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George William Grindley (22 October 1925 – 12 February 2019) was a New Zealand geologist. The Grindley Plateau in Antarctica is named in his honour.

Early life and education

Grindley was born in Dunedin on 22 October 1925, and studied geology at the Otago School of Mines at the University of Otago. He graduated Bachelor of Science in 1947, and Master of Science in 1949. The title of his master's thesis was The reconnaissance geology of the Eglinton and East branch valleys, Western Southland. In 1973, he was awarded a DSc by the University of Otago, on the basis of published and unpublished papers submitted as a thesis.

Career

Grindley worked at the New Zealand Geological Survey. He spent time on the West Coast, where he assisted Harold Wellman, and also worked on the displacement of the Alpine Fault. After working in south Wales and Canada for a year in the early 1950s, Grindley worked on the geological mapping of New Zealand, and was site geologist at Wairakei. He also worked on geothermal power projects overseas, including in Mexico and the Philippines. He was also involved in geothermal monitoring of Mount Ruapehu and the monitoring of rifting in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

Grindley was a member of geological survey teams in Antarctica in 1961–62, 1977–78, and 1981–82, involved in paleomagnetic surveys and geological mapping. He was the senior geologist of the northern party of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition in 1961–62, which named the Grindley Plateau in the Queen Alexandra Range in his honour.

Grindley retired in 1987.

Honours

In 1968, Grindley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Death

Grindley died at his home in Lower Hutt on 12 February 2019, aged 93 years.

References

1. "Death search: registration number 2019/4873". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
2. ^ "Interview with George Grindley". National Library. 2005. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
3. "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: G". Shadows of Time. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
4. "Thesis: the reconnaissance geology of the Eglinton and East branch valleys, Western Southland". University of Otago. 1948. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
5. "Thesis: published and unpublished works: presented as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Science in geology". University of Otago. 1973. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
6. "Grindley Plateau". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
7. "List of all Fellows with surnames G–I". Royal Society Te Apārangi. 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
8. "Dr George Grindley death notice". Dominion Post. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.

• 1925 births
• 2019 deaths
• Scientists from Dunedin
• University of Otago alumni
• 20th-century New Zealand geologists
• People associated with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand)
• Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand