George Stanfield Blake was killed, in company with a supernumerary Jewish policeman, near. Sodom, Palestine, while prospecting for oil, early in July, 1940, at the age of 63.
He entered the Royal School of Mines in 1893 and graduated with the A.R.S.M. in metallurgy. He also obtained the degree of, B.Sc. (London) in geology, with honours.
On leaving the School of Mines in 1897 he was employed for about a year as assistant in the laboratory of Edward Riley & Co., London, and from 1898 to 1900 was assayer and sampler to the Royal Mines of Elba, in Italy.
Returning to England, he was for about seven years mineralogical chemist and subsequently chief chemist and technical adviser to the Imperial Institute, London. In 1909 he was engaged on geological and survey work in Brazil and Bolivia, and in the following year he went to Newfoundland as general manager and geologist to the Newfoundland Oil (Parent) Development Syndicate, Ltd.
From 1911 to 1915, he was manager of the Standard Oil Co. of Canada, and then returned to England, where for four years he was inspector and chemist to the Mines Department, and then joined the staff of the Geological Department at the Imperial College.
In 1922 he was appointed geological adviser to the Palestine Government and held that position until his untimely death.
Mr. Blake was elected a Member of the Institution in 1911.
Vol. 52, Trans I.M.M. 1942-43, p. 392
