Beginning in 1872 he served as an assistant to mineralogist Paul Heinrich von Groth at the University of Strasbourg.
In 1875, eye problems along with financial issues forced him to abandon his scientific activity at the university, and he subsequently found employment as a trader in the minerals business.
In 1892 he succeeded his former teacher, Ferdinand von Roemer, as professor and director of the mineralogical institute at the University of Breslau.
[1] He was the author of the acclaimed Handbuch der Mineralogie, a reference book that was considered to be indispensable to mineralogists.
Carl Hintze is the paternal great-grandfather of Brazilian politician Jair Messias Bolsonaro.