Earth scientist William Fyfe wins Canada Gold Medal

Earth scientist William Fyfe, 64, professor of geology at the University of Western Ontario in London, recently received the Canada Gold Medal. The award is given annually by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to recognize lifetime contributions to Canadian research.

In the 1970s, his study focused on processes that form and modify the crust of the earth, and on the formation of precious metals, particularly gold, deposits associated with these processes. Case studies include California’s Mother Lode, which hosts several gold mines, and the newly discovered gold deposits in the Himalayas and Tibet.

As well, Fyfe is noted for his lectures on the earth’s fragile ecosystems, which are threatened by human overpopulation and industrial practices. “We have worked with mining groups and studied the possibility of improving environmental technology for mining,” Fyfe told The Northern Miner. “Fifty years ago, most mining practices were rather careless, but today companies are aware of the problems involved and are investing a lot of money in research for cleanup operations.”

Fyfe earned his doctoral degree from the University of Otago in New Zealand. He had taught in the U.S. and England before he came to Canada in 1972. Among the many accolades given to Fyfe is the Geological Association of Canada’s Logan Medal in 1981 and he became a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1989.