Reuben C. Coffin

Reuben Clare Coffin (went by Clare) (October 29, 1886 – September 10, 1972) was an American geologist whose work in petroleum exploration, structural mapping, and uranium‑vanadium investigations contributed to the early understanding of the geology of the Colorado Plateau. The uranium‑bearing mineral coffinite was named in his honor in 1955.

Early life Coffin was born in Longmont, Colorado, into a long‑established pioneer family. His father, Reuben Fryer Coffin, a Civil War veteran of the 19th Illinois Infantry, traveled west by covered wagon in 1866 and became one of the early settlers of the St. Vrain Valley in Weld County.

Education Coffin attended elementary and high school in Longmont, Colorado. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1909. In 1950, the University of Colorado awarded Coffin an honorary Doctor of Science degree, recognizing his pioneering work in geophysical exploration for Stanolind Oil and Gas Company.

Early career After graduating, Coffin joined the faculty of Longmont High School, where he taught alongside fellow University of Colorado alumna Jessie Edmonds, to whom he became engaged in 1914. Contemporary newspapers referred to him as “Professor Coffin” and noted that he also served as the school’s athletics coach.

During these years, Coffin spent his summers working in the field for the State Geological Survey, including assignments in the Paradox Valley. In 1914, the Longmont Call reported that he had been engaged in summer field work “every summer since his graduation,” experience that prepared him for his 1916 appointment as Assistant State Geologist at the University of Colorado.

Career In 1916, Coffin was appointed Assistant State Geologist at the University of Colorado, a position he assumed after several seasons of summer field work with the State Geological Survey. In 1924, Coffin was working as a geologist for the Midwest Oil Company, and the following year he was appointed Chief Geologist of the affiliated Midwest Refining Company in Denver. He had three brothers and one sister: Claude C Coffin, attorney of Fort Collins, then District Judge, , Stanley Coffin, member of Torrey’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American war , Vinton Coffin, geologist , and Ruby Harrington (Coffin).

Clare is a descendent of Tristram Coffin (settler), as are most US Coffins.

Publications

Coffin, R. Clare; DeFord, Ronald K. (1934). "Waters of the Oil‑ and Gas‑Bearing Formations of the Rocky Mountains". In: Problems of Petroleum Geology. AAPG Special Volume. doi:10.1306/SV6334C45.

Coffin, R. Clare (1954). "Uranium Deposits and General Geology of Southeastern Utah". In: Guidebook to the Geology of Utah, no. 9, pp. 1–7.

Coffin, R. Clare (1954). "History of Radium–Uranium Mining in the Plateau Province". In: Guidebook to the Geology of Utah, no. 9.