Eskola, Pentti Eelis (1883-1964)

Finnish geologist who was one of the first to apply physicochemical postulates on a far-reaching basis to the study of metamorphism, thereby laying the foundations of most subsequent studies in metamorphic petrology. Eskola was born in Lellainen and educated as a chemist at the University of Helsinki before specializing in petrology. In the early 1920s he worked in Norway and in Washington DC, USA. He was professor at Helsinki 1924-53. Throughout his life Eskola was fascinated by the study of metamorphic rocks, taking early interest in the Precambrian rocks of England. Building largely on Scandinavian studies, he was concerned to define the changing pressure and temperature conditions under which metamorphic rocks were formed. His approach enabled comparison of rocks of widely differing compositions in respect of the pressure and temperature under which they had originated.