Joseph W. Greig (1895–1977) was a Canadian-born American
geochemist and
physical chemist, a pioneer in high temperature
phase equilibria and
immiscibility
Miscibility () is the property of two substances to mix in all proportions (that is, to fully dissolve in each other at any concentration), forming a homogeneous mixture (a solution). The term is most often applied to liquids but also applies ...
investigations of
oxide
An oxide () is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom and one other element in its chemical formula. "Oxide" itself is the dianion of oxygen, an O2– (molecular) ion. with oxygen in the oxidation state of −2. Most of the E ...
s and
sulfide
Sulfide (British English also sulphide) is an inorganic anion of sulfur with the chemical formula S2− or a compound containing one or more S2− ions. Solutions of sulfide salts are corrosive. ''Sulfide'' also refers to chemical compounds lar ...
s. His name has been assigned to a new
magnetic mineral,
greigite () discovered in 1963, increasing to nine the number of minerals known to have been named after Queen's geologists.
Career
Greig was born in Ontario, Canada in 1895. He studied geology and mineralogy at
Queen's University Queen's or Queens University may refer to:
*Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada
*Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
**Queen's University of Belfast (UK Parliament constituency) (1918–1950)
**Queen's University of Belfast ...
before graduating at
Columbia University. He received his Ph.D. from
Harvard University and then worked at the
Carnegie Institute for thirty-eight years. Once he retired in 1960, he became a visiting professor at
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...
. He also served in the
World War I with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and in the second World War with the United States
Bomber Command in the
Pacific Theatre.
[Keith, M. L. (1978). Memorial of Joseph W. Greig, 1895-1977. American Mineralogist, 63(5-6), 607-609]
In Memoriam.
/ref>
He was known and appreciated for his critical mind, very helpful for reviewing scientific papers and improving research proposals. As he first applied his criticism to his own works more than to these of others, it was also an obstacle to his publications and many of his works remain unpublished for this reason.
Greigite (Fe3S4)
In 1963, a newly-discovered mineral was named "greigite" in his honor and in recognition of his contributions to mineralogy and physical chemistry. The new mineral, , a magnetic iron sulfide, equivalent of magnetite (), was discovered in San Bernardino County, California, by the US Geological Survey.
References
External links
Geology at Queens
Memorial of Joseph W. Greig
1895 births
1977 deaths
Canadian emigrants to the United States
American physical chemists
American geochemists
Harvard University alumni
Queen's University at Kingston alumni
Columbia University alumni
{{US-chemist-stub