OBITUARY — Andrew Troop

Andrew Troop, the former manager of Icon Syndicate, has died. He was 72.

A native of Manitou, Man., Troop obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in science, from the University of Manitoba.

He first explored for minerals as a student with the Geological Survey of Canada and the Manitoba Mines Branch. Later, he worked as a geologist for Ogama-Rockland Gold Mines in Bisset, Man.

In 1949, Troop joined Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting, where he remained until 1956. During those years, he served as exploration and mine geologist in locations across Western and Northern Canada.

In 1956, he was hired by the Mining Corporation of Canada as an exploration geologist, primarily in Ontario and Quebec.

He left that company in 1960 to manage Icon Syndicate, which was exploring for minerals in Central and Eastern Canada. In 1967, the company participated in the Icon Sullivan joint venture, with Troop acting as chief geologist. The partnership, which involved Kerr-Addison Mines, Newmont Mining, Gunnar Mining and Elgin Petroleum, resulted in the discovery of the Icon underground/open-pit copper mine, near Chibougamau, Que. The mine entered production in 1967, whereupon it began producing 600 tons of the red metal per day. When it closed in 1975, total production had reached 95 million lbs. of refined copper.

Following the Icon mine’s closure, Troop struck out on his own, forming the consulting firm Troop Exploration & Development. Also, between 1976 and 1978, he assumed responsibility for organizing the annual convention of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada.

Troop was also a former president of the Engineers’ Club of Toronto and a fellow of the Geological Association of Canada. He was, in addition, a member of the Association of Professional Engineers (in both Manitoba and Ontario) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Troop is survived by Jean, his wife of 45 years, and son Grant, who is also a geologist.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 19, at the Guildwood Presbyterian Church. It is situated on the corner of Guildwood Parkway and Livingston Road, in Scarborough.