Bernard John Hastings died on 9th July, 1948, at the age of 69.
His whole professional career was devoted to the metallurgy of gold. By April, 1914, he had attained the position of chief metallurgist to the Geldenhuis Deep Gold Mining Co., Ltd., and in following years held the same position at Springs mine (1916), Brakpan (1920), and the Consort Gold Mining Co., Ltd. (1927). In 1932 he left; South Africa to take the post of chief metallurgist to Abosso Gold Mines, Ltd., in the Gold Coast, and two years later was employed in a similar capacity by Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ltd. From 1937 to 1940 he was chief metallurgist to Ariston Gold Mines, Ltd., leaving to join Amalgamated Banket Areas, Ltd., but returning in 1943 to Ariston Gold Mines and Gold Coast Main Reef, Ltd. Mr. Hastings also acted in a consultative capacity for several mines before retiring from Gold Coast Main Reef about two years ago. He was elected to Membership of the Institution in 1945.
Vol. 58, Trans IMM 1948-9, pp.586-7
