Daniel M. Barringer
Daniel Moreau Barringer was an American mining engineer and geologist best known for his work on the Meteor Crater in Arizona. Here are some key points about his life and contributions:
- Birth: Barringer was born on May 25, 1860, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Education: He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1882 with a degree in mining engineering.
- Career in Mining: After his education, Barringer began his career in the mining industry, working on various projects, including gold mines in North Carolina and copper mines in Arizona.
- Meteor Crater: In 1902, Barringer became fascinated with the Meteor Crater, then known as "Cooney's Crater." He hypothesized that the crater was formed by a meteorite impact, a theory not widely accepted at the time.
- Research and Investment: Barringer invested his personal fortune in drilling and exploration to find the meteorite, believing it would contain valuable metals. Despite not finding a large iron deposit, his work helped prove the impact origin of the crater.
- Legacy: Although he did not live to see the full acceptance of his theory, his work laid the foundation for the field of impact crater research. The crater was later named Barringer Crater in his honor.
- Death: Barringer died on November 30, 1929, in Philadelphia, before his theories were fully validated.
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