F. L. Ransome, a world-renowned geologist, was a great investigator of ore deposits. He published over 100 papers and books, largely on economic geology; the first in 1893—on the geology of the Coast Ranges; the last in 1933—an historical review of geology relating to western mines.​

Ransome published numerous papers on mineralogy, physiography and engineering geology. His pre-eminent work, however, was in field geology and petrography. He possessed an incredible ability to decipher complex geological structure, and was a field geologist of enormous reputation and ability. He published papers on the ore deposits of Globe, Bisbee, Ray, Miami—all in Arizona; Cripple Creek, Colorado; Goldfield, Nevada; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and the Mother Lode in California. Furthermore, he produced invaluable articles on faulting and structure, devoted time to study high dams and water supplies, and was directly involved with the Hoover Dam Project. He worked with the U.S. Geological Survey from 1895-1896 and 1897-1924 and was President of the Society of Economic Geologists. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1914.​

His reputation as an outstanding educator was well deserved. He was head of the Geology Department at the University of Arizona from 1924-1927 and served as Professor of Economic Geology at the California Institute of Technology from 1927-1935.​

Frederick Ransome made an enormous impact on the geological fraternity through his ability and keen mind. His legacy of educational writings proved to be a gift of great magnitude to the scientific community.​

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