Prof Bruce Cairncross

Overview

My original field of interest was the geology, sedimentology and stratigraphy of South Africa's Permian coal deposits. Although I still have some activity in coal research, during the past few decdes, my research focus has shifted to that of mineralogy and specifically documenting Southern Africa's mineral and gemstone occurrences and southern African geoheritage. This mineral-related research has produced 14 books and over 126 journal articles, 45 conference proceedings and 112 public lectures. My latest book titled " Minerals and Gemstones of southern Africa " will be available from June 2022. In 2013 the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) approved the name cairncrossite for a new mineral species discovered in the Kalahari manganese field in South Africa. This honour was bestowed on me in recognition of my mineralogical work and international reputation with respect to southern African mineralogy. I am currently on the Editorial Board of Rocks & Minerals and The Mineralogical Record , both of which are mineralogical journals published in the USA. Recent books Cairncross, B. (2019). Minerals and Gemstones of East Africa . Struik Nature, Random House Struik, Cape Town, 141 pages. McCarthy, T.S. and Cairncross, B. (2021). Minerals & Crystals: Morphology, Properties, Identification . Struik Nature, Random House Struik, Cape Town, 312 pages. Cairncross, B. (2022). Minerals and Gemstones of southern Africa . Struik Nature, Random House Struik, Cape Town, South Africa, 320 pages. Recent peer-reviewed articles 2024: Cairncross, B. (2024). Connoisseur’s choice: aragonite Part 4 Morocco. Rocks & Minerals , 99(2), 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2024.2279425 Roelofse, F. and Cairncross, B. (2024). Who’s who in mineral names: willemseite (1909-1967). Rocks & Minerals , 99(2), 172-175. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2024.2279465 Cairncross, B. (2024). Postmasburg manganese field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Rocks & Minerals , 99(3), 208-235. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2024.2303948 Cairncross, B. (2024). Khorixasite: the where of mineral names. Rocks & Minerals , 99(3), 282-288. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2024.2303960 Cairncross, B. (2024). Who’s who in mineral names: sewardite (1940-2022). Rocks & Minerals , 99(3), 280-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2024.2303959 Cairncross, B. (2024). Topaz from Southern Africa. Rocks & Minerals , 99(4), 306-319. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2024.2331958 2023: Cairncross, B. (2023). “Cactus Quartz”, Boekenhouthoek, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Rocks & Minerals , 98(3), 212-235. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2023.2167449 Cairncross, B. (2023). Connoisseur’s Choice: Schizolite: Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM Montérégie, Québec, Canada. Rocks & Minerals , 98(5), 438-445. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2023.2213152 Cairncross, B. and M. Southwood (2023). Connoisseur’s choice: aragonite Part 3: Southern Africa. Rocks & Minerals 98(6), 518-532. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2023.2235975 Cairncross, B. and Cawthorn, R.G. (2023). The Where of Mineral Names: Insizwaite Waterfall Gorge, Insizwa, Alfred Nzo District Municipality Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Rocks & Minerals , 98(4), 379-385. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2023.2192655 Cairncross, B. (2023). Connoisseur’s choice: jeremejevite, Mile 72, Cape Cross area, Arandis Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia. Rocks & Minerals , 98(2), 160-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2023.2129301 Cairncross, B., Harris, C., Roelofse, F. and van Huysteen, C. (2023). Who’s who in mineral names: tredouxite (1952-2019). Rocks & Minerals , 98(2), 187-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2023.2129305 Cairncross, B., van Nieuwenhuizen, J.J., Xiangping, G. and Hexiong, Y. (2023). Who’s who in mineral names: Tucson collector James “Jim” Archer McGlasson (b. 1948). Rocks & Minerals , 98(1), 94-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2023.2126704 2022: Cairncross, B. and McCarthy, T. (2022). Who’s who in mineral names: geversite. Rocks & Minerals , 97(3), 278-282. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2028105 Cairncross, B. (2022). The where of minerals: zimbabweite. Rocks & Minerals , 97(4), 383-386. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2053643 Cairncross, B. (2022). Connoisseur’s choice: gaudefroyite, N’Chwaning II mine, Kalahari manganese field, South Africa. Rocks & Minerals , 97(5), 424-433. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2074252 Cairncross, B. (2022). The where of mineral names: windhoekite. Rocks & Minerals , 97(5), 464-470. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2074258 Megaw, P., Jones, E., Cairncross, B. and Southwood, M. (2022). Connoisseur’s choice: malachite pseudomorphs after azurite. Part 2: Milpillas, Mexico and other worldwide localities. Rocks & Minerals , 97(6), 534-553. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2087150 Cairncross, B. (2022). The where of mineral names: todorokite, Todoroki Mine, Yoichi District, Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan. Rocks & Minerals , 97(6), 570-573. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2087155 Southwood, M.J. and Cairncross, B. (2022). Malachite pseudomorphs after azurite: Part 1: Bisbee, Arizona, USA and Tsumeb, Namibia. Rocks & Minerals , 97(1), 72-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.1989955 Cairncross, B. and Rumsey, M.S. (2022). Cuprorivaite and Papagoite from the Messina Mine, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Rocks & Minerals , 97(2), 134-141. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2004512 Cairncross, B. (2022). Connoisseur’s Choice: Papagoite, Messina Mine, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Rocks & Minerals , 97(2), 152-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2004514 Cairncross, B. (2022). The Where of Mineral Names: Carrollite, Patapsco Mine, Finksburg, Carroll County, Maryland, USA. Rocks & Minerals , 97(2), 186-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/00357529.2022.2004520 Elburg, M.A. and Cairncross, B. (2022). Controls on the geochemistry of southern African prehnite. South African Journal of Geology , 125(1), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.125.0007