Ours-Pierre-Armand Petit-Dufrénoy
Encyclopedia
Ours-Pierre-Armand Petit-Dufrénoy (September 5, 1792 - March 20, 1857) was a French
geologist
and mineralogist.
He was born at Sevran
, in the département of Seine-et-Oise
. After leaving the Imperial Lyceum
in 1811, he studied until 1813 at the École Polytechnique
, and then entered the Corps des Mines
. He subsequently assisted in the management of the École des Mines
, of which he was professor of mineralogy
and afterwards director. He was also professor of geology at the École des Ponts et Chaussées
.
In conjunction with Élie de Beaumont
in 1841 he published a great geological map of France, the result of investigations carried on during thirteen years (1823-1836). Five years (1836-1841) were spent in writing the text to accompany the map, the publication of the work with two quarto volumes of text extending from 1841-1848; a third volume was issued in 1873. The two authors had already together published Voyage Métallurgique en Angleterre (1827, 2nd ed. 1837-1839), Mémoires pour servir a une description géologique de la France, in four vols. (1830-1838), and a Mémoire on Calltal and Mont-Dore (1833).
Other literary productions of Dufrénoy are an account of the iron
mines of the eastern Pyrenees
(1834), and a treatise on mineralogy (3 vols. and atlas, 1844-1845; 2nd ed., 4 vols. and atlas, 1856-1859), in which the geological relations as well as the physical and chemical properties of mineral
s were dealt with; he likewise contributed numerous papers to the Annales des mines and other scientific publications, one of the most interesting of which is entitled Des terrains volcaniques des environs de Naples. Dufrénoy was a member of the Academy of Sciences, a commander of the Légion d'honneur
, and an inspector-general of mines.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
geologist
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...
and mineralogist.
He was born at Sevran
Sevran
Sevran is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Immigration:-Culture:Sevran is home to an important music and dance school, the Espace François Mauriac, also known as the conservatoire de Sevran...
, in the département of Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise was a département of France encompassing the western, northern, and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris. Its préfecture was Versailles and its official number was 78. Seine-et-Oise was abolished in 1968....
. After leaving the Imperial Lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
in 1811, he studied until 1813 at the École Polytechnique
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
, and then entered the Corps des Mines
Corps of Mines (France)
The Corps of Mines is the foremost of the great technical corps of the French state. It is formed of the State Engineers of the Mines...
. He subsequently assisted in the management of the École des Mines
École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris
The École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris was created in 1783 by King Louis XVI in order to train intelligent directors of mines. It is one of the most prominent French engineering schoolsThe École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (also known as Mines ParisTech, École des Mines de...
, of which he was 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...
and afterwards director. He was also professor of geology at the École des Ponts et Chaussées
École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
Founded in 1747, the École nationale des ponts et chaussées , often referred to as les Ponts, is the world's oldest civil engineering school...
.
In conjunction with Élie de Beaumont
Jean-Baptiste Élie de Beaumont
Jean-Baptiste Armand Louis Léonce Élie de Beaumont was a French geologist.-Biography:Élie de Beaumont was born at Canon, in Calvados...
in 1841 he published a great geological map of France, the result of investigations carried on during thirteen years (1823-1836). Five years (1836-1841) were spent in writing the text to accompany the map, the publication of the work with two quarto volumes of text extending from 1841-1848; a third volume was issued in 1873. The two authors had already together published Voyage Métallurgique en Angleterre (1827, 2nd ed. 1837-1839), Mémoires pour servir a une description géologique de la France, in four vols. (1830-1838), and a Mémoire on Calltal and Mont-Dore (1833).
Other literary productions of Dufrénoy are an account of the iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
mines of the eastern Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
(1834), and a treatise on mineralogy (3 vols. and atlas, 1844-1845; 2nd ed., 4 vols. and atlas, 1856-1859), in which the geological relations as well as the physical and chemical properties of mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s were dealt with; he likewise contributed numerous papers to the Annales des mines and other scientific publications, one of the most interesting of which is entitled Des terrains volcaniques des environs de Naples. Dufrénoy was a member of the Academy of Sciences, a commander of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, and an inspector-general of mines.