Sérgio Estanislau do Amaral
Encyclopedia
Sérgio Estanislau do Amaral (1925 - October 18, 1996) was a Brazilian geologist. He became a professor of geology
at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of the University of São Paulo
in 1959. After his retirement, he was also professor of geosciences and taught geology
, geography
, biology
and ecology
at the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (Rio Claro
).
Together with Viktor Leinz, in the early '60s, he was the author of the book Geologia Geral (General Geology), which was the first modern textbook in the field of geosciences in Brazil, which today is still in use. He also translated many books on geosciences, including "Geological History of Life." He did his doctoral and postdoctoral studies in the United States with Pettijohn (Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore). His habilitation thesis (Livre-docência) was on "Geology and Petrology of the Irati Formation
(Permian) in São Paulo State." He made many contributions to the geological knowledge of the Irati formation, including the dolomitization
process of carbonate rocks.
In 1999, Carvalho and Bertini named a fossil of tetrapod
reptile
s identified in the city of Marília
"Mariliasuchus amarali" in his honor. Amaral was also a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences
.
Amaral was a nephew of the Brazilian painter and designer Tarsila do Amaral
.
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...
at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
in 1959. After his retirement, he was also professor of geosciences and taught geology
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...
, geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
at the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (Rio Claro
Rio Claro
Rio Claro may refer to:-Cities:*Rio Claro, Trinidad and Tobago, the largest town in southeastern Trinidad and Tobago...
).
Together with Viktor Leinz, in the early '60s, he was the author of the book Geologia Geral (General Geology), which was the first modern textbook in the field of geosciences in Brazil, which today is still in use. He also translated many books on geosciences, including "Geological History of Life." He did his doctoral and postdoctoral studies in the United States with Pettijohn (Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, Baltimore). His habilitation thesis (Livre-docência) was on "Geology and Petrology of the Irati Formation
Irati Formation
Irati Formation is the name of a geological formation of Brazil.It has previously been dated as Upper Permian using palynomorphs but is now dated as Lower Permian using zircon ages obtained from bentonite layers...
(Permian) in São Paulo State." He made many contributions to the geological knowledge of the Irati formation, including the dolomitization
Dolomitization
Dolomitization is a process by which dolomite is formed when magnesium ions replace calcium ions in calcite. It is common for this alteration into dolomite to take place due to evaporation of water in the sabkha area. Dolomitization involves substantial amount of recrystallization...
process of carbonate rocks.
In 1999, Carvalho and Bertini named a fossil of tetrapod
Tetrapod
Tetrapods are vertebrate animals having four limbs. Amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are all tetrapods; even snakes and other limbless reptiles and amphibians are tetrapods by descent. The earliest tetrapods evolved from the lobe-finned fishes in the Devonian...
reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s identified in the city of Marília
Marília
Marília is a Brazilian city and municipality in the midwestern region of the state of São Paulo. Its distance from the state capital is by highway, by railway and in a straight line. It is located at latitude 22º 12'50 "south and longitude 49º 56'45" west, with an altitude of 675 meters...
"Mariliasuchus amarali" in his honor. Amaral was also a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences
Brazilian Academy of Sciences
The Brazilian Academy of Sciences is the national academy of Brazil. It is headquartered in the city of Rio de Janeiro and was founded in 1916....
.
Amaral was a nephew of the Brazilian painter and designer Tarsila do Amaral
Tarsila do Amaral
Tarsila do Amaral, , known simply as Tarsila, is considered to be one of the leading Latin American modernist artists, described as "the Brazilian painter who best achieved Brazilian aspirations for nationalistic expression in a modern style." She was a member of the Grupo dos Cinco , which...
.