Henry Emeleus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Emeleus
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Emeleus at Burlington House in 2016
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| Born | September 4, 1930 |
| Died | 11 November 2017 (aged 87) |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast; Wadham College, University of Oxford |
| Awards | Prestwich Medal (2016) Collins Medal (2010) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geology, Volcanology, Mineralogy, Petrology |
| Institutions | University of Durham |
| Doctoral advisor | Bill Wager |
| Notable students | Marjorie Wilson |
Charles Henry Emeleus (born September 4, 1930 – died November 11, 2017) was a British scientist. He was an expert in studying rocks, especially those formed from volcanoes. This field is called igneous petrology. He focused on volcanic rocks found in Britain and Greenland. These rocks were formed a very long time ago, during the Paleogene period.
About Henry Emeleus
Henry Emeleus was born in Belfast in 1930. His father, Karl George Emeléus, was a physicist. He taught at Queen's University Belfast. Henry's uncle, Harry Julius Emeléus, was also a famous chemist. Henry Emeleus passed away in Durham, UK, on November 11, 2017.
His Work with Rocks
Henry Emeleus studied geology at Queen's University Belfast. He earned his first degrees there in 1952 and 1953. Later, he went to University of Oxford to work with Bill Wager. He completed his advanced degree, a doctorate, in 1957.
During his studies, Henry Emeleus became very interested in layered igneous rocks. These are rocks that form in layers from cooled magma or lava. He studied them in places like Greenland and Rùm. He often worked with another geologist named George Malcolm Brown.
Besides teaching and researching, Emeleus was a very skilled petrologist. This means he was excellent at identifying and understanding different types of rocks. A special mineral was even named after him! It's called emeleusite. It is a clear, colorless mineral made of sodium silicate.
Awards and Recognition
Henry Emeleus received several important awards for his work:
- The Prestwich Medal from the Geological Society of London in 2016.
- The Collins Medal from the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 2010. This award recognized his amazing contributions to the study of minerals and related sciences throughout his long career.
- The Clough Medal from the Edinburgh Geological Society in 1994.
- The Chancellor's Medal from the University of Durham in 2014.
