Citation by D. Champion
Citation by D. Champion
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to present the citation of Dr. Shunso ISHIHARA – the second recipient of the SGA-NEWMONT GOLD MEDAL. Although I have known him for less than 10 years I have been influenced by his work for the last few decades. Dr. Ishihara graduated from Hiroshima University in 1956. In 1961 and 1962 he studied at the Colorado School of Mines and he graduated with an MA from Columbia University in New York in 1963. In 1970 the University of Tokyo awarded him its degree of Doctor of Science. Between and after his degrees Dr Ishihara was employed within Japanese government agencies, principally the Geological Survey of Japan, until 1993. From 1989 to 1991 he was Director of the Geological Survey of Japan and from 1991 to 1993 he was the Director-General of the Agency of International Science and Technology. From 1993 to 1997 he was a Professor of Geology at Hokkaido University. Following his retirement from that position he has remained extremely active, has travelled very widely, and is a Special Councillor to the Geological Survey of Japan.
During this period Dr Ishihara has published 251 original papers, which includes 156 written in English and 95 in Japanese. He has also written or edited twelve books, six in Japanese and six in English. Dr Shunso Ishihara has made many important contributions to our science during his distinguished career as a research geologist and administrator. His research is very much focussed on mineralisation and he has made a major contribution to understanding the relationship between different types of mineralisation and various types of granites. He is best known for his recognition of the magnetite-series and ilmenite-series granite scheme – a concept he has continued to develop and apply to many other granites, including the mineralised Circum-Pacific. Dr Ishihara’s recognition of “oxidised” and “reduced” granites has been fundamental cornerstone to developing an understanding of the role of granite geochemistry, e.g., the oxygen fugacity, has on associated mineralisation. The recognition of the association of Sn, W, Mo and Cu mineralisation with granites of different oxidation states by Dr Ishihara predated experimental studies which have demonstrated the relationship between the behaviour of those elements and oxygen fugacity. He was first to point out that the degree of oxidation of a granite magma may be related to geographic location, also with important implications for associated mineralisation. Although the magnetite-ilmenite scheme was introduced in 1971, it remains the basis for the metallogenic classification of granites to this day. It can be applied equally well using either field, laboratory-based or airborne (remote) methods. His research is a unique and substantial contribution to developing our understanding of mineralisation. Dr Ishihara also has had a distinguished administrative career with the Japanese government, culminating with the responsibility for all research in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
Dr Ishihara’s contributions to science have been recognised by many organisations. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of America (1999), and a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Science (2003). He has also received a number of awards and medals, including a Silver Medal, from the Society of Economic Geologists (1989).
Although now retired, he is very active and remains extremely influential in Japanese science, industry and government. He has played an important role in various international meetings in Japan, e.g., Secretary General of the Kyoto International Geological Congress. He also continues to facilitate contact between Japan and other countries, as anyone who has experienced his hospitality in Japan can attest. He continues to travel widely and many of us have been fortunate to have the pleasure of showing him some local geology.
On behalf of the SGA I would like to congratulate Dr. Ishihara, and wish him the best for continued achievements in the geosciences, and good luck in his private life.
Townsville, August 20th, 2009
Prepared and presented by:
Dr. Dave Champion
Geoscience Australia
The 2009 SGA-Newmont Gold medal is awarded to Dr Shuso Ishihara. The citation was presented by Dr D. Champion. Read Dr Ishiara's acceptance:
Mr. President，Dear colleague, and ladies and gentlemen.
It is great honor for me to receive the second SGA-New Mont Gold Medal. Ｉ would deeply appreciate the recognition of importance of fO2 of granitic magmas for metal concentration.
Ｉ was born and raised in eastern suburbs of Hiroshima city, which is located in the center of the largest granitic batholith of Cretaceous-Paleogene age in Japan. In August 6, 1945, I discovered by sight B29 flying over our primary school at 10 minutes after 8 o’clock, then crossing over the Hiroshima city. I saw flashing of A-bomb at 5.2 km distance, few seconds later, I was blown down together with wooden-window frame and ceiling of the primary school. I was the 6th grade at the age of 11. We had to take care of many burned and injured people escaped from the city in that afternoon.
When I entered to the Geological Survey of Japan in April, 1956, peaceful use of atomic energy of the Japanese government was initiated. All the new comers were located in the nuclear-resource section. I found good uraninite concentration in molybdenite-quartz vein deposits in the largest Mo mine, called Higashiyama. Therefore, I had a good excuse to study molybdenum-deposits, and continued it to PhD.
When I finished to study all the molybdenum-deposits in Japan, I found that quantitatively (i.e., production plus reserves), nearly all the molybdenum deposits occur along the marginal sea side, but tungsten deposits along the Pacific side of the batholith. Molybdenite is falky and very visible often together with wolframite and scheelite. Therefore, in the previous metallogenic maps, the symbol, Mo, is described both in molybdenum and tungsten deposits.
About the host rocks, I also found over 97 % of molybdenum was hosted in granites, nearly 50 % of tungsten is hosted in granites, implying that there must be some difference in the granites from the ore geology view. However, then-current petrologist summary was that they are the same younger-type pink granites. Then, I asked our Research Planning Office in 1969 to do 22 days field work in the Tungsten province. The following modal analyses indicated clear difference in the amount of opaque minerals, which is due to difference in magnetite content.
I have been thinking genesis of the Japanese largest molybdenum deposits, since I visited there in 1957. I have been thinking it even when I was studying Questa Mo deposits in U.S.A. for my Master Degree. I feel “continuous thinking” and/ or “power of thinking” is most essential to have new idea and to make progress in science.
August is a special month for me, because I saw hundreds of burned and injured people escaping by walking from Hiroshima city in the afternoon of August, 6. For this experience, we have been saying “No more Hiroshima” in the past. Now un-necessity of nuclear weapon is more widely recognized, as shown by the U.S. President Obama’s speech in Prague, last April. Ｉhope we have a better future in the coming centry..
Thank you for your attention.
Shunso Ishihara