B. Clark Burchfiel


Burrell Clark Burchfiel 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.
Burchfiel died on February 9, 2024, at the age of 89.

Selected publications

  • B. C. Burchfiel and G. A. Davis, 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 : Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, p. 217-252.

Awards and positions held