Esther Applin
Esther Applin (November 24, 1895 – July 23, 1972) was an American geologist and paleontologist. Applin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919 from University of California, Berkley, later a Master's, focusing on microfossils. She was a leading figure in the use of microfossils to date rock formations for oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico region.
Early life and education
Applin was born on Esther Richards on November 24, 1895 in Newark, Ohio, to Gary Richards (a Civil Engineer with the United States Army, and Jennie DeVore. She grew up in Newark, and later Iowa, eventually moving to San Francisco at the age of 12. Richards lived on Alcatraz Island until 1920 while her father worked on the construction of Alcatraz Prison. Richards attended University of California, Berkley, graduating in 1919 with a degree in paleontology, geology, and physiography. Following her graduation Applin left California in 1920 for Houston to work for the Rio Bravo Oil company. While at Berkley Richards had focused her studies on larger fossils, however this theoretical education proved to be of little value for underground drilling, remnants of the fossils in drill cuttings were too small to effectively identify. She determined that the microfossils found in the drill cuttings could be useful in the correlation of underground rock formations. She then returned to California, and studied micropaleontology, earning a Master's degree. In 1923 Richards married Paul Applin, another geologist.[1]
Career
In 1921 Applin presented a paper in Amherst, Massachusetts, stating her theory that microfossils could be used in oil exploration, specifically the dating of the rock formations in the Gulf of Mexico region. Her theory was refuted by a University of Texas at Austin professor.[1] In 1925 Applin coauthored a paper which proved her findings that oil-bearing rock formations in the Gulf Coast region could be dated using microfossils.[2] Applin remained with Rio Bravo until 1927, continuing to lead the use of micropaleontology in the oil industry.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Memorials". American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin: 596. March 1973.
- ^ Richards Applin, Esther; Ellisor, Alva E.; Kniker, Hedwig T. (1925). "Subsurface Stratigraphy of the Coastal Plain of Texas and Louisiana". American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulliten. 9 (1): 79–122.