James Edwin Hawley
Encyclopedia
James Edwin Hawley (September 27, 1897 – April 20, 1965) was an award winning Canadian geologist
and distinguished Professor of Mineralogy
at Queen's University
.
Hawley was raised in Kingston, Ontario
, Canada
. He earned both a Bachelor’s
and a Master's degree
from Queen’s University in 1918 and 1920, respectively. After completing his Masters, Hawley spent three years working in petroleum geology
in Alberta
, Ecuador
, Burma and India
. In 1926, he earned his PhD
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He stayed there for three years as an Assistant Professor.
In 1929, Hawley returned to Queen's as Professor and Head of the Department of Mineralogy. His earliest papers in 1929 and 1930, based on research on the generation of oil in rocks by shearing pressures, are classics in the field of petroleum geology. In 1948, he established the school's Spectrographic
lab. He held that position until the Mineralogy and Geology Department were combined in 1950. At that time he was made Head of the newly created, Geological Sciences Department. He held that position until 1962. Students familiar with Mohs’ Hardness Scale
referred to him as "Number 11" because the mineral, Hawleyite
, was named after him.
He was a pioneer in the field of interpretative mineralogy; much of his research was devoted to genetic associations of ore deposits and to investigation of conditions under which metallic minerals may be transported and deposited.
Through both by field investigations and by laboratory researches, Hawley made notable contributions to the mineralogy of such deposits as the nickel-copper ores of Sudbury, the iron ores of the Michipicoten
district and Steep Rock Lake
, the gold ores of Kirkland Lake and northern Quebec
, the complex ores of the Eastern Townships
, Precambrian
stratigraphy
, and Evidences of life in the Archaean.
The Royal Society of Canada
said this about Hawley’s scientific work,
Dr. Hawley was a member of the National Advisory Committee on Research in the Geological Sciences.
Hawley retired in 1963 and died two years later.
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and distinguished Professor of Mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
.
Hawley was raised in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He earned both a Bachelor’s
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Queen’s University in 1918 and 1920, respectively. After completing his Masters, Hawley spent three years working in petroleum geology
Petroleum geology
Petroleum geology refers to the specific set of geological disciplines that are applied to the search for hydrocarbons .-Sedimentary basin analysis:...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Burma and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In 1926, he earned his PhD
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He stayed there for three years as an Assistant Professor.
In 1929, Hawley returned to Queen's as Professor and Head of the Department of Mineralogy. His earliest papers in 1929 and 1930, based on research on the generation of oil in rocks by shearing pressures, are classics in the field of petroleum geology. In 1948, he established the school's Spectrographic
Chromatography
Chromatography is the collective term for a set of laboratory techniques for the separation of mixtures....
lab. He held that position until the Mineralogy and Geology Department were combined in 1950. At that time he was made Head of the newly created, Geological Sciences Department. He held that position until 1962. Students familiar with Mohs’ Hardness Scale
Mohs scale of mineral hardness
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. It was created in 1812 by the German geologist and mineralogist Friedrich Mohs and is one of several definitions of hardness in...
referred to him as "Number 11" because the mineral, Hawleyite
Hawleyite
Hawleyite is a rare sulfide mineral in the sphalerite group, dimorphous and easily confused with greenockite. Chemically, it is a cadmium sulfide, and occurs as a bright yellow coating on sphalerite or siderite in vugs, deposited by meteoric waters....
, was named after him.
He was a pioneer in the field of interpretative mineralogy; much of his research was devoted to genetic associations of ore deposits and to investigation of conditions under which metallic minerals may be transported and deposited.
Through both by field investigations and by laboratory researches, Hawley made notable contributions to the mineralogy of such deposits as the nickel-copper ores of Sudbury, the iron ores of the Michipicoten
Michipicoten River
The Michipicoten River is a river in the Algoma District of northern Ontario, Canada, which flows from Dog Lake and joins with the Magpie River to empty into Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior near the town of Wawa...
district and Steep Rock Lake
Steep Rock Lake
Steep Rock Lake was a body of water near the township of Atikokan, northern Ontario, Canada. It was originally fed by the Seine River.During World War II, a program was implemented to drain the lake. This diversion of the river allowed open-pit mining of hematite iron ore under the middle arm of...
, the gold ores of Kirkland Lake and northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, the complex ores of the Eastern Townships
Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships is a tourist region and a former administrative region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of the Saint Lawrence River and the United States border. Its northern boundary roughly followed Logan's Line, the geologic boundary between the flat,...
, Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
, and Evidences of life in the Archaean.
The Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
said this about Hawley’s scientific work,
“Dr. Hawley has brought to geology an incisive, scientific mind and an exceptional knowledge of the basic sciences of chemistry and physics. His work is notable for acute observation in the field and for interpretation of field phenomena on the basis of the fundamental laws of science. As a result, his contributions contain fresh and original ideas, many of which have opened up new channels of geological investigation. On the other hand, he has shown the fallacies of a number of geological hypotheses which cannot be substantiated by established laws of chemistry and physics.”
Dr. Hawley was a member of the National Advisory Committee on Research in the Geological Sciences.
Hawley retired in 1963 and died two years later.
Accolades
- 1951, Awarded the Willet G. Miller MedalWillet G. Miller MedalThe Miller Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada given for outstanding research in any branch of the earth sciences.In 1941, twelve friends of Willet Green Miller, FRSC , a distinguished geologist, and a guiding force in the development of the Ontario mining industry, subscribed funds to...
by the Royal Society of CanadaRoyal Society of CanadaThe Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada... - 1955, Mineral HawleyiteHawleyiteHawleyite is a rare sulfide mineral in the sphalerite group, dimorphous and easily confused with greenockite. Chemically, it is a cadmium sulfide, and occurs as a bright yellow coating on sphalerite or siderite in vugs, deposited by meteoric waters....
was named after him - 1964, Awarded the Logan MedalLogan MedalThe Logan Medal is the highest award of the Geological Association of Canada. Named after Sir William Edmond Logan, noted 19th century Canadian geologist. It is presented annually to an individual for sustained distinguished achievement in Canadian earth science.-References:*...
by the Geological Association of CanadaGeological Association of CanadaThe Geological Association of Canada promotes and develops the geological sciences in Canada. The organization holds conferences, meetings and exhibitions for the discussion of geological problems and the exchange of views in matters related to geology... - 1932, Awarded the Barlow Memorial MedalBarlow Memorial MedalThe Barlow Memorial Medal was created in 1916 by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum to recognize the best paper on economic geology published by the Institute each year. The medal is named after Alfred Ernest Barlow, who served as President of the Institute between 1912 and...
for his paper tatled The Siscoe Gold Deposit - The Hawley Medal is named in his honour. It is awarded by the Mineralogical Association of Canada to the authors of the best paper to appear in The Canadian Mineralogist in a given year.
- The J.E. Hawley Memorial Scholarship is given out by Queen’s University in his honour.
- The Hawley Research Laboratories at Queen’s University are named after him