Xie Xuejin (; 21 May 1923 – 24 February 2017) was a Chinese
geochemist
Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing the e ...
who won the AAG Gold Medal in 2007. Xie was considered as the ''Father of Geochemical Mapping in China''.
Biography
Xie was born 21 May 1923 in
Beijing
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Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
, with his ancestral home in
Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowin ...
. He was the son of the geologist
Xie Jiarong. From 1941 to 1945, Xie studied
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
and
chemistry at the College of Sciences of
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University, abbreviated as ZJU or Zheda and formerly romanized as Chekiang University, is a national public research university based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. It is a member of the prestigious C9 League and is selected into the n ...
. Xie also studied chemistry at
Chongqing University
Chongqing University (CQU; , colloquially abbreviated as ChóngDà) is a public research university located in Chongqing, China. It is a National Key University directly funded by the central government of China as part of the Double First Class ...
.
After graduation, Xie mainly worked for the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); ), known by Academia Sinica in English until the 1980s, is the national academy of the People's Republic of China for natural sciences. It has historical origins in the Academia Sinica during the Republi ...
(CAS). He was elected as an academician of CAS in 1980. Xie also taught as a professor at Changchun Geological College (later merged into
Jilin University),
Jilin Province
Jilin (; alternately romanized as Kirin or Chilin) is one of the three provinces of Northeast China. Its capital and largest city is Changchun. Jilin borders North Korea ( Rasŏn, North Hamgyong, Ryanggang and Chagang) and Russia (Prim ...
, China.
Research activities
During the 1970s and 1980s, Xie proposed and led the National geochemical mapping project and the China-Regional Geochemistry-National Reconnaissance (RGNR) Project. He also technically sponsored these programs, and initially emphasized and demonstrated by mapping the
gold mine Gold Mine may refer to:
* Gold Mine (board game)
*Gold Mine (Long Beach), an arena
*"Gold Mine", a song by Joyner Lucas from the 2020 album ''ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characteri ...
s in China's territory (see also
Gold mining in China
Gold mining in the People's Republic of China has made that country the world's largest gold producer. For the year 2007, gold output rose 12% from 2006 to to become the world's largest for the first time—overtaking South Africa, which pro ...
).
This RGNR project lasted for at least 24 years and scanned more than six million km
2 of China's mainland surface. The useful information offered from this mega program also contributed to about 80% new
mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. (2 ...
discoveries within recent two
decade
A decade () is a period of ten years. Decades may describe any ten-year period, such as those of a person's life, or refer to specific groupings of calendar years.
Usage
Any period of ten years is a "decade". For example, the statement that "du ...
s in China.
In the 1990s, Xie also contributed to the international standardization for methodology of world geochemical mapping.
Xie also further developed some new approaches of searching for buried giant
ore deposits
Ore is natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals, typically containing metals, that can be mined, treated and sold at a profit.Encyclopædia Britannica. "Ore". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 7 April ...
. Xie also proposed several deep-penetrating geochemical techniques and methods.
Academic assignments
Xie has served many academic positions including:
* Leader, the Geochemical Exploration Research Division of the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, CAS.
*
Deputy director, the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, CAS.
*
Honorary director, the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, CAS.
* Member of the
executive committee
A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more ...
of the
IGCP Board,
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
.
* Associate editor and the member of the
editorial board
The editorial board is a group of experts, usually at a publication, who dictate the tone and direction the publication's editorial policy will take.
Mass media
At a newspaper, the editorial board usually consists of the editorial page editor, ...
of the ''Journal of Geochemical Exploration''
* Member of the editorial board of the ''Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis''
* Member of the
central executive committee and the
chairman of the Analytical Technology Committee of the Global Geochemical Mapping Working Group,
IUGS.
Honors and awards
Xie received many honors and awards both from China and international organizations, especially the prestigious
AAG Gold Medal
The AAG Gold Medal is the highest award given by the international Association of Applied Geochemists (AAG). It recognizes recipients' lifetime achievements, or significant contributions to geochemistry and its applications. The medal is minted ...
from the Association of Applied Geochemists in June, 2007 at the 23rd International Geochemical Exploration Symposium banquet in
Oviedo,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, for "''his outstanding scientific achievements in exploration geochemistry''".
AAG Gold Medal 2007
Monograph
* ''Geochemistry: Proceedings of the 30th International Geological Congress'', by Xie Xuejing (Editor); Page: 288; Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
Brill Academic Publishers (known as E. J. Brill, Koninklijke Brill, Brill ()) is a Dutch international academic publisher founded in 1683 in Leiden, Netherlands. With offices in Leiden, Boston, Paderborn and Singapore, Brill today publishes 27 ...
(1 October 1997); Language: English; , .
References
External links
The Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation: Biography of XIE Xuejin
Association of Applied Geochemists: Professor Xie Xuejing, the AAG Gold Medal awardee
(Including photos)
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20081006044535/http://www.appliedgeochemists.org/awards/aw_gold_medal_winner_2007.html AAG Gold Medal 2007 (Including photo)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xie, Xuejin
1923 births
2017 deaths
Academic staff of Jilin University
Chemists from Beijing
Chinese geochemists
Chongqing University alumni
Educators from Beijing
Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhejiang University alumni