Background
Ernest Masson Anderson was born on August 9, 1877 in Falkirk, Scotland. He was a son of Rev. John Anderson and Annie Masson, daughter of a minister.
High School of Dundee
The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
1783 Royal Society Edinburgh Silver medal
The Wollaston Medal
(Excerpt from The Economic Geology of the Central Coal-Fie...)
Excerpt from The Economic Geology of the Central Coal-Field of Scotland, Description Carboniferous Limestone Series. Calciferous Sandstone Series. The Calciferous Sandstone Series is divided in the map into lavas (whinstone) and overlying sediments. Similarly the Coal Measures are divided into Productive Measures, and the overlying Barren or Red Measures. The lava flows of Calciferous Sandstone age are the Oldest rocks exposed in the area. They form part of the Cathkin Hills, which may be regarded as an elevated fault-block, Since it is bounded on almost every side by faults.
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geologist geophysicist mathematician scientist tectonist
Ernest Masson Anderson was born on August 9, 1877 in Falkirk, Scotland. He was a son of Rev. John Anderson and Annie Masson, daughter of a minister.
Ernest was educated at Falkirk High School and the High School of Dundee before attending the University of Edinburgh, where he received a B.Sc. in 1897, an M.A. with first class honours in mathematics and natural philosophy in 1898, and a D.Sc. in 1933.
Anderson joined the Geological Survey of Great Britain in 1903. Except during 1916-1917, when he served in the army and was wounded in France, he worked in Scotland. Temporary ill health forced him to retire as a senior geologist in 1928.
In 1905 Anderson gave the first explanation of the dynamic basis of the three main classes of faults reversed, normal, and wrench (a term he preferred to “transcurrent” or “strike-slip”). He later extended his structural studies in discussions of the dynamics of intrusion of igneous sheets and dikes and of the formation of cauldron subsidences (1924, 1936, 1937, 1938). The Dynamics of Faulting and Dyke Formation (1942, 1951) has been acclaimed by W. B. Harland as a landmark in structural geology. E. S. Hills, however, has criticized some applications of Anderson’s theories; H. Jeffreys has questioned certain of his views on fracture; and G. R. Robson and K. G. Barr have rejected a postulate in his theory of igneous intrusion.
Anderson’s theory regarding lineation in schists of the Scottish Highlands was inspired by the work of his Geological Survey supervisor C. T. Clough. From kinematic analysis Anderson inferred that lineations, which may be due to subcruslal convection currents, are parallel to the direction of transport or shear, and that the planes of quartz and mica girdles are normal to that direction (1923,1948,1952). These unorthodox views were supported by A. Kvale and W. Q. Kennedy and criticized by G. Wilson and F. C. Phillips. E. S. Hills accepted Anderson’s theory in part only.
Anderson’s geophysical work stemmed from his early temperature studies in deep bores and colliery workings in Scotland (1909). He later amplified his discussion of heat flow in relation to Britain and the earth’s crust in general (1934,1938, 1940). His detailed criticism of the thermal carth-contraction theory (1934) led to his collaboration with W. Q. Kennedy; he and Kennedy suggested that basaltic magmas originate by the fusion of crustal layers at certain depths (1938). This idea has been used, with modifications, by A. F. Buddington, A. G. MacGregor, and F. Walker.
Anderson made an important contribution to mineral optics by giving the first fully satisfactory explanation of the “Becke line” effect seen in transparent mineral sections under the microscope (1910). He also dealt with other optical problems (1912, 1914, 1933).
Anderson died in Edinburgh in 1960.
(Excerpt from The Economic Geology of the Central Coal-Fie...)
Anderson is known as a Christian free-thinker.
Anderson`s personality was rather self-effacing, and, in spite of outstanding mathematical ability, he was characterized by his innate courtesy.
In 1915 Anderson married Alice Catherine Esson, by whom he had two daughters.