PROFESSOR of Geochemistry
Department of Geosciences

435, Deike Building
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-4074
Fax: 814-863-2001
Email: ohmoto@geosc.psu.edu

Education/Degrees

  • B.S. in Geology, Hokkaido University, 1964.
  • A.M. in Geology, Princeton University, 1967.
  • Ph.D. in Geology, Princeton University, 1969.


Research Interests

  • Astrobiology: Chemical and biological evolution of the early Earth through geochemical studies of paleosols, shales, uraniferous conglomerates, red beds, banded iron formations, cherts, carbonates.
  • Geochemistry of hydrothermal systems and the origins of ore deposits: submarine and subaerial hydrothermal systems, volcanogenic massive sulfides, banded iron formations, shale/carbonate-hosted massive sulfides, Mississippi Valley-type base metal deposits, gold and basemetal veins, skarns.
  • Stable isotope geochemistry of sulfur, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen in geological systems.

Courses at PSU

  • GSc. 416 Introduction to isotopes in geosciences (Spring)
  • GSc. 451 Natural Resources (Fall)
  • GSc. 597 Advancements in Astrobiology (Fall)
  • Abiol . 590 Astrobiology Seminar (Fall)
  • GSc. 540 Principles of ore deposits (Fall or Spring)
  • GSc. 600 and 601. Thesis research (Every semester)

Graduate Students and Post-doctoral Fellows Supervised

  • Penn State: 23 Ph.D. Theses; 16 Master's Theses; 14 Post-doctoral Research Associates; 7 Ph. D. Theses (Students from Other Institutions Who Conducted Parts of Their Thesis Research at Penn State)
  • Tohoku University: 7 Ph.D. Theses; 21 Master's Theses



This is personal website of Dr. Hiroshi Ohmoto
The Pennsylvania State University