HAUSEL RECEIVES WYOMING GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION’S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

 

On Friday, October 22nd, the Wyoming Geological Association (WGA) awarded W. Dan Hausel, Senior Economic Geologist of the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) with the Association’s 2004 Distinguished Service Award for grateful recognition and outstanding endeavors and contributions to the work and progress of the Association. The award was presented at Casper’s Petroleum Club, and is only presented once every few years to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Wyoming’s geology and the advancement of the Association. Some recipients of past awards have included notable geologists Dr. J. David Love, Dr. Donald Blackstone, Jr. and others.

 

The award, presented by Ralph Specht, Vice President of the WGA, was followed by a standing ovation of the membership acknowledging Hausel’s contributions to Wyoming’s geology over the past 3 decades. Specht read the following to the membership: W. Dan Hausel received BS and MS degrees in Geology from the University of Utah in 1972 and 1974. Since 1975, he has worked as a consultant for various companies and as a research geologist for the Wyoming State Geological Survey. Currently, he occupies the position of Senior Economic Geologist for the WSGS where his duties include investigations related to precious and base metals, gemstones, mineralogy, mining districts, Archean greenstone belts and diamondiferous host rocks.

 

During the past 27 years, he mapped more than 600 square miles of historic mining districts and Precambrian geology including the two largest kimberlite districts in the US and the largest lamproite field in North America. His work has resulted in the discovery of some diamond; several colored gemstone occurrences and several base and precious metal occurrences and deposits, as well as a previously unrecognized gold district in Wyoming (Rattlesnake Hills). While on leave from the state, he has consulted on several diamond and gold projects around North America, and provided the initial mapping on the Donlin Creek gold deposit in southwestern Alaska, which is now considered to be the largest undeveloped gold deposit in North America.

 

He has authored or co-authored more than 450 books, professional papers, general interest articles and geological maps, and lectured to hundreds of groups around North America. In 1992, he was awarded the American Association of Petroleum Geologist's Energy Mineral's Division President's Award and the Wyoming Geological Association's Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Endeavors and Contributions. In 1994, he was a Distinguished Lecturer for the Laramie Lyceum; in 1998, was listed as a Distinguished Lecturer of the University of Wyoming Department of Geology and Geophysics, and was also presented the Prospector's Best Friend Award by the Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters. In 2001, he was presented the Education Award and elected to the National Rock Hound and Lapidary Hall of Fame for his contributions to the education of rock hounds and amateur mineralogists and in 2003; he was elected to the Colorado Chapter of the International Order of Ragged Ass Miners. His achievements have been highlighted in several Who’s Who documents including Who's Who in Science & Engineering, Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, 2,000 Notable American Men, and 5,000 Personalities of the World.

 

His hobbies include sketching and martial arts. His artwork appears in publications, galleries, and on book covers. He is considered one of the top martial arts instructors in North America and has been inducted into eight Halls of Fame for contributions to the martial arts and has been recognized as the “International Grandmaster of the Year”, “Grandmaster of the Year”, and “International Instructor of the Year”.

 

The presentation was followed by a lecture by Hausel on the Geology of Wyoming’s Gemstone Deposits which included discussions on some additional gemstone discoveries that were recently made by Hausel.

 

   

 

Dan Hausel lectures to group of prospectors on field trip at Centennial (left)

and to the International Geological Congress in front of the Carissa shear zone at the South Pass greenstone belt.

 

 

 

 

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