Harold David Blackburn died in October, 1951, at the age of 41. He was of Canadian nationality.
In 1926 Mr. Blackburn was engaged as a sampler at Noranda Mines, Ltd., and left in 1927 on his appointment as diamond drill helper at United Verde Copper Mines, Ltd. Later that year he was engaged on contract diamond drilling in various parts of Eastern Canada and from the beginning of 1930 was similarly employed by Continental Drilling Co., Ltd. He attended the Noranda School of Mines during 1931 and 1932.
From 1932 to 1934 Mr. Blackburn was prospecting in the Lac Abitibi area for Ventures, Ltd., returning to Noranda Mines, Ltd., in 1934 to experiment in the drilling and loading of long blast-holes. He was appointed field superintendent in Eastern Canada for Sudbury Diamond Drilling Co., Ltd., in 1936, and for Continental Drilling Co. in 1937, and in 1943 joined the firm of Boyles Bros. Drilling Co., Ltd., Vancouver, in experimental drilling for outcrop coal in Southern Alberta. He left Canada in 1944 to take up the position of managing director of operations in the United Kingdom for the associated company of Boyles Bros. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and still held that position at the time of his death.
Mr. Blackburn was elected an Affiliate of the Institution in 1949.
Vol. 62, Trans I.M.M. 1952-53, p. 77
