Lutz Nasdala

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lutz Nasdala is a Professor at the Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography within the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy at the University of Vienna. He serves as Deputy Head of the Institute and has been active in teaching courses such as 'System Erde', 'Mineralogy', and 'Crystal Optics' since 2025. His research focuses on spectroscopic techniques in mineralogy, particularly Raman spectroscopy, luminescence, and radiation damage in minerals.

Professor Nasdala has organized and led numerous international workshops and training courses on gemstone analysis, including programs in Italy, Thailand, and Russia. He has been an invited speaker at conferences like the GeoRAMAN Conference and International Gemmological Conference, emphasizing applications of spectroscopy to earth sciences.

• Research Highlights
  • Specialized in zircon and monazite radiation damage
  • Innovations in luminescence for gemstone heat treatment detection
  • Expertise in microspectroscopy and electron microprobe analysis
  • Contributions to historical gemology via studies on the Holy Roman Empire Crown
• Selected Publications
  • 2025: Luminescence and a new approach for detecting heat treatment of geuda sapphire
  • 2024: Evidence for oceans pre-4300 Ma in Hadean zircon
  • 2023: Photoluminescence of historical crown gemstones