Chi Jishang

Chi Jishang (, 19171994) was a Chinese geologist, petrologist, and a member of the Chinese Communist Party. She is a pioneer in petrofabric studies in China, primarily known for her work on kimberlite diamond deposits. She was the first scientist to propose a formula that can help identify which kimberlites contain diamonds.

Life Chi, born in Anlu County of Hubei Province, was the fourth of five children. When she was four, the family moved to Beijing. for working in highly risky remote areas as a woman (Ma Yisi was an early woman geologist murdered by bandits while doing field work). In Yunan province, she discovered a quality iron mine. Nevertheless, she taught and trained students and researchers in the Hubei, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hebei provinces and conducted field work on kimberlites in the Hubei, Liaoning, and Henan regions. As the Cultural Revolution ended, she became involved in the establishment of the Wuhan College of Geology (now China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)) from 1975 to 1984, where she headed several sections and departments of the institute, eventually becoming vice-president. She also chaired the "721 University" system in collaboration with the Hubei province department of mineralogy. During this period, she developed numerous textbooks and training materials in Chinese.

Chi married Li Pu in 1946, a fellow petrologist at the geochemistry institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His death in 1967 was attributed to the Cultural Revolution. They have one son. On her 90th anniversary, the Chinese journal "Geoscience" published a special issue while the China University of Geosciences hosted a memorial conference in her name.

Selected publications Chi-Shang, Ch’ih, 1950. Structural Petrology of the Wissahickon Schist near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with special reference to granitization, Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 61, 923–956. Turner, F.J., Chi-Shang, C., 1950. Notes on survival of fabric character in Yule Marble after heating to 700 deg C. American Journal of Science, 248, 347–354. Turner, F.J., Chi-Shang, C., 1951. Deformation of Yule Marble: Tart III – observed fabric changes due to deformation at 10,000 atmospheres confining pressure, room temperature, dry. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 62, 887-906 Chi-Shang, Ch’ih, 19XX. A study on the Cenozoic Basalt Rocks and Upper Mantle of East China (including Kimberlite).