Esther Applin | |
|---|---|
 Applin in 1944 | |
| 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 | Paul Applin |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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Esther Applin (née Richards; November 24, 1895 – July 23, 1972) was an American geologist and paleontologist. She completed her undergraduate degree in 1919 from the University of California, Berkeley. Later, she completed a master's degree which was focused on microfossils. She was a leading figure in the use of microfossils to determine the age of rock formation for use in oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico region. Her job was to examine microfossils collected in drill holes (especially foraminifera) to determine the age of the rock into which the company was drilling.[1] Applin's discoveries were crucial to successful drilling operations across the entire oil industry. Additionally, her contribution to geology and the study of micropaleontology, put women geologists on the map, and was pivotal in earning them respect in the field.[2]
- ^ Museum of the Earth. "Esther Applin (1895-1972)". Museum of the Earth. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ Kass-Simon, Gabriele; Farnes, Patricia; Nash, Deborah (1993). Women of Science: Righting the Record. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253208130.