Armin Alexander Epic (June 24, 1898 Kunda , Russian Empire - January 15, 1983 Canberra , Australia ) - Australian geographer and paleontologist of Estonian origin, who worked a significant part of his life (since 1948) in the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources.
| Armin Epic | |
|---|---|
| Armin Öpik | |
| Date of Birth | June 24, 1898 |
| Place of Birth | Kunda , Russian Empire |
| Date of death | January 15, 1983 (84 years) |
| Place of death | Canberra , Australia |
| A country | |
| Occupation | Geologist, paleontologist |
| Spouse | Barbara Potashko |
| Awards and prizes | Charles Dulitt Walkot Medal ( 1962 ) [d] |
Content
Biography
Epic was born in the village of Lontova (now Kunda) of the Estland province of the Russian Empire . Epika's father was the head of the port at Kund. He had six children (a daughter and five sons). Armin Paul’s brother was a bank governor, his setra Anna was a philologist and fluent in 14 languages, including Sanskrit . Armin's other brother Ernst was a famous astronomer. During the First World War, Epic met Barbara Potashko (died in Canberra in 1977), who later became his wife. They had three daughters and a son. Epic is mainly known for his contribution to the study of the deposits and remains of the Cambrian and Lower Ordovik in Northern Australia.
Life and activities in Estonia
In 1917, Epic graduated with honors from the Nikolaev gymnasium. After that, he entered the University of Tartu in the department of geology and mineralogy. At the same university, he later worked for a year as a teacher (1929-1930). In 1930 he became a professor of geology and paleontology and the head of the Geological Institute and the museum until 1944. In Estonia, Epic has published a number of scientific articles on such topics as stratigraphy, analysis of volcanic rocks, paleogeography, and the Cambrian and Lower Ordovician biostrathony. Epic also studied the Ordovician crustaceans and shellfish and published monographs on this topic. In 1937, Epic published the work Trilobiten aus Estland (with it. “Trilobites of Estonia”). In 1944, Epic was forced to flee with his family from the advancing Soviet troops. He had to live in a camp for displaced persons in Germany until 1948, when Epic and his entire family moved to Australia.
Jobs in Australia
K. Tichert and G. Raggart, who was the head of the newly formed Australian Mineral Resources Bureau, actively contributed to the transfer of Epic to Australia. He also helped Epic with employment in the Melbourne office. A year later he moved to Canberra (1949). In the period from 1952 to 1982, Epic published 27 papers on the Cambrian stratigraphy and paleontology, while also studying the deposits of the Devonian period in the territories adjacent to the Australian capital. He described 94 new genera and 294 new species of Cambrian trilobites. In 1962, Epic became a member of the Australian Academy of Sciences.