Biographical Memoirs Volume 61 (1992) / Chapter Skim
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Robert Minard Garrels
Robert Minard Garrels
Pages 194-213
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From page 195... ...
Hiciclen within this modest, affable, kincI, and considerate man was the soul of a revolutionary, and it is the hope of this biographical memoir to document the revolution that he lecI. Bob Garrels was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 24, 1916, the second of three chilciren of John Carlyle and Margaret Anne Garrels.
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From page 196... ...
The rocks of the hills surrounding the town contain abundant Paleozoic fossils. The third factor was the presence of James Moore, a middle-aged bachelor who was a first-rate amateur astronomer, and who delighted in teaching me and my friends about the universe.
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From page 197... ...
Garrels received the M.S. degree from Northwestern in 1939, based on a thesis concerning some iron ores of New
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From page 198... ...
degree; the thesis research was largely a;laboratory stubbly, using electrochemical techniques, of complex formation between lead and chioricle ions in aqueous solution. The thesis won the Sigma Xi award for the best one submitted that year at Northwestern.
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From page 199... ...
Some noteworthy papers published by Garrels cluring this "first Northwestern period" (see Selectecl Bibliography) were concerned with diffusion in water-saturatecl rocks, the study of fluicI inclusions as a guicle to geologic thermometry, activity coefficients of leacT and chloride ions in aqueous solution, the origin of Clinton iron ores as revealecl by laboratory experiments, ant!
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From page 200... ...
This book was one of the first of its kind to show earth scientists how to directly apply chemical thermodynamics to geology with emphasis on the construction of stability diagrams from thermodynamic data. It and its successor, Solutions, Minerals, and Equilibria (coauthored!
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From page 201... ...
, and "A Chemical Moclel for Sea Water at 25°C and One Atmosphere Total Pressure" (1962,2~. This last paper, by Garrels and Thompson, showed how ion-pairing and complex formation couIct be used to calculate activities of the principal ions of seawater.
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From page 202... ...
with Frecl Mackenzie the book Evolution of Sedimentary Rocks, which was publishecI in 1971. In th~s~book, whose major influence is only recently being felt, Garrels and Mackenzie demonstrate the i~mportance of the chemical Recycling of sediments lay way of weathering, dissolution, erosion, transport, sedimentation, burial, and diagenesis followed by uplift and restarting of the sedimentary cycle.
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From page 203... ...
Garrels constructed a nonlinear plot of current speed versus extra effort in terms of a "gin and tonic factor," with the swimmer eligible for an infinite number of gin and tonics when the current speed equaled his stiTI-water swimming speed! This episode exemplifies both Bob's clever wit and his ability to bring scientific order to even the most mundane ~ .
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From page 204... ...
With Abe's expertise they constructed computer models for geochemical cycles with emphasis on phosphorus, carbon, and sulfur. By means of some ingenious reasoning, Garrels, Mackenzie, and Lerman were able to predict that the sulfur and carbon isotopic records for Phanerozoic rocks should essentially correlate with one another, and this was later found to be correct.
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From page 205... ...
for the Deposition of the Microbanciect Precambrian Iron Formations." Although severely debilitated by his disease and the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, he was able to present a talk at the fall meeting of the Geological Society of America anct to write a reply to some critical comments served up on his moclel for banded iron formations. This was true heroism and, characteristic of Garrels, done in good humor with no health complaints.
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From page 206... ...
He macle us think in terms of cycling and recycling of rocks anti impressed on us the importance of trying to treat geochemical cycles in a quantitative manner, with a combination of both chemical and geological insight. He showed us how to look at the composition of seawater, spring water, and lake water, and deduce all sorts of wondrous things from a little ciata.
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From page 207... ...
Experiments on the deposition of iron with special reference to the Clinton iron ore deposits.
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From page 208... ...
Thermodynamic equilibrium of vanadium in aqueous solutions as applied to the interpretation of the Colorado Plateau ore deposits. Geochim.
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From page 209... ...
Transportation and precipitation of uranium and vanadium at low temperatures with special reference to sandstonetype uranium deposits.
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From page 210... ...
Evaluation of irreversible reactions in geochemical processes involving minerals and aqueous solutions.
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From page 211... ...
Geochemical compositions of some Precambrian shales from the Canadian Shield.
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From page 212... ...
Press. A model for the deposition of the microbanded Precambrian iron formations.
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