Dorothy Jung Echols

Echols was born in The Bronx, but grew up and attended high school in Brooklyn. When asked about her career aspirations, she responded, "I like minerals."{{Cite web|url=https://rock.geosociety.org/net/documents/gsa/memorials/v28/echols.pdf |title=Memorial to Dorothy Jung Echols |last=Price|first=L.Greer|website=rock.geosociety.com}} Echols received her Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from New York University in 1936, graduating with distinction. From 1934 to 1935, she served as the captain of the Varsity Swim team and was a member of the Women's Swimming Association, receiving the Florence Frankel medal for swimming. She later received her master's degree in Geology from Columbia University in 1938. Afterwards, she moved to Texas and secured a position at Republic Production Company, where she worked for three years as a paleontologist and micropaleontologist.

In 1941, she married Leonard S. Echols, a research chemist working for Shell. After the marriage, she left Republic Production Company and moved with him to New York. Together they had four children: Leonard S. Echols III, Jon Jung Echols, Lizette DePue Echols, and William Ring Echols. In 1942, they moved to St. Louis and built a home. Between 1946 and 1951, Echols worked as a geologic consultant for Pond Fork, an oil and gas company.{{Cite journal |last=Price |first=L. Greer |title=Memorial to Dorothy Jung Echols 1916–1997 |url=https://www.geosociety.org/documents/gsa/memorials/v28/echols.pdf |journal=The Geological Society of America |pages=69–72 |via=}} By 1948, she was a Laboratory Instructor for Washington University in the Department of Geology. In 1951, she was hired as a research associate in the department to fill the position previously held by her colleague, Betty Nadeau.

Her husband, Leonard, passed away in 1963; at the time, he was Shell's chief engineer in St. Louis.

In January 1997, Echols was diagnosed with lung cancer, which led to her death on February 4, 1997.

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Echols' upbringing in The Bronx and later Brooklyn influenced her personality. Echols displayed a curiosity for the natural world, evident when she expressed her love for minerals at a young age. Her participation in swimming showcased her determination and ability to balance academic and extracurricular pursuits.{{Cite web |last=Geological Society of America |date=December 1997 |title=Memorial to Dorothy Jung Echols |url=https://rock.geosociety.org/net/documents/gsa/memorials/v28/echols.pdf}}

Her formative years instilled a fascination with the natural world, setting the foundation for her future in geology. Her early interest in minerals hinted at her inclination towards earth sciences. Beyond academics, Echols was an active swimmer, demonstrating discipline and resilience—qualities that would later define her scientific career.

Echols became involved in the petroleum industry from 1938 to 1946, leading to her work on the The Deep Sea Drilling Project. During this time, Echols was one of the few female geologists working in the petroleum industry.{{Cite web|url=https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb9591704b|title=Paleontologists, Dorothy Jung Echols and Murle...|website=UC San Diego Library {{!}} Digital Collections|year=1981|language=en|access-date=2017-10-11}} She consulted on the Deep Sea Drilling Project as a shipboard Sedimentologist to gather information to help determine the age and processes of ocean basins.{{Cite journal|date=August 1980|title=covering Leg 58 of the cruises of the Drilling Vessel Glomar Challenger Yokohama, Japan to Okinawa, Japan December 1977 – January 1978|url=http://deepseadrilling.org/58/volume/58dsdp.pdf|journal=Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project|volume=LVIII}} In 1948, Echols explained Wilcox's relationship with the Midway sea through time. Additionally, she discovered that the petroleum deposits were rich in that area due to the surrounding materials (basal sand, shale, etc.) and their interaction, which allowed the petroleum to seep into the sands and become trapped in an impenetrable seal of rock.{{Cite journal |first1=Dorothy |last1=Jung Echols |first2=Doris S. |last2=Malkin |date=January 1948 |title=Wilcox (Eocene) Stratigraphy, a Key to Production |url=http://search.datapages.com/data/doi/10.1306/3D933AD0-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D |journal=AAPG Bulletin |language=en |volume=32 |issue=1 |doi=10.1306/3D933AD0-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D |issn=0149-1423}}

Much of her career was spent in the field of micropaleontology, specializing in microfossils. Prior to American publication, Echols' research on new Paleozoic Ostracode genera and species was published in three Russian publications. These reports reclassified many species discovered in Russia and reclassified previously discovered genera and species. Echols was published in three separate reports in 1952 by Netskaia A. I., Polinova E. N. and Zaspelova V. S.{{Cite journal|last=Echols|first=Dorothy Jung|date=1954|title=New Paleozoic Ostracode Genera and Species Reported in Three Russian Publications (1952)|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1483982|journal=The Micropaleontologist|volume=8|issue=3|pages=30–40|doi=10.2307/1483982|jstor=1483982|url-access=subscription}} Afterwards, she published an article in the Micropaleontology magazine, titled "Chalk crayons and microfossil contamination" alongside Harold L. Levin, first published on January 1, 1964.{{Cite journal|title=Chalk crayons and microfossil contamination|journal=Micropaleontology|volume=10|bibcode=1964MiPal..10...80E |last1=Echols |first1=Dorothy Jung |last2=Levin |first2=Harold L. |date=1964 |issue=1 |page=80 |doi=10.2307/1484627 |jstor=1484627 }} In May 1966, Echols discovered that holotypes previously classified as Cephalopoda were structurally incompatible with this classification and should be placed in the Monoplacophora based on cross-sectioning completed on fossils in the area. She found that no specimen collected indicated any structures evident of being classified a Cephalopoda.{{Cite journal|last1=Stinchcomb|first1=Bruce L.|last2=Echols|first2=Dorothy Jung|date=1966|title=Missouri Upper Cambrian Monoplacophora Previously Considered Cephalopods|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1301748|journal=Journal of Paleontology|volume=40|issue=3|pages=647–650|jstor=1301748|issn=0022-3360}} In 1956, Echols theorized that Ostracod carapaces moved during Fern Glen Formation because of currents moving over shallow areas.{{Cite journal |last=Echols |first=Dorothy Jung |last2=Gouty |first2=John J. |date=November 1956 |title=Fern Glen (Mississippian) Ostracoda |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1300585 |journal=Journal of Paleontology |volume=30 |issue=6 |pages=1315–1323 |jstor=1300585}} In 1961, Echols was involved in the discovery of an extinct species of Trilobite from the Kimmswick Limestone found in Missouri.{{Cite journal|last=Esker|first=George C.|date=1961|title=A New Species of Trilobite from the Kimmswick Limestone (Ordovician) of Missouri|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1301070|journal=Journal of Paleontology|volume=35|issue=6|pages=1241–1243|jstor=1301070|issn=0022-3360}}

The project contributed biostratigraphic data about sediments underground, which provided an estimated paleontological age for many sediments.

In a 1948 publication co-authored with Doris S. Malkin, 'Wilcox (Eocene) Stratigraphy, a Key to Production,' Echols expanded the understanding of Eocene stratigraphy and its implications for petroleum geology. Their work examined the complex sedimentation patterns and stratigraphic sequences of the Wilcox Group, a geological formation known for its hydrocarbon potential. By interpreting the regional deltaic sedimentation and the stratigraphic history, they mapped out trends that informed petroleum production up until 1945 in the productive sands in the Wilcox fields that span Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

This research contributed to the academic field and had practical applications, influencing exploration and extraction strategies in the industry. Echols' work connected geological understanding with practical outcomes, integrating scientific research with industry applications.

Echols, as one of the few women in geology during the mid-20th century,{{Citation |title=Paleontologists, Dorothy Jung Echols and Murlene Clark, aboard the drilling vessel, D/V Glomar Challenger (ship), during the Deep Sea Drilling Project. From 1938 to 1946, Echols worked in the petroleum industry as a geologist and micropaleontologist, specializing in microfossils. She was one of the few female geologists working in the petroleum industry during that era. In 1982, she received the Neil A. Miner Award from the National Association of Geology Teachers for her contributions to earth sciences. Clark, a professor of Geology, her primary interests include the fields of micropaleontology and paleo-oceanography. 1981 |date=1981 |url=https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/20775/bb9591704b/ |access-date=2023-12-11}} faced challenges due to the field being predominantly male. Her expertise in geology led her to make contributions, particularly in petroleum geology and micropaleontology. Her involvement in projects like the Deep Sea Drilling Project highlighted her skills and how she overcame the gender biases prevalent in her field.

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Echols participated in the The Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP), a scientific endeavour aimed at exploring the composition and structure of the Earth's oceanic crust by drilling and coring deep below the ocean floor. Initiated in 1968, the project provided direct sampling of deep ocean basins, representing a leap forward in oceanography and geology, and offered insights into Earth's geological past, including the history of its oceans, the development of its crust, and the processes that govern plate tectonics.

The project used the drilling vessel Glomar Challenger to recover samples of sediment and basaltic crust from various depths and locations across the world's oceans. These samples were crucial for testing and confirming theories like plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading, revealing the age and distribution of oceanic crust and providing evidence for past climate conditions by examining sediment layers.

Echols's role as a sedimentologist and micropaleontologist in this project involved analyzing the recovered cores for microfossil content—which includes the remains of tiny organisms such as foraminifera, diatoms, and coccolithophores. These microfossils are used in dating sediments and reconstructing past environmental conditions, thus aiding in understanding Earth's climatic and geological history.

The DSDP was foundational in establishing the field of paleoceanography—the study of ocean history through geology and paleontology and set the stage for subsequent scientific ocean drilling programs.

Echols's expertise in microfossils enabled her to contribute to the understanding of how these creatures' distribution and composition could indicate the presence and locations of petroleum reserves. Her insights helped shape the scientific community's understanding of sediment deposition and stratigraphic sequences, which are vital for hydrocarbon exploration.

Her efforts in the Deep Sea Drilling Project also contributed to a broader understanding of paleo-oceanography—the study of the history of the oceans in the geological past, with implications for both scientific research and the petroleum industry. Echols's work in geological research, coupled with her pioneering spirit as one of the few women in her field, left a mark on the sciences of micropaleontology and sedimentology.

Echols was known for her presence on the deep sea drilling project and was one of the first female geologists working in the petroleum field. She was later listed as a noteworthy geological consultant by Marquis Who's Who. {{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 1979, she and her close friend Doris Malkin Curtis, who had also participated in the deep sea drilling project, created a geological consulting firm named 'Curtis and Echols' to help with mapping deposition, which helped locate hydrocarbons.{{cite web |url=https://rock.geosociety.org/net/documents/gsa/memorials/v23/Curtis-DM.pdf |title=Memorial to Doris M. Curtis |author= |date= |website=Geological Society of America |publisher= |access-date=December 12, 2024}}

In 1982, the year she retired, she received the Neil A Miner Award from the National Association of Geology{{Cite web |title=Neil Miner Award |url=https://nagt.org/nagt/awards/miner.html |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Awards |language=en}} teachers for her "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the earth sciences....".

This award is presented annually to recognize contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth sciences and for contributions to the fields of geology, geophysics, or earth science education. The Neil A. Miner Award acknowledged her work in the field and her passion for education, as evidenced by her teaching career at Washington University in St. Louis. Her commitment to advancing the understanding of Earth's geological processes and her role as a mentor to students in geology solidified her reputation in geological education. {{According to whom|date=December 2023}}

Echols published many pieces of writing throughout her years studying and teaching geology. Some of her most influential pieces are listed below.{{Cite web|title=D. J. Echols {{!}} Semantic Scholar|url=https://www.semanticscholar.org/author/D.-J.-Echols/46848826|access-date=2020-10-02|website=www.semanticscholar.org|language=en}}

In 1956, Echols took part in writing a journal called the Journal of Paleontology, specifically written in volume 30. She worked with John J. Gouty on Fern Glen (Mississippian) Ostracoda, Bruce L. Stinchcomb on Missouri Upper Cambrian Monoplacophora previously considered cephalopods, and Courtney Werner on Three Dimensional Graptolites in the Maquoketa Shale (Upper Ordovician) of Missouri.{{Cite journal |last1=Werner |first1=Courtney |last2=Echols |first2=Dorothy Jung |date=1958 |title=Three Dimensional Graptolites in the Maquoketa Shale (Upper Ordovician) of Missouri |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1300723 |journal=Journal of Paleontology |volume=32 |issue=5 |pages=1026–1029 |issn=0022-3360 |jstor=1300723}} The writings in the journal describes the findings of Echols on the trips she took, including animal fossils located in their original habitats and various rock samples. Echols and Gouty, writing about their studies in fern glen (Mississippian) Ostracoda, divided the land into four pieces to allow for deeper research and collection of sedimentary samples containing Ostracods. Echols and Stinchcomb found fossils which were originally believed to belong to breviconic cephalopods, but were determined to actually be Monoplacophora belonging to the genus Hypseloconus. The structure of the fossils seemed to have cone-shaped forms and appeared curved. Echols and Werner published their findings on what they had studied and identified in the Maquoketa shale of Missouri, which were a light brown coloured shale that contained varied fauna, including ostracizes, bryozoans, brachiopods, conodonts, pelecypods and quantities of pieces of unpressed and replaced graptolites that were preserved beneath it. The unpressed graptolites belonged to the genus Climacograptus and possibly the Climacograptus putillus Hall.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://rock.geosociety.org/net/documents/gsa/memorials/v28/echols.pdf Memorial to Dorothy Jung Echols 1916–1997]
• [https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb9591704b Paleontologists, Dorothy Jung Echols and Murlene Clark, aboard the drilling vessel]

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Category:1916 births

Category:1977 deaths

Category:American women geologists

Category:20th-century American geologists

Category:American paleontologists

Category:Washington University in St. Louis faculty

Category:Scientists from St. Louis

Category:New York University alumni

Category:Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni