Mary Andrews (geologist) facts for kids

Mary K. Andrews (born in 1854, died in 1914) was an amazing Irish geologist. She was one of the very first women to become active in the field of geology. Geology is the study of Earth's rocks and how our planet was formed.

Her Early Life and Work

Mary Andrews was born in Belfast, Ireland. She was one of six children. Her father, Thomas Andrews, was a famous chemist.

Mary became a key member of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club (BNFC). This club was for people interested in nature. In 1893, she became the Honorary Secretary for the geology part of the club. This meant she helped organize and lead activities related to geology.

Her Contributions to Geology

Mary Andrews worked closely with another geologist named Sydney Mary Thompson. Mary Andrews took many photos of interesting rock formations. She took these pictures for the British Association, which was a big science group.

She also helped look after the BNFC's collection of local rocks and fossils. These were important for studying the geology of the area.

In 1907, Mary Andrews represented Queen's College, Belfast and the BNFC. She attended the 100-year celebration of the Geological Society. This shows how important her work was in the world of geology.

Her Published Works

Mary Andrews wrote several articles about her geological discoveries. These articles were published in science journals. Her writings helped share new information about the Earth's history.

Key Geological Papers

• She wrote about the early history of magnetism in the science journal Nature in 1876.
• She also wrote about how land changes over time. One paper was called 'Denudation at Cultra, County Down'. It was published in 1893.
• Another important paper was about 'Dykes in Antrim and Down'. This was published in 1894. Dykes are types of rock formations.
• She also wrote about 'Erosion at Newcastle'. Erosion is when wind or water wears away land.
• Mary Andrews also published 'Notes on Moel Tryfaen' in 1901.