1972. Now, at the age of 80, the physicist has passed away after a prolonged illness. The institute grieves the loss of not only an exceptional analytical geochemist but also a highly respected and beloved colleague.

Klaus Peter Jochum's scientific career began over 50 years ago with the study of meteorites and lunar samples. His research has evolved from geochemistry of the Earth's mantle and biogeochemistry to paleoclimate studies. Recently, he has concentrated on regional and global climate challenges. He has examined samples from climate archives like stalagmites, corals, deep-sea glass sponges, foraminifera, and tiny ostracods from lake sediments, analyzing trace elements and isotopes to uncover past environmental conditions, including climate, vegetation, landscape, and human impact.
Klaus Peter Jochum was particularly dedicated to developing and advancing analytical techniques for the characterization of sample materials. In recognition of his exceptional contributions to geoanalytical science, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the International Association of Geoanalysts (IAG) in September 2021.

Inventor of new geoanalytical methods

He led the Paleoclimate Research Group within the Climate Geochemistry Department at the MPI for Chemistry. During this time, he and his team developed several geoanalytical techniques, including multi-element isotope dilution analysis using spark source mass spectrometry (SSMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). He also introduced the single-shot method with femtosecond laser ablation mass spectrometry (fs-LA-ICPMS) in the department.

Furthermore, the MPI-DING reference glasses, internationally recognized and certified since 2000, were developed under the leadership of Klaus Peter Jochum to enhance the precision of analytical results. Upon establishing micro- and nanotrace element analysis of solids, Jochum identified that the existing reference materials were inadequate for geological and environmental research due to the scarcity of ISO-certified homogeneous samples. His MPI DING reference glasses addressed this gap and remain unique and publicly accessible today.

Geochemical rock database GeoReM developed

Klaus Peter Jochum is the founder of a unique database for geochemical reference samples known as GeoReM (Geological and Environmental Reference Materials). This database is freely accessible online and includes published data on nearly all reference materials of various types and properties, crucial for accurate analysis in geological and environmental research.

Throughout his extensive career at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Klaus Peter Jochum was dedicated to mentoring young scientists. He welcomed numerous doctoral students, postdocs, diploma and master's students, as well as interns, and "Jugend forscht" prizewinners into his laboratory and team, providing them with training. His colleagues will greatly miss his enthusiasm for life.

“Klaus Peter will remain in our memories for a long time and will be missed. His friendly and fatherly nature and his analytical and scientific brilliance made him an outstanding colleague at our institute – and a dear friend,” says Gerald Haug, Director of the Climate Geochemistry Department and President of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.