Professor Steve Weaver (Geological Sciences) presented Dr Brian Mason in
absentia for his honorary DSc on Friday morning, April 19.
"The name Brian Harold Mason - geochemist, mineralogist and specialist in
the study of meteorites is known worldwide within the geological community.
He has had a long association with the University of Canterbury and the
Canterbury region.
"Brian Mason was born in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, in 1917 and was brought up
in Christchurch, attending Christchurch Boys' High School. During summer
vacations, Brian spent time on an uncle's farm at the foot of the Seaward
Kaikoura Mountains, where his interest was aroused by the spectacular local
geology. He started studies at Canterbury University College in 1934 and
his intense interest in mineralogy and petrology (the study of rocks) began
to grow. Unfortunately there was very little teaching in these subjects at
Canterbury at that time, but this did not discourage Brian Mason. I read
from his biography entitled From Mountains to Meteorites.
'In those days the exams were set and marked by English examiners. From
looking at old exam papers it was clear to me that the examiner set the
same questions year after year, so I was able to prepare the regular
question "Describe Bowen's reaction series" and throw in some formulae and
phase rule diagrams. All the students had code names, and mine was
"Aware". Professor Allan (who was in charge of geology at Canterbury) was
quite startled when the examiner's report said "Aware shows a remarkable
grasp of mineralogy and petrology".'
"You may be interested to learn that the Department of Geological Sciences
at Canterbury now does specialise in petrology and mineralogy and, what's
more, we do change the examination questions every year!
"In 1939, Brian Mason graduated with masters degrees in chemistry and
geology, both with first-class honours. He went on to obtain a PhD at the
University of Stockholm, Sweden, and returned to Canterbury, where he was
lecturer in geology from 1944 to 1947. He then began an illustrious career
in the United States, initially as professor of mineralogy at Indiana
University before moving to New York in 1953, where he was appointed
curator of mineralogy at the American Museum of Natural History. He also
held the position of professor of mineralogy at Columbia University. In
1965, Brian became curator of mineralogy at the prestigious Smithsonian
Institution, Washington, retiring in 1984, but is still active today as
Curator Emeritus.
"Brian has been a prolific publisher of more than 230 scientific papers and
seven books. His book Principles of Geochemistry, first published
in 1952, was known to generations of students. It was the only book of its
kind and stayed in print for 40 years, running to four editions.
"When Brian moved to the American Museum of Natural History, he began to
check and catalogue the meteorite collection. This led him to pioneer the
systematic mineralogical and chemical study of meteorites. He led
expeditions in 1963, '64 and '65 to collect meteorite samples from the
deserts of Australia. Later, he began work on Antarctic meteorites, which
are concentrated in large numbers by natural glacial processes.
"Brian Mason has examined, classified and described more meteorites than
any other human being. One of these, in 1982, Brian positively identified
as the first lunar meteorite - a fragment of the Moon found on Earth, its
identification aided by his work on the collections of the Apollo missions
some years earlier. Brian has discovered seven minerals new to science.
Two new minerals are named after him and an asteroid in the belt between
Mars and Jupiter has been named '12926 Brianmason'.
"Brian has followed in the US tradition of making donations to his Alma
Mater. He has been an extraordinarily generous benefactor, establishing
trusts at Canterbury Museum, the University of Canterbury and for the
Canterbury-Westland region for the purposes of scientific research and
education. Brian Mason is a quiet, modest, generous man and one of the
University of Canterbury's most famous earth science graduates.
"Unfortunately, Brian cannot be here with us today. It is, right now, in
Washington DC, where Brian Mason lives, April 18 - and Brian is celebrating
his 85th birthday. I send birthday greetings to him on behalf of the
University of Canterbury and his many friends and colleagues here in New
Zealand.
"Madam, I have the honour to present Brian Harold Mason for the conferment
of the degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa). The degree
testamur will be collected by his brother, Alan."
