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Topic: Lee Silver, lunar geology trainer (1925-2022)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 47806 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-02-2022 10:29 AM
Caltech release Leon T. "Lee" Silver (1925–2022)Leon Silver (PhD '55), W. M. Keck Foundation Professor for Resource Geology, Emeritus, at Caltech, passed away on January 31, 2022. He was 96 years old. Above: Lee Silver (in green and blue striped shirt) with astronauts John Young and Charlie Duke on a geology training field trip. Silver was born in Monticello, New York, on April 9, 1925. His father and mother emigrated from Russia and Poland, respectively, and met in Brooklyn. He graduated from high school in 1942, just months after the United States entered World War II. He joined the Navy Reserve while studying at the Colorado School of Mines and was called up to active service in 1943, having turned 18 three months earlier. Through the V-12 Navy College Training Program, which paid the college tuition of engineering students who were expected to become officers at the end of their studies, Silver earned a bachelor's degree from University of Colorado in 1945. He served in the Navy until 1946, then earned a master's degree from the University of New Mexico in 1948 and a doctorate degree in geology and geochemistry from Caltech in 1955. During this time, he also worked at the United States Geological Survey (USGS). After completing his doctoral degree, Silver began teaching at Caltech as an assistant professor of geology in 1955. He was promoted to associate professor in 1962, and earned tenure in 1965. He was named the W. M. Keck Foundation Professor for Resource Geology in 1983, and became emeritus in 1996. When he started at Caltech, Silver served as geologist to the Institute's newly formed geochemistry group, which was led by the late Harrison Brown, professor of geochemistry. Silver studied geological formations in Arizona and the San Gabriel Mountains while continuing to consult for the USGS. He is perhaps most famous for his contributions to the Apollo program during the 1970s. He instructed Apollo astronauts on geology and lunar sample selection—including Apollo 17 astronaut and Caltech alumnus Harrison "Jack" Schmitt (BS '57)—and developed approaches for using isotope ratios for geochronology, the study of the age and history of rocks and sediments. Silver also served on several federal advisory committees, including as chair of the Advisory Committee to the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the Department of Energy from 1990–92. Throughout his career, he received numerous honors and awards, including a NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal and an American Institute of Professional Geologists Award for Professional Excellence. He was named a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a senior fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America, and served as president of the Geological Society of America in 1979. In later years, Silver and other colleagues from Caltech's Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences led trips down the Colorado River for the Caltech Associates and alumni. A full memorial story will follow at a later date. |
Kite Member Posts: 1008 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 02-02-2022 10:34 AM
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Jeff Member Posts: 562 From: Fayetteville, NC, USA Registered: May 2009
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posted 02-02-2022 11:03 AM
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sts205cdr Member Posts: 708 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 02-02-2022 11:10 AM
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gareth89 Member Posts: 431 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 02-02-2022 11:27 AM
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MartinAir Member Posts: 143 From: Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 02-02-2022 12:07 PM
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davidcwagner Member Posts: 920 From: Albuquerque, New Mexico Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-02-2022 12:14 PM
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Blackarrow Member Posts: 3404 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-02-2022 12:36 PM
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SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 1152 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 02-02-2022 12:43 PM
.In the picture it looks like that might be Ed Mitchell with the beard. |
ManInSpace Member Posts: 268 From: Brooklin, Ontario Canada Registered: Feb 2018
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posted 02-02-2022 01:05 PM
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Jurg Bolli Member Posts: 1121 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-02-2022 01:26 PM
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Kevin T. Randall Member Posts: 1381 From: Chesham, Bucks UK Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 02-02-2022 01:39 PM
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Headshot Member Posts: 1045 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 02-02-2022 02:13 PM
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mode1charlie Member Posts: 1298 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-02-2022 02:14 PM
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mode1charlie Member Posts: 1298 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-02-2022 02:15 PM
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SpaceCadet1983 Member Posts: 375 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
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posted 02-02-2022 03:10 PM
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wickball Member Posts: 114 From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-02-2022 03:14 PM
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MartinAir Member Posts: 143 From: Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 02-02-2022 03:16 PM
To the Moon: Interview with Leon "Lee" Silver, Ph.D., Professor of Geology at the California Institute of Technology |
David C Member Posts: 1320 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 02-02-2022 03:18 PM
Geology legend. |
capoetc Member Posts: 2277 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 02-02-2022 03:45 PM
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randy Member Posts: 2540 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 02-02-2022 04:09 PM
I do believe it is Ed Mitchell with a beard. R.I.P. |
star51L Member Posts: 458 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 02-02-2022 04:16 PM
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Grounded! Member Posts: 480 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 02-02-2022 04:25 PM
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David Carey Member Posts: 928 From: Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 02-02-2022 04:41 PM
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MB Member Posts: 175 From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio U.S.A. Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-02-2022 07:31 PM
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2776 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-02-2022 07:38 PM
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oly Member Posts: 1340 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 02-02-2022 07:55 PM
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Michael Davis Member Posts: 547 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 02-02-2022 08:00 PM
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J Blackburn Member Posts: 254 From: Riner Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 02-02-2022 08:56 PM
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tedc Member Posts: 179 From: Renton, WA USA Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02-02-2022 10:22 PM
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perineau Member Posts: 317 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 02-03-2022 02:21 AM
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MCroft04 Member Posts: 1763 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 02-03-2022 07:30 AM
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skyguard23 Member Posts: 57 From: Central Switzerland Registered: Dec 2016
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posted 02-03-2022 07:39 AM
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MSS Member Posts: 948 From: Europe Registered: May 2003
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posted 02-03-2022 08:34 AM
RIP Leon Theodore. |
Larry McGlynn Member Posts: 1358 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-03-2022 06:40 PM
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Paul78zephyr Member Posts: 746 From: Hudson, MA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-03-2022 07:50 PM
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Michael Davis Member Posts: 547 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 02-03-2022 07:56 PM
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rjb1elec Member Posts: 303 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 02-04-2022 03:39 PM
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hlbjr Member Posts: 531 From: Delray Beach Florida USA Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 02-05-2022 05:10 AM
. By the way, it appears the moon is beckoning in the sky. |
LM1 Member Posts: 852 From: New York, NY Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 02-05-2022 07:44 AM
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