Francis John Turner
Encyclopedia
Francis John Turner was a New Zealand geologist
. He received his BSc
and MSc
from the Auckland University College. He worked with the New Zealand Geological Survey and in 1926 he became a geology lecturer in the University of Otago
.
At Otago he became interested in metamorphism
and studied the unexplored metamorphic rocks of South Island on which he earned his PhD in 1934 from the University of New Zealand
. His application and expansion of Pentti Eskola's concept of metamorphic facies
led to his publication of Mineralogical and Structural Evolution of Metamorphic Rocks, the book that established his position in the field of petrology
and was a great influence on a generation of geologists.
In 1946 he accepted a position at the University of California in Berkeley. At Berkeley he gained insight into experimental studies of petrology and geochemistry. He later collaborated with John Verhoogen on the classic work Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology published in 1960. He authored eighty technical papers and six textbooks on metamorphic, igneous, and structural petrology. He retired from Berkeley in 1971.
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...
. He received his BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
and MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
from the Auckland University College. He worked with the New Zealand Geological Survey and in 1926 he became a geology lecturer in the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
.
At Otago he became interested in metamorphism
Metamorphism
Metamorphism is the solid-state recrystallization of pre-existing rocks due to changes in physical and chemical conditions, primarily heat, pressure, and the introduction of chemically active fluids. Mineralogical, chemical and crystallographic changes can occur during this process...
and studied the unexplored metamorphic rocks of South Island on which he earned his PhD in 1934 from the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
. His application and expansion of Pentti Eskola's concept of metamorphic facies
Metamorphic facies
The metamorphic facies are groups of mineral compositions in metamorphic rocks, that are typical for a certain field in pressure-temperature space...
led to his publication of Mineralogical and Structural Evolution of Metamorphic Rocks, the book that established his position in the field of petrology
Petrology
Petrology is the branch of geology that studies rocks, and the conditions in which rocks form....
and was a great influence on a generation of geologists.
In 1946 he accepted a position at the University of California in Berkeley. At Berkeley he gained insight into experimental studies of petrology and geochemistry. He later collaborated with John Verhoogen on the classic work Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology published in 1960. He authored eighty technical papers and six textbooks on metamorphic, igneous, and structural petrology. He retired from Berkeley in 1971.