Bowen, Norman

Bowen, Norman (Levi)

(1887–1956) geologist; born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He was a petrologist with the Carnegie Institution (1912–18, 1920–37, 1947–52); in the interim years he taught at Queen's University, Ontario (1919–20) and the University of Chicago (1937–47). His pioneer investigations into solid-liquid equilibria of igneous rocks and silicates led to his definitive explanation of the crystallization stages of magma, now known as Bowen's reaction series.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.