Alfred Rittmann. Born 23 March 1893 in Basel, Switzerland. Died 19 September 1980 in Piazza Armerina, Sicily, at the ripe old age of 87. His academic journey took him to the University of Geneva, where he completed his studies in 1922. He is primarily known for his foundational works in volcanology: Die geologisch bedingte Evolution und Differentiation des Somma-Vesuvmagmas (1933), Orogénèse et volcanisme (1951), and the widely influential Volcanoes and their Activity (1962). His scientific career was marked by significant institutional affiliations, including the Volcanology Institute in Naples from 1926 to 1934, the University of Basel from 1934 to 1941, and various geological and research centers in Naples and Egypt before returning to Italy to lead the Volcanology Institute at the University of Catania from 1958 to 1963, and later the Istituto Internazionale di Vulcanologia from 1960 to 1968. His doctoral advisor was Louis Claude Duparc.
Alfred Rittmann (23 March 1893 – 19 September 1980) was, to put it mildly, a rather significant figure in the field of volcanology. So significant, in fact, that he was elected President of the International Association of Volcanology for an impressive three consecutive terms, spanning from 1954 to 1963. Apparently, people found his opinions… persistent.
Life
Rittmann’s origins trace back to Basel, Switzerland, the son of a dentist. His early intellectual leanings were diverse, splitting his studies between music and natural science at the University of Basel. It seems the allure of the earth’s fiery depths eventually won out, as he later transferred to the University of Geneva. It was there, in 1922, that he earned his PhD for a dissertation focused on the ultramafic rocks found in the Ural Mountains. One can only imagine the tectonic forces Rittmann was already contemplating back then.
After leaving Geneva, Rittmann sought out the tutelage of established giants in the geological world: Alfred Lacroix in Paris, Friedrich Johann Karl Becke in Vienna, and Ernst Anton Wülfing and Victor Mordechai Goldschmidt in Heidelberg. This was not mere academic tourism; it was a deliberate immersion in the cutting edge of geological thought. In 1926, a pivotal moment arrived when the wealthy banker Immanuel Friedländer established the Institute for Volcanology in Naples. Rittmann was appointed as the leading scientist, a role he embraced with characteristic rigor. His research during this period was intensely focused on the formidable Mount Vesuvius and the geologically active island of Ischia. This immersion culminated in his first major publication, "Evolution und Differentiation des Somma-Vesuvmagmas" (Rittmann, 1933), a work that cemented his reputation.
Rittmann possessed a keen ability to draw accurate conclusions from complex data. He correctly deduced that volcanism associated with orogenic uplift – specifically, the igneous rocks of the calc series – generally lacks alkaline basalts, which belong to the sodic series. His intellectual independence was also evident in his bold stance at the German Geological Society’s annual meeting in January 1939. He vocally opposed the prevailing view that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was a product of orogenic uplift caused by compression. Furthermore, his reluctance to dismiss the theory of Continental drift out of hand, while perhaps ahead of its time, raised eyebrows and perhaps some doubts among his more conservative colleagues.
His collaboration with W. Kuhn resulted in the paper "Über den Zustand des Erdinnern und seine Entstehung aus einem homogenen Urzustand" (1941), which argued against the existence of an iron-nickel Earth core. While this particular hypothesis might seem quaint by today’s standards, it reflected a willingness to question established paradigms. Later, his 1951 work, "Orogénèse et volcanisme," co-authored with W. Kuhn, proposed that the crystalline mantle is capable of creeping under immense pressure and temperature. His book, "Vulkane und ihre Tätigkeit," became a standard text on volcanism, translated into five languages and reaching its second edition. It's the kind of book that makes you feel smarter just by holding it.
Rittmann’s contributions were recognized with the prestigious Gustav-Steinmann-Medaille in 1965 and an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) from the University of Bern in 1959. Even the unforgiving landscape of Antarctica bears his name, with Mount Rittmann being named in his honor. The mineral rittmannite, identified in 1987, also carries his name, a testament to his lasting impact.
It's also worth noting that his daughter, Loredana Rittmann, followed in his footsteps, becoming a volcanologist herself. Clearly, the apple didn't fall far from the volcanic tree.
Quote
"Mainly for morphological reasons, the view was expressed that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was an embryonic folding of mountains. For similar reasons, it was suspected the existence of drowned mountains transverse to the Ridge that connect North Africa to Central America. These two assumptions seem to be contrary to all petrologists known fact (not theory!) that in the active orogenic uplift, magmas of the calc-alkali series ('Pacific igneous rocks') occur. In the Azores and the islands, of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, however, come to light typical lavas of sodic-alkali series ('Atlantic igneous rocks' sic!), which speaks for a more cratonic character of that crusts. It would be highly unlikely that just an invisible piece of folded mountains is an exception, as all the mountain heights, with volcanoes, and especially the submarine mountains (Kuril Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Aleutian Islands, the Antilles, etc.) have normally magmas of very pronounced 'Pacific' character. Consideration of such petrological and magmalogical knowledge is a necessity. The same applies to the established findings of Geophysics and especially of the seismic, which are often neglected also..."
—Alfred Rittmann [1]
This quote, from Rittmann himself, is a rather pointed dismissal of certain geological interpretations of his time. He’s essentially saying, “Look, the rocks don’t lie. Your pretty theories about mountain folding don’t match what we’re actually seeing in the volcanic rock chemistry, especially around the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Pay attention to the petrology, people, and stop ignoring the geophysics.” It’s a dry, academic way of calling out flawed reasoning, and frankly, it's rather satisfying.
Selected publications
• Rittmann, Alfred; Rittmann, Loredana (November 1982). Vulkane in Farbe. Suedwest Verlag. p. 128. ISBN 978-3517006246. Note: posthumous. • Rittmann, Alfred; Gottini, V. (1981). "L'isola d'Ischia - Geologia". Bollettino del Servizio Geologico d'Italia. 101: 131–274. Note: posthumous. • Rittmann, Alfred (1981). Vulkane und ihre Tätigkeit (3rd ed.). Stuttgart: Ferdinand Enke Verlag. Note: posthumous. • Rittmann, Alfred (1962). Volcanoes and their Activity. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 305. Translated by E. A. Vincent from the 1960, 2nd ed. {{cite book}} • Rittmann, Alfred (1958). "Zur Herkunft der Magmen". Geologische Rundschau. 48 (1): 1–10. Bibcode:1959GeoRu..48....1R. doi:10.1007/BF01801804. • Rittmann, Alfred (December 1953). "Magmatic character and tectonic position of the Indonesia Volcanoes". Bulletin of Volcanology. 14 (1): 45–58. Bibcode:1953BVol...14...45R. doi:10.1007/BF02596004. • Rittmann, Alfred (December 1952). "Nomenclature of volcanic rocks". Bulletin of Volcanology. 12 (1): 75–102. Bibcode:1952BVol...12...75R. doi:10.1007/BF02596015.
A rather extensive bibliography, even considering the posthumous entries. It’s clear Rittmann was a prolific writer, a necessary trait for someone trying to impose order on the chaotic beauty of volcanoes. His work Vulkane und ihre Tätigkeit, in its various editions and translations, stands as a testament to his dedication. It’s the kind of book you’d find on the desk of anyone serious about understanding the forces that shape our planet, or perhaps propping open a door on a particularly windy day.