Nelson Horatio Darton | |
|---|---|
 Darton in about 1895 | |
| Born | December 17, 1865 |
| Died | February 28, 1948 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | California Institute of Technology and Harvard University |
| Awards | Penrose Medal (1940) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Marine Geology |
| Institutions | US Geological Survey |
Nelson Horatio Darton (December 17, 1865 – February 28, 1948) was a geologist who worked for the United States Geological Survey. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, started working in his uncle's drug business at thirteen years old, and becoming a practicing chemist. His interest in geology started as a sideline, and he was hired by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1886.
Darton was an expert at geological photography, a noted geologic map maker, and a hydrogeologist. He was awarded the Penrose Medal in 1940. He also made some important paleontological discoveries.
He retired in 1936 at the age of 71 but was allowed to keep his office at the USGS, and he continued an active geological career with a focus on the geology of the Washington DC area. He produced more than 200 publications and received many honors and awards. Three weeks before he died in 1948, he was still coming daily to the USGS and gave a lecture to the Geological Society of Washington on the geology of the DC area. [1] [2] [3] [4]
- ^ King, P.B., Memorial to Nelson Horatio Darton (1865-1948), Geological Society of America Proceedings, 145-170. 1949
- ^ Nelson Horatio Darton biography at the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program website
- ^ "The Utah Juniper Project: Repeat Ground Photography". Archived from the original on 2005-03-06. Retrieved 2005-05-24. Repeat Historical Photography of Twentieth Century Vegetation Change in Wyoming and Montana
- ^ Snoke, Arthur W. Nelson Horatio Darton: the quintessential reconnaissance geologist of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains Rocky Mountain Geology; October 2003; v. 38; no. 2; p. 283-287; doi:10.2113/gsrocky.38.2.283