24th May, 2023 12:00
Fine Instruments of Science, Medicine and Books
Original Hand Written Lecture Notes of Alfred Harker, Cambridge, 1925, and others
A handwritten text book titled 'A Harker Metamorphism, Cambridge Lecture Term 1925, with 174 pages of hand written notes and diagrams, half calf Purple leather with marbled end papers, along with a number of offprints 'The History of X-Ray Analysis, Sir Lawrence Bragg, 1946; The Structure of Silicates By W. L. Bragg, 1930; On The Internal Structure of Some Gold Crystals, A. Liversidge; Note on a sill in N. W. Donegal (Irish Free State) and The Contact Relations of the Donegal Granite, Gerald Andrew, signed to George Hickling; a hand written book on crystallography and geology with many illustrations, along with a few other papers and off prints (a lot)
Alfred Harker (19 February 1859 – 28 July 1939) was an English geologist who made significant contributions to the study of metamorphic rocks. Born on February 19, 1859, in Kingston upon Hull, England, Harker was educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned a degree in geology in 1881. He went on to become a professor of geology at the University of Manchester, where he remained until his retirement in 1924.
Harker was a prolific author and researcher, and he made important contributions to many areas of geology, including petrology, mineralogy, and structural geology. However, he is perhaps best known for his work on metamorphic rocks, which are rocks that have been altered by heat, pressure, and chemical reactions.
Harker's interest in metamorphic rocks was sparked by his studies of the Scottish Highlands, where he observed the complex relationships between the different types of rocks and the structures they formed. He realized that metamorphic rocks could provide valuable information about the conditions and processes that shaped the Earth's crust over time.
Harker's research on metamorphic rocks led him to develop a new classification system based on their mineralogy and texture. In 1903, he published a landmark paper on the topic, in which he proposed a fourfold classification scheme that is still used by geologists today.
Harker's classification system divided metamorphic rocks into four main types: (1) quartzites, which are composed mostly of quartz; (2) calc-silicate rocks, which contain both calcium-rich silicates and carbonate minerals; (3) mica-schists, which are characterized by the presence of mica minerals; and (4) hornfels, which are formed by the metamorphism of rocks that were originally rich in calcium or magnesium.
Harker's classification system was based on the observation that the mineralogy and texture of metamorphic rocks are related to the conditions under which they were formed. For example, quartzites are typically formed by the recrystallization of sandstone under high pressure and temperature, while mica-schists are formed from the alteration of clay-rich rocks.
In addition to his work on metamorphic rocks, Harker also made important contributions to the study of igneous rocks, particularly in the areas of petrology and mineralogy. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1909 in recognition of his contributions to the field of geology.
Alfred Harker died on July 28, 1939, at the age of 80. His legacy as a pioneering geologist and mineralogist continues to influence the study of metamorphic rocks and the understanding of the Earth's geological history.
A handwritten text book titled 'A Harker Metamorphism, Cambridge Lecture Term 1925, with 174 pages of hand written notes and diagrams, half calf Purple leather with marbled end papers, along with a number of offprints 'The History of X-Ray Analysis, Sir Lawrence Bragg, 1946; The Structure of Silicates By W. L. Bragg, 1930; On The Internal Structure of Some Gold Crystals, A. Liversidge; Note on a sill in N. W. Donegal (Irish Free State) and The Contact Relations of the Donegal Granite, Gerald Andrew, signed to George Hickling; a hand written book on crystallography and geology with many illustrations, along with a few other papers and off prints (a lot)
Alfred Harker (19 February 1859 – 28 July 1939) was an English geologist who made significant contributions to the study of metamorphic rocks. Born on February 19, 1859, in Kingston upon Hull, England, Harker was educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned a degree in geology in 1881. He went on to become a professor of geology at the University of Manchester, where he remained until his retirement in 1924.
Harker was a prolific author and researcher, and he made important contributions to many areas of geology, including petrology, mineralogy, and structural geology. However, he is perhaps best known for his work on metamorphic rocks, which are rocks that have been altered by heat, pressure, and chemical reactions.
Harker's interest in metamorphic rocks was sparked by his studies of the Scottish Highlands, where he observed the complex relationships between the different types of rocks and the structures they formed. He realized that metamorphic rocks could provide valuable information about the conditions and processes that shaped the Earth's crust over time.
Harker's research on metamorphic rocks led him to develop a new classification system based on their mineralogy and texture. In 1903, he published a landmark paper on the topic, in which he proposed a fourfold classification scheme that is still used by geologists today.
Harker's classification system divided metamorphic rocks into four main types: (1) quartzites, which are composed mostly of quartz; (2) calc-silicate rocks, which contain both calcium-rich silicates and carbonate minerals; (3) mica-schists, which are characterized by the presence of mica minerals; and (4) hornfels, which are formed by the metamorphism of rocks that were originally rich in calcium or magnesium.
Harker's classification system was based on the observation that the mineralogy and texture of metamorphic rocks are related to the conditions under which they were formed. For example, quartzites are typically formed by the recrystallization of sandstone under high pressure and temperature, while mica-schists are formed from the alteration of clay-rich rocks.
In addition to his work on metamorphic rocks, Harker also made important contributions to the study of igneous rocks, particularly in the areas of petrology and mineralogy. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1909 in recognition of his contributions to the field of geology.
Alfred Harker died on July 28, 1939, at the age of 80. His legacy as a pioneering geologist and mineralogist continues to influence the study of metamorphic rocks and the understanding of the Earth's geological history.
