Brian Mason (geochemist)

Brian Mason (April 27, 1917 – October 5, 2009) was a prominent New Zealand-born geochemist, mineralogist, and meteoriticist. He is best known for his contributions to the study of meteorites, particularly chondrites, and for his extensive work on the geochemistry of rocks and minerals.

Mason received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of New Zealand and his Ph.D. from Stockholm University in Sweden in 1943. He then emigrated to the United States, where he held positions at Indiana University and the American Museum of Natural History before becoming Curator of Mineralogy at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in 1965. He held that position until his retirement in 1984, but remained active in research for many years afterward.

Mason's research focused on the chemical composition and mineralogy of meteorites, using them to understand the formation and early history of the solar system. He published extensively on chondrites, their classification, and the origin of their components, including chondrules and matrix. He also made significant contributions to the study of iron meteorites and achondrites.

In addition to his work on meteorites, Mason also studied the geochemistry of terrestrial rocks and minerals, with a particular interest in the distribution of trace elements. He was the author or co-author of several influential books, including "Principles of Geochemistry" (1952), which became a standard textbook in the field. Other notable works include "Meteorites" (1962) and "Handbook of Elemental Abundances in Meteorites" (1971).

Mason received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Leonard Medal of the Meteoritical Society and the Goldschmidt Medal of the Geochemical Society. He was a fellow of the Geological Society of America and the Mineralogical Society of America. His work significantly advanced the understanding of the chemical and mineralogical evolution of the solar system and the Earth.