George R. Rossman

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George R. Rossman
George Rossman.jpg
Born (1944-08-03) 3 August 1944 (age 80)
Alma mater University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
California Institute of Technology
Scientific career
Fields Mineralogy, gemology and inorganic chemistry
Institutions California Institute of Technology
Doctoral advisor Harry B. Gray

George R. Rossman is an American mineralogist and the Professor of Mineralogy at the California Institute of Technology.

Contents

Early life

Rossman was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, but soon moved to Eau Claire. His father owned a dental laboratory.

Education

Rossman graduated as the salutatorian from high school in Eau Claire. In high school, he participated in the Wisconsin Junior Academy of Science competitions winning first place in the 1961 competition. He attended the Wisconsin State University–Eau Claire (now the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) from 1962 to 1966 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in both Chemistry and Mathematics. He graduated summa cum laude, with honors in Chemistry. From there, he moved to Pasadena, California, where he obtained a PhD in chemistry from California Institute of Technology in 1971. He specialized in inorganic chemistry in the research group of Professor Harry B. Gray. [1]

Career

Immediately upon graduating with his PhD in 1971, he became an instructor in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech and was soon thereafter appointed assistant professor of Mineralogy and Chemistry. He is now Professor of Mineralogy at Caltech. [2]

Teaching

At Caltech, Rossman regularly teaches the introductory mineralogy course, a course in mineral spectroscopy, and a course in oral presentation. He supervises the optical mineralogy course, co-teaches analytical methods in Geochemistry, and presents guest lectures in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. He was recognized by students and faculty with the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching. [3]

Research

Rossman studies mineral spectroscopy, water and hydroxide in nominally anhydrous solids, analytical methods for OH analysis in minerals, X-ray amorphous minerals, and the effects of exposure on minerals to background levels of natural radiation. Paul Asimow, describing Rossman's work, wrote, "Within the general rubric of mineral spectroscopy, Rossman's work can be grouped into three principal categories: the origin of color, the effects of natural and artificial radiation damage, and the concentration and crystal chemistry of hydrogen in minerals both hydrous and nominally anhydrous." [4] Based on the number of publications Rossman is the most published author in American Mineralogist according to Research.com. [5]

Honors

Selected publications

Rossman is author or co-author of more than 380 articles on mineralogy, inorganic chemistry, gemology, and materials science.

References

  1. "Harry B Gray Students" . Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  2. "Caltech Professors" . Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching | Office of the Provost". provost.caltech.edu.
  4. Asimow, Paul. "Presentation of the Mineralogical Society of America Dana Medal for 2001 to George R. Rossman". American Mineralogist. 87: 799–800.
  5. "Top authors and change over time".
  6. Kasatkin A.V., Nestola F., Day M.C., Gorelova L.A., Skoda B., Vereshchagin O.S., Agakhanov A.A., Belakovskiy D.I., Pamato M.G., Cempírek J., Anosov M.Y. (2024) Fluor-rossmanite, □(Al2Li)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3F, a new tourmaline supergroup mineral from Malkhan pegmatite field, Western Siberia, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine.doi= https://doi.org/10.1180/mgm.2024.34
  7. "The list of MSA Fellows". Mineralogical Society of America. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  8. "New minerals recently approved by the IMA-CNMNC". International Mineralogical Association. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. "Lifetime Excellence Awards". Alumni Association, UWEC.
  10. "Die Friedrich-Becke-Medaille". Österreichische Mineralogische Gesellschaft (ÖMG). Retrieved Dec 14, 2020.
  11. "Dana Medal". Mineralogical Society of America. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  12. Selway, J.B.; Novak, M.; Hawthorne, F.C.; Cerney, P.; Ottolini, L.; Kyser, T.K. (1998). "Rossmanite, [](LiAl2)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4, a new alkali-deficient tourmaline; description and crystal structure". American Mineralogist. 83 (7–8): 896–900. Bibcode:1998AmMin..83..896S. doi: 10.2138/am-1998-7-822 . S2CID   100635092.
  13. "The list of MSA Fellows". Mineralogical Society of America. Retrieved December 14, 2020.