George Ferdinand Becker
Encyclopedia
George Ferdinand Becker was an American geologist
. His most important work was in connection with the origin and mode of occurrence of ore deposits, especially those of the western United States
.
in 1868, studied at, Heidelberg
, receiving the degree of Ph.D. in 1869, and, two years later, passed the final examination of the Royal School of Mines
in Berlin. From 1875 till 1879 he was instructor of mining and metallurgy at the University of California, Berkeley
, and in 1879 he became connected with the United States Geological Survey
, and later was placed in charge of the California division of geology. In 1880 he was appointed special agent of the 10th census, and in 1882 was further appointed special agent in charge of the investigation of the precious-metal industries.
He was a leader in mining geology and geophysics, and for many years was the chief of the Division of Chemical and Physical Research in the United States Geological Survey
. The investigations under his direction led to the establishment of the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
In 1896 he examined the gold mines of South Africa and at the time of the Spanish-American War
was detailed to serve as geologist on the staff of General Bell with the army in the Philippine Islands. He died on 20 April 1919 in Washington, D.C.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
. His most important work was in connection with the origin and mode of occurrence of ore deposits, especially those of the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
He was born in New York City, 5 January 1847. He was the son of Alexander Christian Becker and Sarah Carey Tuckerman Becker of Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1868, studied at, Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, receiving the degree of Ph.D. in 1869, and, two years later, passed the final examination of the Royal School of Mines
Royal School of Mines
Royal School of Mines comprises the departments of Earth Science and Engineering, and Materials at Imperial College London.- History :The Royal School of Mines was established in 1851, as the Government School of Mines and Science Applied to the Arts...
in Berlin. From 1875 till 1879 he was instructor of mining and metallurgy at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and in 1879 he became connected with the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
, and later was placed in charge of the California division of geology. In 1880 he was appointed special agent of the 10th census, and in 1882 was further appointed special agent in charge of the investigation of the precious-metal industries.
He was a leader in mining geology and geophysics, and for many years was the chief of the Division of Chemical and Physical Research in the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
. The investigations under his direction led to the establishment of the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
In 1896 he examined the gold mines of South Africa and at the time of the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
was detailed to serve as geologist on the staff of General Bell with the army in the Philippine Islands. He died on 20 April 1919 in Washington, D.C.
Publications
- "Geometrical Form of Volcanic Cones" (1885)
- "Notes on the Stratigraphy of California" (1885)
- "Cretaceous Metamorphic Rocks of California" (1886)
- "A Theorein of Maximum Dissipativity" (1886)
- "A New Law of Thermo-Chemistry" (1886)
- "Atomic-Weight Determinations; A Digest of the Investigations published since 1814" (1880)
- "Geology of the Comstock Lode" (1882)
- "Statistics and Technology of the Precious Metals" with S. F. Emmons (1885)
- "Geological sketches of the precious metal deposits of the western United States" (1885) by Samuel Franklin EmmonsSamuel Franklin EmmonsSamuel Franklin Emmons was an American Geologist. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1861 and studied at the Ecole des Mines in Paris, France from 1862–1864 and at the Frieberg mining school from 1865-1865. In May 1867, he was appointed assistant...
and George F. Becker. Extracted from the Tenth United States Census - "Geology of the Quicksilver Deposits of the Pacific Slope" (1886).
- Reconnaissance of the Gold Fields of Southern Alaska: With Some Notes on General Geology (1898)
- Relations Between Local Magnetic Disturbances and the Genesis of Petroleum US Geological Survey Bulletin No. 401 (1909)
- The Age of the Earth Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 36, No. 6, Publication 1936 (1910)
- Mechanics of the Panama Canal slides (1916)