A helicopter crash on March 24 claimed the lives of Robert Hewton, 47, and Christopher Westerman, 49. The well-known Canadian exploration geologists died in Ecuador where they were evaluating mineral properties.
Robert Rivera, a mining engineer born and educated in the U.S., also died in the crash, along with two Ecuadorean pilots.
Christopher Westerman received his B.Sc. degree in geology from London University, England, in 1967, followed by an M.Sc. degree from the University of British Columbia in 1970 and a PhD degree from Ontario’s McMaster University in 1978.
Westerman worked for several major mining companies in Western Canada during his early career, where he gained familiarity with porphyry copper, sediment-hosted lead-zinc-silver, and uranium deposits.
From 1987 to 1992, he advised Pegasus Gold on several advanced projects. He also completed a geological audit of the production and exploration activities at all of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting’s operations in northern Manitoba for Minorco (prior to its planned corporate investment of more than $150 million).
Westerman was a member of various mining organizations, including: the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia; the Geological Association of Canada; the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum; and the Northwest Mining Association. Westerman is survived by his wife Christine, sons Robert and David and daughters Julie and Lynn.
Robert Hewton’s career in exploration began in the early 1970s after he graduated from McMaster with a B.Sc. degree. He worked for Rio Algom, Brinco and Hillsborough Mining and was closely involved in the discovery of the Kerr copper-gold deposit in northern British Columbia. Most recently, he worked as a consultant for several junior companies. Hewton is survived by his companion Mary, son Christopher and former spouse Barbara.
Robert Rivera received his M.Sc. degree in engineering
science in 1965 from the University of California at Berkeley. He joined Placer Development in 1967, where he rose
to the position of chief geophysicist. He was vice-president of exploration for CoCa Mines and became a director and vice-president of operations for Vancouver-based Zappa Resources.
Just saw this.Chris Westerman was my best school friend in UK. His wife lived up the road
I’m beyond grateful I was able to find my grampa Robert Rivera, Chief Geophysicist’s obituary. It has brought me some closure. You are loved and missed dearly. Love you Grampa Bob.
You are greatly missed Grampa Bob …this has given me alittle closure! I have wonderful fond memories of you!
I worked with Bob in Alaska in 1977 along with my wife Katy. The project was a joint venture between Gulf Oil and Placer Amex searching for massive sulphides to mine in the Alaska Range near Tok. I enjoyed working with Bob and Resource Associates of Alaska out of Fairbanks, AK.