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'''Grenville Turner''' (born [[1 November]] [[1936]], [[Todmorden]]) is a research [[professor]] at the [[University of Manchester]]. He is one of the pioneers of [[cosmochemistry]].
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Grenville Turner {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=small|FRS}}
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1936|11|01}}
| birth_place = [[Todmorden]]
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
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| resting_place_coordinates = <!--
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| other_names =
| residence =
| citizenship = [[United Kingdom]]
| nationality =
| fields = [[Cosmochemistry]]<br/>[[Isotope geochemistry]]
| workplaces = [[University of Manchester]]<br/>[[University of Sheffield]]<br/>[[California Institute of Technology]]<br/>[[University of California, Berkeley]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Oxford]]<br/>[[University of Cambridge]]
| thesis_title =
| thesis_url =
| thesis_year = 1962
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| notable_students =
| known_for = [[Argon–argon dating]]
| author_abbrev_bot =
| author_abbrev_zoo =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = [[Rumford Medal]] {{small|(1996)}}<br>[[Urey Medal (European Association of Geochemistry)|Urey Medal]] {{small|(2002)}}<br>[[Fellow of the Royal Society]]<br/>[[Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society|Gold Medal of the RAS]]
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'''Grenville Turner''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|FRS}} (born 1 November 1936, in [[Todmorden]]) is a research [[professor]] at the [[University of Manchester]]. He is one of the pioneers of [[cosmochemistry]].


== Education ==
== Education ==
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* [[Balliol College, Oxford]]
* [[Balliol College, Oxford]]


In 1962, he was awarded his D.Phil ([[Oxford University]]'s equivalent of a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]) in [[nuclear physics]].
In 1962, he was awarded his D.Phil. ([[Oxford University]]'s equivalent of a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]) in [[nuclear physics]].


== Career ==
== Career ==
* [[University of California, Berkeley]]: assistant professor, 1962-64
* [[University of California, Berkeley]]: assistant professor, 1962–64
* [[University of Sheffield]]: lecturer in physics, 1964-74, senior lecturer 1974-79, reader 1979-80, professor 1980-88
* [[University of Sheffield]]: lecturer in physics, 1964–74, senior lecturer 1974–79, reader 1979–80, professor 1980–88
* [[Caltech]]: research associate, 1970-71
* [[Caltech]]: research associate, 1970–71
* [[University of Manchester]]: professor of isotope [[geochemistry]], Department of Earth Sciences, 1988-
* [[University of Manchester]]: professor of isotope [[geochemistry]], Department of Earth Sciences, 1988–
* Member of committees for [[SERC]], the [[British National Space Centre]] and [[PPARC]]
* Member of committees for [[Science and Engineering Research Council|SERC]], the [[British National Space Centre]] and [[PPARC]]


== Scientific work ==
== Scientific work ==
Professor Turner has been a leading figure in cosmochemistry since the 1960s. His pioneering work on [[rare gas]]es in [[meteorite]]s led him to develop the [[argon]]-dating technique that demonstrated the great age of meteorites and provided a precise chronology of rocks brought back by the [[Project Apollo|Apollo]] missions. He was one of the few UK scientists to be a Principal Investigator of these Apollo samples.
Professor Turner has been a leading figure in cosmochemistry since the 1960s. His pioneering work on [[rare gas]]es in [[meteorite]]s led him to develop the [[argon–argon dating]] technique that demonstrated the great age of meteorites and provided a precise chronology of rocks brought back by the [[Project Apollo|Apollo]] missions. He was one of the few UK scientists to be a Principal Investigator of these Apollo samples.


His argon-dating technique involved stepped [[pyrolysis]] of the rocks to force out the argon, then determining the [[isotope|isotopic]] ratios in the gas by [[mass spectrometry]]. This was later refined by the use of [[laser]]s. These techniques have been invaluable to cosmochemists and geochemists, and have been applied (by Turner and others) to determine the [[geochronology]] of [[diamond]]s and inclusions in them, and the precise ages of [[mantle (geology)|mantle]] and [[crust (geology)|crustal]] rocks from the Earth.
His argon-dating technique involved stepped [[pyrolysis]] of the rocks to force out the argon, then determining the [[isotope|isotopic]] ratios in the gas by [[mass spectrometry]]. This was later refined by the use of [[laser]]s. These techniques have been invaluable to cosmochemists and geochemists, and have been applied (by Turner and others) to determine the [[geochronology]] of [[diamond]]s and inclusions in them, and the precise ages of [[mantle (geology)|mantle]] and [[crust (geology)|crustal]] rocks from the Earth.
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He went on to develop even better techniques, such as [[iodine]]-[[xenon]] chronology. He used laser resonance ionisation of xenon to measure samples with only a few thousand atoms of xenon; this enabled him to get accurate data from tiny samples, including individual [[chondrule]]s. He could even trace secondary processes, such as alteration by heat, fluids or shock.
He went on to develop even better techniques, such as [[iodine]]-[[xenon]] chronology. He used laser resonance ionisation of xenon to measure samples with only a few thousand atoms of xenon; this enabled him to get accurate data from tiny samples, including individual [[chondrule]]s. He could even trace secondary processes, such as alteration by heat, fluids or shock.


Turner set up the first [[ion microprobe]] in the [[United Kingdom]] intended for use primarily for examining extraterrestrial material. He used it to measure oxygen-isotope variations in the [[Mars (planet)|Martian]] meteorite [[ALH 84001]]. His results cast light on the environment in which the carbonate grains and so-called microfossils in that meteorite formed.
Turner set up the first [[ion microprobe]] in the [[United Kingdom]] intended for use primarily for examining extraterrestrial material. He used it to measure oxygen-isotope variations in the [[Mars|Martian]] meteorite [[Allan Hills 84001|ALH 84001]]. His results cast light on the environment in which the carbonate grains and so-called microfossils in that meteorite formed.


He was a founder member, and continues to be a leader, of the UK Cosmochemical Analysis Network, a network of laboratories in research institutions that analyse extraterrestrial material.
He was a founder member, and continues to be a leader, of the UK Cosmochemical Analysis Network, a network of laboratories in research institutions that analyse extraterrestrial material.
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== Honours and awards ==
== Honours and awards ==
* Fellow of the [[Royal Society]], 1980 (member of Council 1990-92)
*Fellow of the [[Royal Society]], 1980 (member of Council 1990–92)
* Fellow, [[Meteoritical Society]], 1980
*Fellow, [[Meteoritical Society]], 1980
* [[Rumford Medal]] of the Royal Society, 1996
*[[Rumford Medal]] of the Royal Society, 1996
* Fellow, Geochemical Society and European Association of Geochemistry 1996
*Fellow, Geochemical Society and European Association of Geochemistry 1996
* Fellow, [[American Geophysical Union]], 1998
*Fellow, [[American Geophysical Union]], 1998
* [[Leonard Medal]] of the [[Meteoritical Society]], 1999
*[[Leonard Medal]] of the [[Meteoritical Society]], 1999
* [[Urey Medal (European Association for Geochemistry)|Urey Medal]] of the [[European Association for Geochemistry]], 2002
*[[Urey Medal (European Association of Geochemistry)|Urey Medal]] of the [[European Association of Geochemistry]], 2002
* [[Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society]] for geophysics, 2004
*[[Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society]] for geophysics, 2004


== References ==
== References ==
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* ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'', 2006
* ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]'', 2006
* [[The Observatory (astronomy)|''The Observatory'']], October 2005, p285-6
* [[The Observatory (astronomy)|''The Observatory'']], October 2005, p285-6

{{FRS 1980}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Grenville}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Grenville}}
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[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:People from Todmorden]]
[[Category:People from Todmorden]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the American Geophysical Union]]
[[Category:British geochemists]]
[[Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]]

Latest revision as of 14:52, 12 October 2023

Grenville Turner FRS
Born (1936-11-01) 1 November 1936 (age 87)
Todmorden
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Known forArgon–argon dating
AwardsRumford Medal (1996)
Urey Medal (2002)
Fellow of the Royal Society
Gold Medal of the RAS
Scientific career
FieldsCosmochemistry
Isotope geochemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of Manchester
University of Sheffield
California Institute of Technology
University of California, Berkeley
Thesis (1962)

Grenville Turner FRS (born 1 November 1936, in Todmorden) is a research professor at the University of Manchester. He is one of the pioneers of cosmochemistry.

Education[edit]

In 1962, he was awarded his D.Phil. (Oxford University's equivalent of a PhD) in nuclear physics.

Career[edit]

Scientific work[edit]

Professor Turner has been a leading figure in cosmochemistry since the 1960s. His pioneering work on rare gases in meteorites led him to develop the argon–argon dating technique that demonstrated the great age of meteorites and provided a precise chronology of rocks brought back by the Apollo missions. He was one of the few UK scientists to be a Principal Investigator of these Apollo samples.

His argon-dating technique involved stepped pyrolysis of the rocks to force out the argon, then determining the isotopic ratios in the gas by mass spectrometry. This was later refined by the use of lasers. These techniques have been invaluable to cosmochemists and geochemists, and have been applied (by Turner and others) to determine the geochronology of diamonds and inclusions in them, and the precise ages of mantle and crustal rocks from the Earth.

He went on to develop even better techniques, such as iodine-xenon chronology. He used laser resonance ionisation of xenon to measure samples with only a few thousand atoms of xenon; this enabled him to get accurate data from tiny samples, including individual chondrules. He could even trace secondary processes, such as alteration by heat, fluids or shock.

Turner set up the first ion microprobe in the United Kingdom intended for use primarily for examining extraterrestrial material. He used it to measure oxygen-isotope variations in the Martian meteorite ALH 84001. His results cast light on the environment in which the carbonate grains and so-called microfossils in that meteorite formed.

He was a founder member, and continues to be a leader, of the UK Cosmochemical Analysis Network, a network of laboratories in research institutions that analyse extraterrestrial material.

Despite having formally retired, he continues to be an active researcher. In 2004, he announced a plutonium-xenon technique for dating terrestrial materials.

Honours and awards[edit]

References[edit]

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