Prof.Pan Zhongxiang (1906-1983)

a famous petroleum geologist

passed a way one year ago.He was a pioneer in China's petroleum prospecting and also a fruitful scholar in petroleum geology.He founded the theory of conti-nental petroleum generation and initiated the viewpoint that the oil distribution is controlled by sedimentary facies and pointed out that seeking bedrock pool is an important direction for oil exploration.During 1930s

he studied geologi-cal conditions of north Shaanxi and east Shichuan and planned the first well sites in Yanchang and Baxian Counties himself.Commercial oil and gas flows were obtained in these wells.Prof.Pan also had great attainments in paleobotany and mineral deposit.The valuable monographs such as Older Mesozoic plants in North Shensi and Successive Zones of Orogenic Movements and Granitic Intrusions of Eastern Asia are also written by him.The theses and books concerning petroleum geology written and translated by him are up to 28.Prof.Pan had been a teacher at different time in Zhongshan University

Beijing University

Beijing College of Geology and Wuhan College of Geology respectly.He taught and guided a large number of students and postgraduates

most of which are now the backbone of our petroleum geology.Because of his extensive knowledge

rigorous attitude towards education and being amiable and easy of approach

he is deeply respected by his students and colleagues.Prof.Pan was bone in Jixian County

Henan Province.He graduated in Bei-jing University and studied in Kansas University and Minnesota University

U.S.A.

and won doctor's degree in 1946.He was one of the founders of Petroleum Society of China and was elected vice president of the First Coun-cil of P.S.C.