Esther Applin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esther Applin
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Applin in 1944
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| Born |
Esther Richards
November 24, 1895 |
| Died | July 23, 1972 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Geologist |
| Known for | Use of microfossils in oil exploration in the Gulf Coast |
| Spouse(s) | Paul Applin |
| Children | 2 |
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Esther Applin (née Richards; November 24, 1895 – July 23, 1972) was an amazing American geologist and paleontologist. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley. Esther became famous for using tiny fossils, called microfossils, to find oil. Her work helped oil companies drill in the Gulf of Mexico region. She also helped show that women could be great geologists.
Early Life and Education
Esther Richards was born on November 24, 1895. Her hometown was Newark, Ohio. Her father, Gary Richards, was an engineer for the United States Army. Because of his job, her family moved around a lot.
They lived in different cities in Ohio. Then they moved to Fort Des Moines, Iowa. When Esther was 12, they moved to San Francisco. From 1907 to 1920, Esther lived on Alcatraz Island. Her father was working on building Alcatraz Prison there. She took a ferry from the island to go to high school and college.
Esther went to the University of California, Berkeley. She graduated in 1919 with honors. She studied paleontology, geology, and physiography. In 1920, she moved to Houston, Texas. She started working for the Rio Bravo Oil company.
At first, Esther studied large fossils. But these were not helpful for finding oil underground. The pieces of fossils in drill holes were too small to identify. She realized that tiny fossils, called microfossils, could be useful. These microfossils could help match up rock layers deep underground. So, she went back to California to study micropaleontology. She earned her master's degree in this field.
In 1923, Esther married Paul Applin. He was also a geologist. They had two children, a daughter named Louise and a son named Paul Jr.
Career and Discoveries
In 1921, Esther Applin shared her new idea. She believed microfossils could help find oil. Specifically, they could help figure out the age of rock layers in the Gulf of Mexico. Some older, more experienced geologists didn't believe her. One professor even made fun of her idea. But Esther was right!
In 1925, Applin wrote a paper with two other scientists. It showed that oil-rich rock layers in the Gulf Coast could be dated using microfossils. She stayed with Rio Bravo Oil until 1927. She continued to lead the way in using micropaleontology for oil exploration.
Esther's studies helped the company find the best oil-bearing layers. She used tiny index fossils to match rock layers. This was very important for finding oil. Her discoveries were essential for drilling operations. They were used until new methods, like electric logs, became common.
Esther Applin made a big impact on geology. Her work helped women feel more welcome in this field. It showed that women could make very important scientific discoveries.
After working for Rio Bravo Oil, Applin became a consultant. She advised many other oil companies until 1944. In 1944, she and her family moved to Tallahassee, Florida. She worked with her husband at the United States Geological Survey. Their job was to connect oil fields across the southeastern United States. They used micropaleontology to do this.
In 1955, Esther Applin made another discovery. She found four new types of Foraminifera (a type of microfossil). These helped scientists understand ancient environments in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. In 1960, she received an award for her great work. It was from the Gulf Association of Geological Studies.
After the oil boom slowed down, Applin moved to Jackson, Mississippi. She wrote papers about rock layers and microfossils. She retired from the Geological Survey in 1962. But even after retiring, she kept doing research and publishing her work.
See also
