HLOUŠEK JAN, RNDr. (1950–2014)
Life
RNDr. Jan Hloušek was born on 10 March 1950 in Karlovy Vary. From early childhood he was fascinated by minerals, rocks and natural sciences. He attended grammar school and graduated in 1968.
His further studies were almost prevented by a serious accident. In his amateur laboratory an unsuccessful experiment caused an explosion in which he lost his left hand at the wrist.
After graduation he repeatedly applied for university studies. He first applied to the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and later twice to the Faculty of Science of Charles University. Only later did it become clear that the reason for his rejection was not insufficient knowledge but his physical disability. This was revealed by the dean of the faculty during a conversation with Hloušek’s father. After the dean’s intervention Jan Hloušek was finally admitted to study hydrology. After only half a year he successfully passed additional examinations and transferred to the study of mineralogy.
He completed his doctoral degree in 1976 under the supervision of Professor František Čech. Both his diploma thesis and his doctoral thesis focused on the mineralogy of Jáchymov, especially on the study of primary and supergene minerals of the local ore district. These works remain an important source of information.
Scientific Work
Between 1976 and 1993 Hloušek worked at the Institute for Ore Research in Mníšek pod Brdy. Among other things he contributed to improvements in X-ray diffraction methods and enhanced the use of the Debye–Scherrer camera in the Gandolfi method.
His connection with Jáchymov had begun earlier. Around 1977 he briefly lived there with his parents in the building of the former pharmacy opposite the town hall. In the same year the building was struck by a fire that destroyed his first larger collection of Jáchymov minerals and rocks.
In 1993 he moved permanently to Jáchymov. There he operated a mineral shop, determined and processed minerals and devoted himself to research. He also created his own mineral exhibition located in the town museum building.
Through his scientific work he participated in the discovery and description of several minerals. According to tradition in mineralogy, the discoverer has the right to propose a name for a new mineral. Hloušek therefore often used his deep knowledge of the history of Jáchymov and the personalities associated with the town when naming new minerals.
Collection and Legacy
After his death his extensive mineral collection was donated to the town of Jáchymov. It contains the majority of minerals known from the Jáchymov ore district – 385 of approximately 435 mineral species discovered in this locality, including 35 still unnamed minerals and about 80 rock samples.
In 2015 the collection was revised by leading mineralogists thanks to the initiative of Kateřina Hloušková. The revision was carried out by Mgr. Jakub Plášil, Ph.D., Mgr. Pavel Škácha, Ph.D., Ing. Petr Ondruš and RNDr. František Veselovský. Among the exhibits is also a gold specimen found in Jáchymov and the mineral hloušekite, which was named in honour of RNDr. Jan Hloušek.
Besides numerous scientific articles published in leading mineralogical journals worldwide, he also created an extensive historical and mineralogical work devoted to Jáchymov. This critical study exceeds most previous writings about the town in both scope and depth. Nevertheless it was never published as a book. The author made it freely available on the internet so that researchers and enthusiasts could use it.
His writings often contain sharp but well-founded criticism of certain events and developments in the town’s history. This may be one of the reasons why RNDr. Jan Hloušek has never been granted honorary citizenship of Jáchymov, although he was nominated several times.
RNDr. Jan Hloušek died in Jáchymov on 27 April 2014 after several years of serious illness.
