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Rocks and soils; carrying out laboratory tests

The State Office for the Environment carries out chemical and physical laboratory tests on rocks and soils. At the Raw Materials Analysis Center, solid and loose rocks are examined with regard to their suitability as raw materials.

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Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt

Street address

Bürgermeister-Ulrich-Str. 160
86179 Augsburg

Postal address

86177 Augsburg

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Procedure details

The investigations include the determination of major, minor and trace elements in rocks and soils. Physical and chemical properties of soils such as water permeability, buffering and filtering capacity are also determined. All essential soil protection-related analytical methods, e.g. for ammonium nitrate and water-extractable heavy metals, are also carried out.

Mineralogical analysis uses light microscopy and spectrometric methods to describe the qualitative and quantitative mineral composition of soils and rocks. The results are incorporated into the Bavarian Soil Information System (BIS-BY).

With the Raw Material Analysis Center in Hof (Saale), the Geological Service fulfills its tasks in the context of securing raw materials. The center primarily carries out quality and material property tests on solid and loose rocks with regard to their suitability and usability in industry and construction. Another important task is the testing of refractory quartz raw materials, acid-resistant clays and bentonites as part of mining law proceedings (statutory duty as an official expert).

Furthermore, rock-physical parameters are determined for the evaluation of the geothermal use of the subsurface, including the thermal conductivity of rocks and soils, the thermal diffusivity of rocks and the heat capacity. The parameters form the basis for maps of geothermal potential in the Environmental Atlas of Bavaria.

Depending on the scope of the service used (according to the environmental fee schedule).

  • Geological information and data; retrieval

    The State Office for the Environment carries out the state geological survey by means of its own geological investigations and on the basis of geological investigations by third parties and ensures that the data is made available to the public.

  • Geological survey; display
    Before starting a geological survey in Bavaria, the State Office for the Environment must be notified and the data obtained must be submitted after completion of the work.
  • Geotope register; geotope research
    The Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) records important geotopes throughout Bavaria, assesses their worthiness of protection and, if necessary, initiates suitable protection, conservation and maintenance measures.
  • Rock and soil samples; setting up and managing collections
    The Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) is building up working and voucher collections as a central collection point for rock and soil samples from Bavaria and will continue to do so on an ongoing basis.
Status: 23.05.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz
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