Donald Miner Davidson died suddenly on 16th September, 1960, at his home in Minneapolis, at the age of 58.
He was trained at the University of Minnesota from 1921 to 1925 graduating A.B. magna cum laude. In 1926 he gained the M.Sc. and two years later received the Ph.D. degree in geology of the University.
Dr. Davidson was appointed geologist to the Minnesota State Geological Survey in 1926 and in the following year transferred to the U.S. Geological Survey. In 1928 he joined Selection Trust, Ltd., London, as geologist. He carried out geological work on the Special Grants, particularly Chambishi, and as chief geologist and senior engineer from 1931 was in charge of all geological work at Mufulira and of planning and execution of exploratory investigation and drilling of Special Grants in the Northern Rhodesian Copperbelt for Mufulira and Rhodesian Selection Trust. Between 1935 and 1939 he was concerned with the exploration and assessment of gold, tin and other properties in Africa while continuing his direction of Special Grants exploration in the Copperbelt.
In 1939 Dr. Davidson left Selection Trust to take up the position of chief consultant geologist of the E.J. Longyear Co., and later became head of their mining division, then director, and vice-president in 1949. He was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Longyear Companies in June, 1958.
From 1950 to 1952 Dr. Davidson was a member of the National Minerals Advisory Council; he had served as a consultant to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and the President’s Materials Policy Commission and many other government and public bodies. He had been a visiting lecturer in mining and geology at Columbia University and the University of Minnesota. He was the author of many papers to professional bodies.
He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1951 and had served as Overseas Member of Council for the U.S.A. from 1958 until his death. He was president of the Society of Economic Geologists in 1953-54 and was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Geological Society of America, the Geophysical Union and the Washington Geological Society.
Mr. Anton Gray writes: Dr. Davidson had a distinguished career as a mining geologist, but it is for his human understanding as well as his professional qualities that he will be remembered. Absolute integrity of thought and act did not in his case cause any harshness of character. Rather, he was distinguished by a great sympathy and liking for people that made him a host of friends. His untimely death will cause great sorrow wherever he was known.
Vol. 71, Trans IMM 1961-62, pp.43-44
