Otto Wilhelm Hermann von Abich

Otto Wilhelm Hermann von Abich (1806-1886), German mineralogist and geologist, was born at Berlin on December 11 1806, and educated at the local university. His earliest scientific work is related to spinels and other minerals. Later he made special studies of fumaroles, of the mineral deposits around volcanic vents, and of the structure of volcanoes. In 1842 he was appointed professor of mineralogy in the university of Dorpat, and henceforth gave attention to the geology and mineralogy of Russia. Residing for some time at Tiflis, he investigated the geology of the Caucasus. Ultimately he retired to Vienna, where he died on July 1 1886. The mineral Abichite was named after him.

Publications.--- Vues illustratives de quelques phenomenes geologiques, prises sur le Vesuve et l'Etna, pendant les annees 1833 et 1834 (Berlin, 1836); Ueber die Natur und den Zusammenhang der vulcanischen Bildungen (Brunswick, 1841); Geologische Forschungen in den Kaukasischen Ländern (3 vols., Vienna, 1878, 1882, and 1887).