Charles Kenneth Leith

Charles Kenneth Leith ( born January 20, 1875 in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, † September 13, 1956 ) was an American geologist.

1892 Leith was hired by Charles R. Van Hise of the University of Wisconsin as a stenographer, so he worked at Van Hises publications. He was so fascinated by the subject of his daily work, he took off in 1897 Bachelor's degree in Geology, and the Ph.D. in 1901. As Van Hise was elected in 1903 as President of the University of Wisconsin, he appointed the 28 -year-old Leith Director of the geological faculty. He held this position until 1934, ie 31 years, and remained thereafter there until he took his retirement in 1945.

His early research dealt with the geology of the Lake Superior, so among other things with the ore deposits of the Mesabi Range. He wrote in 1913 that geological standard work Structural Geology. During his scientific career, he was a consultant for mineral exploration and evaluation of ore deposits and served as a consultant to the United States Shipping Board and the War Industries Board during World War II. He organized studies of world mineral reserves in the 1920s and was a member of numerous government agencies, including 1944-1956 American United States Atomic Energy Commission.

Leith was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and in 1942 was awarded the Penrose Medal of the Geological Society of America.

Works (selection)

• Charles Kenneth Leith: Structural Geology. Published by H. Holt and Company, 1913
• Charles Kenneth Leith: The Economic Aspect of Geology. Published by H. Holt and company, 1921