In 1902-03 he conducted geological studies of northern Madagascar that included Diego Suarez.
During this time period he also taught classes in geology at the Ecole spéciale d'Architecture (1909-1920).
Following the retirement of Stanislas-Étienne Meunier (1843-1925), he was appointed chair of geology at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (1920).
A quote often attributed to him from the Encyclopédie française (Volume 5, 1937) is: "It results from this explanation that the theory of evolution is not exact ... Evolution is a kind of dogma which its own priests no longer believe, but which they uphold for the people.
It is necessary to have the courage to state this if only so that men of a future generation may orient their research into a different direction.