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focused on the structures of , salt anticlines, Hopi-Butte diatremes, and laccoliths of the plateau. Gene also produced geologic maps of quadrangles pertinent to uranium prospecting. His USGS research and mapping on the plateau, sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), brought him geographically and intellectually near the now-famous Meteor Crater east of Flagstaff, . He sampled the crater to investigate its origin as a volcanic feature, an interpretation favored by a predecessor in lunar studies, G.K. Gilbert (1843–1918; first chief geologist of the USGS). Rather than volcanic detritus, he found curiously fused grains of coconino . RockRock StarsStars Cratering Studies In 1957, the AEC thought underground Gene Shoemaker, left, pictured here with Edwin McKee, founded the Astrogeology Branch nuclear explosions might produce an of the U.S. Geological Survey and was a leader of terrestrial and planetary effect similar to that of an explosive impact research. volcano. To find out where plutonium would go in an underground volcanic freshman year at nearby Caltech. As a explosion, Gene studied the effects of Eugene M. teaching assistant there, he taught much shock in nuclear craters. He immediately older students who were returning to saw the resemblance of these craters to school on the GI Bill, and he grew his Meteor Crater. From 1957 to 1960, he did Shoemaker trademark mustache in order to look older. his classic research on the structure and Until I read books by Wilhelms and Levy, I mechanics of meteorite impact, based on and the didn’t know Gene was a Caltech Meteor Crater. cheerleader, but that fits completely, as he Under pressure from Princeton to Integration was the one to talk to when you needed complete his degree, Gene wrote up this to be pumped up about science. He work and received his Ph.D. in 1960. His received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from landmark paper on cratering studies at of Earth and Sky Caltech in 1947 and 1948. Meteor Crater noted the overturned crater In 1948, Gene joined the U.S. rim strata, similar to that observed at Mary G. Chapman, U.S. Geological Survey, Geological Survey (USGS) and began nuclear craters. This and later work 2255 N. Gemini Drive, AZ, USA 86001, exploring Colorado and Utah for uranium challenged the classic idea of [email protected] deposits. That first summer, thinking about uniformitarianism, emphasizing nuclear fuel and rocket development catastrophic effects. His cratering work during World War II, it suddenly occurred influenced and contributed to studies of From Prodigy to Stargazer to him that during his lifetime, man would E.C.T. Chao. Gene became one of Chao’s The first of two children, Eugene Merle go to the . Gene wanted to be the co-authors in an internationally acclaimed Shoemaker (1928–1997) was born in Los first lunar geologist. paper on the discovery of natural Angeles, California. His mother was a at Meteor Crater. (Coesite, a high-pressure schoolteacher. His father, a strong, and Marriage form of silica created during impacts, had enthusiastic man, was a teacher, coach, Gene developed his field skills on the been created in a laboratory by Coes in farmer, and trucker. Gene’s early years Colorado Plateau between 1948 and 1957. 1953.) Gene studied impact cratering were spent in Buffalo, New York. His Gene had an adventurous spirit and, in throughout his life, both by exploring mother enrolled him in kindergarten 1949, took his first river trip down Glen Earth, particularly Australia, and by before the age of 4, and in the fifth grade Canyon; river running became a lifelong studying the planets using remote sensing (age 8), she suggested he take science hobby that later led to an important and mapping. classes at the Buffalo Museum of Science publication. He was awarded another M.S. in a program of geology and related degree in geology at Princeton and began Lunar Pursuits and the USGS classes for high-school and college-level working toward a Ph.D., but postponed students. Gene talked about the program Astrogeology Team this goal to return to the USGS and the In 1957, Gene prepared a preliminary for years afterward, saying “It opened my plateau. map of Copernicus Crater on the Moon. eyes to geology, focused my interests, and In 1951, he married Carolyn Jean Using only photographs and telescopic turned me into an avid rock collector.” Spellmann, a schoolteacher from Chico, measurements, he showed that he could The Shoemakers returned to Los California, whose talent in pinpointing unravel the sequence in which layers of Angeles when Gene finished junior high, and would lead to rock were deposited. This map and Gene’s and his father hired on as a Hollywood important joint discoveries. Carolyn and infectious enthusiasm convinced NASA movie studio stagehand. At 16, Gene Gene had three children. officials to sponsor a lunar geology graduated from high school and began his Papers published during this time

20 APRIL 2001, GSA TODAY program directed by the USGS. In 1961, At Caltech, Gene became a co- Gene was a brilliant, exuberant, vibrant, and Gene began the USGS Branch of investigator with Larry Soderblom (USGS) warm man whose booming voice, angry Astrogeology at Menlo Park, California. on Project Voyager. Ahead of his time, antics over copy machines, and laughter rang During the 1960s, he introduced crater Gene wondered about the future effects down USGS hallways. His temper, contrasted counting as a method to date the lunar and rates of impacts on Earth. In 1973, with his normally cordial , was surface, led USGS teams that investigated with Eleanor Helin, he initiated the famous; one fan still cherishes a mangled the Moon’s structure and history, and Palomar Planet-Crossing Survey coke can Gene had beaten in an angry fit developed methods of planetary geologic and designed a new stereomicroscope for with a metal detector that fooled him into mapping using telescopic images of the asteroid and detection on thinking the can was a piece of Canyon Moon. photographic film. Diablo meteorite. Gene wanted to be an , but in In the late 1970s, Gene proposed that Gene died in a car accident on July 18, 1962 was diagnosed with Addison’s Carolyn work with him, and she began a 1997, in Alice Springs, Australia, on a disease and knew he couldn’t pass the study of astronomy. In 1982, the two field-mapping trip with Carolyn, who stringent physical examination. Instead, he began the Palomar Asteroid and Comet survived and continues her work at the served as acting director of NASA’s Survey. For the next 15 years, they worked USGS. Colleagues knew of his unfulfilled Manned Space Sciences Division, which at the USGS in Flagstaff, with periodic dream to reach the Moon, and they granted developed and financed the scientific excursions to Palomar to observe the skies his wish. On January 6, 1998, a small program on manned space flights. He was and summer trips to Australia to map polycarbonate capsule carrying an ounce of involved in the Lunar Ranger and Surveyor impact craters on Earth. Their work was his cremated remains traveled to the Moon programs and continued with the manned featured in a 1997 National Geographic aboard NASA’s Lunar Prospector spacecraft. Apollo programs. documentary “Asteroids: Deadly Impact.” In 1963, Gene pushed to establish a Gene retired from the USGS in 1993, but For more on Shoemaker: USGS Field Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, held an emeritus position with the USGS Bell, J.N., 1971, Eugene Shoemaker, in Science Year: The World Book Science Annual 1972: Chicago, Field which had a tradition of astronomical and was affiliated with Lowell Observatory Enterprises Educational Corp., 443 p. observation and was close to Meteor in Flagstaff. Boatman’s Quarterly Review, 2000, Gene Shoemaker: Crater and a volcanic field, both of which Journal Grand Canyon River Guides, Inc., v. 13, no. 1, were valuable for lunar comparisons. He Diversification and Awards p. 28–41. helped train the Apollo in Gene influenced science in numerous Levy, D.H., 2000, Shoemaker: The man who made an geologic fieldwork around Flagstaff, and, ways. He combined his knowledge of the impact: Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 256 p. as the first lunar landing was televised, Colorado Plateau with his love of river Shoemaker, C.S., 1999, Ups and downs in planetary gave expert geologic commentary from a running to re-shoot, with his friend and science: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science, seat next to Walter Cronkite of CBS-TV. USGS co-worker, Hal Stevens, the v. 27, p. 1–17. After Surveyor I landed on the Moon in photogaphs taken on John Wesley U.S. Geological Survey, 2000, Eugene M. Shoemaker June 1966, Gene resigned as a NASA Powell’s second exploration of the (1928–1997): wwwflag.wr.usgs.gov/USGSFlag/Space/ administrator and took on full-time Colorado River (1871–1872). The new Shoemaker/GeneObit.html. research responsibilities as the chief Wilhelms, D.E., 1993, To a rocky moon: A geologist’s images showed that many features looked history of lunar exploration: Tucson, Arizona, University scientist with the Astrogeology Branch of as they had in Powell’s time, but that of Arizona Press, 477 p. the USGS. Although he enjoyed working landslides, floods, or other short-term The Rock Stars series is produced by the GSA on Apollo 11, 12, and 13, the travel was events caused some major changes. This History of Geology Division. This profile was taxing and the politics wearisome. Gene spoke against strict uniformitarianism in edited by Kennard Bork ([email protected]). turned to academia, teaching at Caltech, river systems. The men published “In the and focused on terrestrial topics and Footsteps of John Wesley Powell” in 1987. astronomy. He returned to lunar studies in Gene’s exploration of Australia resulted 1994, serving as science-team leader for in the discovery of one new crater, the Project Clementine, which incorporated confirmation of 20 proposed craters, and new data concerning the Moon. mapping of fields. A decade-long sky survey for Earth-crossing asteroids and Caltech, Academic Life, comets culminated in the discovery, with wife Carolyn and David Levy, of Comet and Asteroid Surveys Shoemaker-Levy 9. This comet impacted From 1962 to 1985, Gene blended his Jupiter in 1994, giving the world of science astrogeology research for the USGS with a major new insight into both the part-time teaching at Caltech. He chaired dynamics of comets and the planetary its Division of Geological and Planetary science of Jupiter. Sciences from 1969 to 1972, but preferred Gene was the recipient of myriad to teach. According to one of his doctoral awards, including honorary doctorates, the students, Susan Werner Kieffer, he was an NASA Medal for Scientific Achievement unfailingly generous and intellectually (1967), National Academy of Science honest mentor, preferring not to add his Member (1980), the GSA’s Arthur L. Day name to students’ work. His stay at Caltech Medal (1982) and G.K. Gilbert Award allowed him time to pursue his interest in (1983), the U.S. National Medal of Science age dating using paleomagnetism to date (1992, the highest scientific honor the of the Colorado bestowed by the president of the United Plateau. He founded two paleomagnetics Gene Shoemaker in his late twenties on States), American Academy of Arts and labs—at the USGS in Flagstaff and at the Colorado Plateau (1955). He considered Science Fellow (1993), and many others. Caltech. the plateau an “old love that kept tugging him back.”

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