Gustav Bischof

[2]: 202  The University of Bonn was a leading center for geologists including Ferdinand von Roemer, Georg August Goldfuss, and Gerhard vom Rath as well as Bischof.

His Lehrbuch der chemischen und physikalischen Geologie (Bonn: Marcus, 1847−1866) was the standard text of geochemistry and a classic reference work.

The first volume (in two parts) considers the actions of water both on the earth and internal to it, including the temperature, chemical composition and effects of springs on rocks around them.

[2]: 347  He suggested that the both asphalt and petroleum were likely derived from decaying plant matter,[2]: 254  and predicted that the effects of air, heat and pressure might explain the formation of different types of coal.

[5] The society's highest award, it is given for "significant influence by means of a substantial body of excellent research in either or both pure and applied aspects of the science" of geology.