THE GEOCHEMICAL NEWS Quarterly Newsletter of The Geochemical Society NUMBER 100 ISSN 0016-7010 JULY 1999 Digging for the Roots of Geochemistry 9th V.M. Goldschmidt Conference In this issue: Harvard University Cambridge, MA, U. S. A. August 22-27, 1999 Van der Weijden Retires..................................7 Digging for the Roots of Geochemistry..........10 Contact: In Memoriam - Werner Stumm......................16 When Did The Earth’s Atmosphere Become Stein B. Jacobsen Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Oxic? A Reply.....................................20 Harvard University Meetings Calendar .........................................23 Cambridge MA 02138 U.S.A. GS Special Publications..................................26 Phone: 617-495-5233 GS Membership Application .........................27 Fax: 617-496-4387 E-mail: [email protected] (see page 5 for more information) 2 The Geochemical News #100, July 1999 THE GEOCHEMICAL SOCIETY The Geochemical Society is a nonprofit scientific society founded to encourage the application of chemistry to the solution of geologi- cal and cosmological problems. Membership is international and diverse in background, encompassing such fields as organic geochem- istry, high and low-temperature geochemistry, petrology, meteorit- ics, fluid-rock interaction, and isotope geochemistry. The Society produces a Special Publications Series, The Geochemical News OFFICERS - 1999 (this quarterly newsletter), the Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochem- istry Series (jointly with the Mineralogical Association of America), PRESIDENT Michael J. Drake, University of Arizona and the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (jointly with the Meteoritical Society); grants the V.M. Goldschmidt, F.W. Clarke VICE PRESIDENT and Clair C. Patterson Awards, and, jointly with the European Michael F. Hochella, Jr., Virginia Polytechnic Institute Association of Geochemistry, the Geochemistry Fellows title; spon- sors the V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, held in North American PAST PRESIDENT Alex N. Halliday, ETH Zurich in odd years and elsewhere in even years, jointly with the European Association of Geochemistry; and co-sponsors the Geological Soci- SECRETARY ety of America annual meeting and the American Geophysical Union David J. Wesolowski, Oak Ridge National Laboratory spring meeting. The Society honors the memory of our first Presi- dent, F. Earl Ingerson, and our first Goldschmidt Medalist, Paul INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY S. Ross Taylor, Australian National University W. Gast, with the Ingerson and Gast Lectures, held annually at the Geological Society of America Meeting and the V.M. Goldschmidt TREASURER Conference, respectively. The Geochemical Society is affiliated Donald Elthon, National Science Foundation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Union of Geological Sciences. CHAIR, ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY DIVISION Michael D. Lewan, U. S. Geological Survey Members of the Organic Geochemistry Division are individu- als with interests in studies on the origin, nature, geochemical sig- SECRETARY, ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY DIVISION nificance, and behavior during diagenesis and catagenesis of natu- Steve A. Macko, University of Virginia rally occurring organic substances in the Earth, and of extraterres- trial organic matter. GS members may choose to be affiliated with the OGD without any additional dues. The OGD presents the Alfred E. Treibs Award for major achievements in organic geochemistry, DIRECTORS and Best Paper awards (student and professional) in organic geochemistry. Jochen Hoefs, Universität Göttingen Albrecht W. Hoffman, Max Planck Institut f. Chemie Alexandra Navrotsky, University of California - Davis Editor’s Corner R. Keith O’Nions, Oxford University K. Vala Ragnarsdottir, University of Bristol Everett L. Shock, Washington University See you at the Goldschmidt Conference. Lynn M. Walter, University of Michigan Neil C. Sturchio, Executive Editor Phone: 630-252-3986 The Geochemical News Fax: 630-252-7415 Argonne National Laboratory Email: [email protected] EDITORS 9700 South Cass Ave., ER-203 Argonne, IL 60439-4843 U.S.A. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA Karl K. Turekian, Yale University ASSOCIATE EDITORS GEOCHEMICAL NEWS David Cole, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Neil C. Sturchio, Argonne National Laboratory Yoko Furukawa, Naval Research Laboratory John M. Hanchar, University of Notre Dame INTERNET COORDINATOR Kenneth Johnson, Texas Tech University Mark Bloom, rocketGeoscience Mitch Schulte, NASA Ames Research Center SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS AND Angelina W. M. G. Souren, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam REVIEWS IN MINERALOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY (CO-EDITOR) ASSISTANT EDITOR Scott Wood, University of Idaho Dolores Sturchio, Oswego, Illinois Newsletter of The Geochemical Society The Geochemical News #100, July 1999 3 Geochemical Transactions Geological Society Of America Selects Sara Foland As New ExecutiveDirector/CEO The ACS Division of Geochemistry, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Chemistry, is proud to announce the publi- Sara S. Foland, CEO and president of Farallon Energy cation of Geochemical Transactions, a fully electronic journal Group Ltd., Denver, has been named executive director/chief ex- devoted to all areas of geochemical research. ecutive officer of the Geological Society of America. Her ap- Mission Statement pointment is effective June 30, 1999. She succeeds Donald M. Geochemical Transactions is intended to provide a Davidson, Jr., executive director of GSA since 1994, who will medium for the rapid publication of high quality research in all retire at the end of June. areas of chemistry as it relates to materials and processes Gail Ashley, president of GSA and professor of geology occurring in the Earth’s aquasphere and geosphere. Reports at Rutgers University, is enthusiastic about Foland’s role and con- describing the results of novel investigations of geochemical tribution to GSA’s future. “Sara is joining us at a time of growth and/or biogeochemical processes, molecular and isotopic and development in new directions,” said Ashley. “Her leader- analyses of geologic and hydrologic products, molecular and ship experience in business and on boards of not-for-profit orga- elemental cycles and instrumental or analytical techniques nizations will serve GSA well.” applying to the foregoing will be published. Numeric or When asked about her goals for the organization, Foland computational models of these processes will also be said, “GSA is all about science, stewardship and service. We considered. Both fundamental and applied research reports will have a long-standing tradition of academic excellence that will be welcome. Articles, communications and technical comments continue. At the same time, we’re expanding our commitment to on published research are welcome. Invited topical reviews geoscience in service of society. We see ourselves as stewards of may also be published from time to time. earth-science knowledge and of Earth itself.” At Farallon Energy Group, Foland built an organization Editorial Board and investment portfolio for acquiring gas-producing properties Dr. Ken B. Anderson, Argonne National Laboratory throughout the United States. Prior to joining Farallon, she held Dr. William Casey, University of California, Davis leadership and geotechnical positions at Amoco Production Com- Dr. George Luther, University of Delaware pany in Denver. Dr. David Rickard, Cardiff University Foland earned Bachelor of Science degrees in geology and chemistry and an Executive MBA from Indiana University. Dr. Scott Wood, University of Idaho She holds an M.S. in geology from the University of Montana, and will complete a Ph.D. in tectonics at the University of Cali- Initial Call for Papers: ~September 1999 fornia-Santa Cruz in the next year. First Papers Published: ~January 2000 Foland has been a member of GSA since 1983. She is also a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geolo- CALL FOR NOMINATIONS gists, the American Geophysical Union, the Society of Explora- tion Geophysicists, the Rocky Mountain Association of Geolo- The National Academy of Sciences is accepting gists, Sigma Xi, and the American Association of nominations for the NAS Award for Initiatives in Re- University Women. search, sponsored by Lucent Technologies, to recognize The Geological Society of America, founded in 1888, is a 16,000-member scientific society headquartered in Boulder, innovative work by a young scientist in geochemistry/geo- Colorado. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA physics. The prize will be given to a young investigator supports integrated science, encouraging cooperative research (preferably no older than age 35) who is a citizen of the among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists. The Society United States. Nominations accepted through September also fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports 1, 1999. all levels of earth-science education. The National Academy of Sciences is accepting nominations for the J. Lawrence Smith Medal, awarded for an original and meritorious investigation of meteoric bodies. Nominations accepted through September 1, 1999. National Academy of Sciences Awards Program, Room 185 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20418 Phone: (202) 334-1602/Fax: (202) 334-2153 E-mail: [email protected] Web: national-academies.org/nas/ Newsletter of The Geochemical Society 4 The Geochemical News #100, July 1999 Business Manager Lee Mobley phone: 614-487-8290 1350 West Fifth Avenue fax: 614-486-7065