George Thurland Prior facts for kids

George Thurland Prior (1862–1936) was a British scientist. He was a mineralogist, which means he studied minerals and rocks. He also became an expert on meteorites, which are rocks from space.

George Prior made important discoveries about the chemistry of minerals. He also helped us understand how different rocks form. His work on meteorites was especially valuable.

Early Life and Education

George Prior was born in Oxford, England, on December 16, 1862. He went to Magdalen College at Oxford University in 1881. He was a very good student.

He earned top grades in Chemistry in 1885. The next year, he also got top grades in Physics. Later, he traveled to Germany to continue his studies. In 1905, he received his Doctor of Science degree from Oxford University.

Working with Rocks and Space Rocks

In 1887, George Prior started working at the British Museum. This museum has huge collections of natural objects. He worked in the department that looked after minerals.

Keeper of Minerals

From 1909 to 1927, George Prior held an important job. He was the Keeper of Minerals at the Natural History Museum. This museum is part of the British Museum. His job was to manage and study the museum's vast collection of minerals. He helped organize and understand these valuable rock samples.

Studying Meteorites

George Prior was especially known for his work on meteorites. These are pieces of rock or metal that fall to Earth from space. He helped create a system to classify them. This system is still used by scientists today.

In 1912, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. It showed how important his work was.

Want to Learn More?

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• Prior Island
• Meteorite classification#History