Joseph Parker Gazzam died in hospital at St. Louis, Missouri, on 27th January, 1954, at the age of 93.
An American, Mr. Gazzam graduated in mining and metallurgy at Washington University in 1884, and began his career as assistant chemist at the Joliet Steel Co., Joliet, Illinois, shortly afterwards becoming chief chemist at Western Steel Co., Missouri. He subsequently held positions at Mine La Motte Corporation, Kansas City Smelting and Refining Co., El Paso Smelting Co., Texas, and Jumbo Mining and Milling Co., Breckenridge. He was for a time chemist and metallurgist at St. Joseph Lead Co., and superintendent at St. Louis Smelting and Refining Co., and then worked in Colorado as manager of American Gold Mining Co. at Ouray and, later, superintendent at Small Hopes Consolidated Mining Co. at Leadville.
Mr. Gazzam went to South Africa before the turn of the century, as manager of Luipaards Vlei Estate and Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Krugersdorp, and was general manager of Simmer and Jack Proprietary Mines, Ltd., Germiston. He had to return to America in 1907 owing to ill health, and no longer engaged in professional work.
He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1902.
Vol. 55, Trans IMM 1945-46, pp.567-68
