Andrés Manuel del Rio Fernandez, Spanish-born Mexican chemist and mineralogist (Madrid 10 November 1764 - Ciudad de Mexico 23 March 1849)
ACHIEVEMENTS
Discovered and isolated vanadium (1801); confirmed only in 1830 after Sefstrom rediscovery
Discovered a natural gold-rhodium alloy (1825) and mercury selenide (1827)
Discovered and described various mineral species (for example vanadinite) and the varieties herrerite (1830) and valencianite
Established the foundations of geographical mineralogy (1804)
Invented and improved mineral extraction methods for use in mining industry
Developed a water pump used in mines
HONORS
Delrioite Thompson & Sherwood 1959 (Mineral)