The Society of Economic Geologists Awards for 2008: R. A. F. Penrose Gold Medal for 2008 * Citation of Marco T. Einaudi

Abstract

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the Society, and guests: The R. A. F. Penrose Gold Medal is the Society’s highest award, in recognition of a full career in the performance of “unusually original work in the earth sciences,” and the 2008 award honors Marco T. Einaudi. John Dilles and I have great respect for Marco’s professional accomplishments, as well as a deep personal appreciation for him. Therefore, it is a tremendous honor for us to be part of this ceremony honoring him, as we attempt to represent his many students, his former colleagues at Stanford, Anaconda, and Harvard, and his family and friends around the world. We will try to summarize his contributions and give you a glimpse into the man and his passions, without repeating much that John Hunt and Ulrich Petersen offered in their citation of Marco for the SEG Silver Medal for 1993. Marco Einaudi, an exceptionally hard working perfectionist, has brought intense focus, keen observation, sound reasoning, and high standards to every aspect of economic geology, including mineral exploration and mine geology, original research, scientific writing and editing, teaching, advising, academic leadership, and service to the Society and its publication entities. As anyone who has seen his geologic maps can attest, the final products incorporate an artistic flourish without diminishing the rigor of the underlying work. Marco T. Einaudi was born the day before Christmas in 1939 in New York City into an extraordinary family. Marco is the grandson of Luigi Einaudi, whose name is etched in ice in the subglacial Hall of Freedom at Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps. Marco’s grandfather was a political columnist, a professor of economics, the first President of Italy after World War II, and …