Murray Hitzman Receives AGI’s 2026 Ian Campbell Medal

October 5, 2026

Dr. Murray W. Hitzman has spent more than four decades working across mineral exploration, research, teaching, government service, and international science.

Along the way, he has helped geoscientists better understand major ore deposits, led the program that discovered one of Europe’s significant zinc mines, trained scores of students and researchers, and brought geoscience expertise into public policy.

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has named Hitzman as the 2026 recipient of the AGI Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences. The medal honors outstanding performance and service to the profession, with recipients measured against the broad career of Ian Campbell, a man of remarkable accomplishment and widespread influence. Hitzman will be recognized at the Geological Society of America’s Award Ceremony in Denver on October 11, 2026.

From understanding ore deposits to finding them

Hitzman is Emeritus Full Professor in the School of Earth Sciences at University College Dublin and Chair of the International Geoscience Programme Council. He is best known scientifically for his work on mineral deposits, including iron-oxide–copper–gold (IOCG), sediment-hosted copper, Irish-type carbonate-hosted zinc-lead, hydrothermal nickel, and non-sulfide zinc systems.

In 1992, Hitzman helped define IOCG deposits as a distinct mineral system. The framework from that work still informs research and mineral exploration around the world. He also advanced understanding of sediment-hosted copper systems in the Central African Copperbelt, helping develop tectonic and geochemical models for some of the world’s largest copper-cobalt deposits.

He also put that science to work in the field. As Exploration Manager with Chevron Minerals in Ireland, Hitzman led the program that discovered the giant Lisheen zinc-lead-silver deposit, which later became one of Europe’s most significant zinc mines. For Hitzman, understanding how ore deposits form and using that knowledge to find them have often gone hand in hand.

“Murray Hitzman has transformed economic geology through pioneering research, mineral discovery, and extraordinary scientific leadership. Just as importantly, his mentorship and service have strengthened the geoscience community worldwide and helped advance responsible approaches to the mineral resources that our society depends on.”

— AGI President Claudia Mora

Bringing geoscience into public policy

Hitzman has also spent part of his career bringing geoscience into public policy; serving as a Geological Society of America/U.S. Geological Survey Congressional Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman and later as an American Association for the Advancement of Science/Sloan Fellow in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

At the U.S. Geological Survey, Hitzman served as Associate Director for Energy and Minerals, overseeing major national mineral-resources and geologic-mapping programs. He later became a Science Foundation Ireland Research Professor at University College Dublin and Director of the Ireland Centre for Applied Geosciences (iCRAG), one of Europe’s leading applied geoscience research centers.

Building the next generation

The Campbell Medal honors geoscientists whose service reaches across the profession. Hitzman’s record includes research and mineral discovery, teaching and mentorship, public service, professional leadership, and the work of building scientific institutions.

About the Ian Campbell Medal

The AGI Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences honors outstanding performance and contributions to the geology profession. Recipients are measured against the distinguished career of Ian Campbell, whose service touched virtually every facet of the geosciences.