B. Clark Burchfiel

Burrell Clark Burchfiel (March 21, 1934 – February 9, 2024) was an American structural geologist. Born in Stockton, California, he earned his Ph.D. in 1961 at Yale University. His first academic appointment was to the Geology department at Rice University. He was the Schlumberger Professor Emeritus of Geology at MIT. Research interests: Origin, development, and structural evolution of the continental crust. His later work involved study of the geological history and evolution of the Tibetan Plateau.

Burchfiel joined the MIT faculty in 1976. Over his career he wrote close to 200 papers and mentored more than 50 graduate students.

Selected publications

B. C. Burchfiel and G. A. Davis, Nature and controls of Cordilleran orogenesis, western United States: Extensions of an earlier synthesis, American Journal of Science; 1975; v. 275; no. A; p. 363-396 B.C. Burchfiel, and G.A. Davis, 1981, Mojave Desert and environs, in Ernst, W.G., ed., The geotectonic development of California (Rubey volume 1): Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, p. 217-252. Abstract Abstract

Awards and positions held

1985, elected to National Academy of Sciences 1995, Career Achievement Award from the Geological Society of America 1998, elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences 2003, elected President of the Geological Society of America 2009, Awarded the Penrose Medal; see List of Penrose Medal winners 2013, Awarded the Distinguished Service Award, International Division of the Geological Society of America