Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Becker, George Ferdinand

BECKER, GEORGE FERDINAND, an American geologist, born in New York, Jan. 5, 1847; graduated at Harvard University in 1868; was Instructor of Mining and Metallurgy in the University of California in 1875-1879; attached to the United States Geological Survey since 1879, and Special Agent of the 10th Census, 1879-1883. He was appointed a special agent to examine into the mineral resources of the Philippine Islands in 1898 and was later placed in charge of the chemical and physical research division. United States Geological Survey. He was also geophysicist of the Carnegie Institution and a member of several scientific associations. His publications include “Geology of the Comstock Lode,” “Geology of the Quicksilver Deposits of the Pacific Slope,” “Age of Earth,” etc.