Thomas Breakell died at Brassington, near Wirksworth, Derbyshire, on August 4th, 1936, at the age of 74.
He was educated at Alston College, Lancashire, and received his training in chemistry and mineralogy at Owens College and in the laboratories of Dr. Burghardt, in Manchester.
In 1881 he went to Australia, where he was engaged by various mining companies in prospecting, and in experimental work on an electric gold-saving machine.
In 1886 he returned to England to manage the mines and quarries of the Manystones Estate in Derbyshire, and in 1890 left for the Gold Coast, where he spent two years as general manager of the Taquah & Abosso Gold Mining Co., Ltd.
The next three years he spent in Colombia as general manager of the Transito Co., Ltd., and from 1896 to 1901 was employed in Venezuela in a similar capacity by the Goldfields of Venezuela, Ltd. In 1908 he went to Russia, where for three years he managed the Caucasus Copper Co., Ltd., Batoum.
In the years that followed he made many visits to Russia, Siberia, Turkey, Rumania and Venezuela, reporting on metalliferous deposits and oil-fields. He was the inventor of the ‘Excel’ grinding mill.
Mr. Breakell was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1892, and was transferred to Membership in 1898.
Vol. 46, Trans I.M.M. 1936-7, pp. 817
