Herbert Joseph Sparks died in London in February, 1920, aged 37 years.
In 1899 he entered for the full course at the Camborne School of Mines and obtained the First Class Diploma in 1901. From July, 1902, to the end of 1906 he was assistant engineer on the staff of Rhodesia, Ltd., the latter part of the time being manager of the Riverlea Mine. In March, 1907, he was appointed cyanide and slimes manager of the Surprise Mine (Willoughby’s Consolidated), and then for about a year from August, 1908, he was in practice as a consulting metallurgist with offices at Gwelo, Rhodesia, during which period he was bullion assayer to the Bank of Africa. In September, 1909, he was engaged as cyanide and slimes manager of the Bell Mine, Que Que, until the plant closed when the mine was taken over. For two years he was underground manager and surveyor of the Surprise Mine, the last seven months being in sole charge of exploration and development on the Squenula Tin Fields for Willoughby’s Consolidated.
In February, 1912, he was invalided home to undergo an operation on his leg, which incapacitated him for 19 months, and on recovery, in November, 1913, he was appointed acting mining engineer to Messrs. Adam & Co., of Kodarma, E.I.R., India, and to the Dhalbhum Gold Mining and Minerals Prospecting Co., Ltd., of Calcutta. In February, 1915, he joined the staff of Messrs. F.F. Chrestien & Co. as consulting engineer to their Bengal and Madras branches, with headquarters at Kodarma.
Mr. Sparks was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1916.
Vol. 30, Trans I.M.M., 1920-21, p.483
