Six more pioneers inducted into Hall of Fame

The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame will induct six pioneers during its annual dinner on Jan. 22, 1997, in Toronto.

The inductees will bring to 76 the number of individuals admitted to the Hall, which was established nine years ago to recognize exceptional accomplishments in the Canadian mining industry.

The Hall, which established a permanent display this summer in Elliot Lake, Ont., is sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, and The Northern Miner.

Robert Boyle.

(born 1910).

Robert Boyle is a geologist whose fascination with chemistry and prospecting inspired him to conduct pioneering work in the field of geochemistry and thereby expand its role in mineral exploration. He helped develop geochemical exploration methods specifically suited to the Canadian environment and played a key role in establishing geochemical research facilities at the Geological Survey of Canada. He continued to build on that foundation and, as one of Canada’s most influential 20th-century geochemists, helped transform geochemistry into a highly developed tool for mineral exploration.

Walter Curlook.

(born 1929).

Walter Curlook is a man of vision who helped shape Inco into the world’s largest nickel producer. Aptly described as “an industrial renaissance man of the 20th century,” he has achieved distinction in mining, metallurgy, research and development, and environmental protection. Curlook spearheaded development of Inco’s fluid-bed roasting process and brought about improvements in the carbonyl process. One of his finest achievements is the direction he provided to the sulphur dioxide abatement program at Inco’s Sudbury operations.

Walter Holyk.

(born 1921).

As a result of his inquiring mind, his skill as a field geologist and the desire to find orebodies, Walter Holyk has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the genesis of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits.

His innovative theories, tested and proved in the field, led to the discovery of the Half Mile deposit in New Brunswick, Nanisivik on Baffin Island and, most notably, the Kidd Creek deposit near Timmins, Ont. His geological thinking produced great wealth for Canada and inspired those who continue the search for massive sulphide deposits.

Alfred Powis.

(born 1930).

Alfred Powis is a company-builder with exceptional leadership skills and a keen eye for opportunities. During his tenure as chief executive officer at Noranda, he was instrumental in creating one of the largest natural resource conglomerates in Canada, with few rivals internationally. Under his direction, Noranda’s assets increased to $11 billion in 1990 from $700 million in 1968. But his contributions and achievements were not limited to Noranda. Powis was also a dynamic business leader and a powerful advocate of the resource industry and of free trade.

Franklin Spragins.

(1914-1978).

Franklin Spragins was a risk-taking engineer and visionary business leader whose efforts led to the successful development of Canada’s oil sands industry. He was the founding president of Syncrude Canada, which operates the largest surface mine and mineral processing facility in North America and is now Canada’s largest source of oil. Because of his leadership, Syncrude Canada became a great Canadian energy and mining success story. It is, without a doubt, Spragins’s greatest legacy and established him as a mining industry leader with foresight and clarity of purpose.

Joseph Tyrrell.

(1858-1957).

Joseph Tyrrell has been variously described as the doyen of Canadian mining men, the dean of mining, the man who conquered the Canadian North, Canada’s senior geologist, the last of the great breed of map-making explorers, and the first of the modern mineral-finders and technologists. Through his work with the Geological Survey of Canada, Tyrrell provided detailed and accurate maps containing a wealth of information on previously unknown parts of Canada. He also advanced important theories on glaciation and published many geological and historical articles.