His most important work was in connection with the origin and mode of occurrence of ore deposits, especially those of the western United States.

[2] He graduated from Harvard University in 1868, studied at Heidelberg, receiving the degree of Ph.D. in 1869, and, two years later, passed the final examination of the Royal School of Mines in Berlin.

The investigations under his direction led to the establishment of the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

[2] Becker was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1901 and the American Philosophical Society in 1907.

[4][5] In 1896 Becker examined the gold mines of South Africa and at the time of the Spanish–American War was detailed to serve as geologist on the staff of General Bell with the army in the Philippine Islands.