Flügel Course

Flügel Course

Flügel Courses: 6 – 10th March and 13 – 17th March 2023

The Flügel Course is an internationally renowned course in carbonate microfacies which has been running in Erlangen since 1974. Demand has increased through time, and since 2015 the course has been running twice a year. It is organised by the Palaeontology department of the GeoZentrum Nordbayern (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) and has been attended by over 1500 colleagues from both academia and industry. It covers a wide range of topics, and is in the form of short presentations and accompanying microscope exercises. Skills will be developed on both thin sections and loose sediments. Great emphasis is placed on recent research developments in carbonate systems (e.g., cold water carbonates, deepwater reefs, bioerosion, cold seep carbonates). The GeoZentrum Erlangen has a unique collection of carbonate samples from around the world. It is also possible to bring your own samples to discuss with specialists.

This year, the courses will take place from March 6th to 10th and from March 13th to 17th, in Erlangen. Anyone who did not get a place on this year’s course will automatically remain on the waiting list for 2024. Since a total of three courses had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the list is unfortunately very long, so we thank you in advance for your patience. For more information, please contact Prof. Axel Munnecke.

The course will include:

  • Fundamentals of carbonate sedimentology
  • Carbonate classification
  • Facies models (hot, cold and deep water)
  • Microfacies analysis of thin sections
  • Point counting
  • Diagenesis
  • Dolomite / Dolostones
  • Thin section dyeing methods
  • Different case studies from geological history
  • Seep carbonates
  • Evaporates
  • Bioerosion

The course is held in English.
The course fills up quickly. If you are on the waiting list please send a short message to axel.munnecke@fau.de.

Flügel Courses 2017: 6 – 10th March and 13 – 17th March

Two courses were held in 2017. Participants came from 18 countries: Algeria, Australia, Brazil, China, Chile, Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Czech Republic, USA. The location was provided courtesy of the University Library. Courses started daily at 8:30 am, with brief presentations on various topics, and practical training in the world’s largest thin-section teaching collection was provided. Courses were held by the following teachers: Richard Höfling, Emilia Jarochowska, Wolfgang Kiessling, Roman Koch, Birgit Leipner-Mata, Matthias López Correa, Axel Munnecke, Thomas Hammerich, Marcello Natalicchio, Katrin Heindel and Sebastian Teichert. Many participants brought their own samples and discussed late into the night with colleagues from Erlangen and other institutes. Like every year, it was a stimulating time to meet new colleagues and to exchange experiences and ideas on the topic of carbonate rocks.

Flügel Courses 2016: 29th February – 4th March and 7 – 11th March

Two courses were held in 2016. The participants came from Egypt, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Canada, Great Britain, Austria, Oman, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey and the USA.