Tribute to an exploration geologist

Fifty years ago, in April, 1944, I and two other third-year mining engineering students, C.E. (Red) Anderson and A.E. (Moose) Manifold, flew from Edmonton, Alta., to Yellowknife, N.W.T., for summer geological field work on the Akaitcho gold property.

We had been hired at the University of Alberta by mining engineer Ken Muir of Ventures Ltd. (Muir subsequently brought the Giant mine into production) and were to report to H.N.C. (Hugh) Fraser, resident manager of newly formed Frobisher Exploration.

Fraser graduated in geology from the University of Alberta in 1934 and, as a brilliant post-graduate student, he had taken essentially every geological course offered at Queen’s University.

In addition, his broad field experience at that time included both geology of sedimentary formations in the foothills and mountains of southwestern Alberta and mineral deposits on the Canadian Shield.

In particular, Hugh had pioneered techniques of mapping the axes of anticlines and synclines in erosionally truncated, tightly folded, steeply dipping, highly metamorphosed, Precambrian deep-water clastic turbidite sediments at the Thompson-Lundmark gold mine near Yellowknife. In his work, Hugh recognized that because of larger-sized metamorphic crystals in the more argillaceous laminae, the normally fining upward texture used to determine top of beds was reversed. Furthermore, by plotting the direction of top of beds at a multitude of outcrop observation points on aerial photographs, he was able to show the relationship of ore deposition to the structure of tightly folded and faulted, highly metamorphosed host rocks. On the Akaitcho property, Hugh enthusiastically shared his knowledge and experience with us by mapping the faulted and sheared, steeply dipping metamorphosed volcanic flows on aerial photographs, as well as the locations of narrow, gold-bearing quartz veins which we had sampled and panned. Hugh always had a happy, optimistic attitude and he treated us with dignity and respect. He made geological exploration so interesting that we scarcely noticed the hordes of mosquitoes and black flies. In fact, this whole adventure of geological mapping, prospecting for gold, travelling by canoe, living in tents, cooking our own meals and contending with black bears was like a paid holiday.

During the summer that year, he and A.S. Dadson were frequently quoted by The Northern Miner regarding the latest drill results outlining the newly discovered orebodies on the Giant property and the potential for additional mines in the Yellowknife area.

Hugh introduced us to the excitement of geological exploration in the field; and in gratitude, we thank him for a lasting influence on our lifelong work in the mineral industry.

Now in retirement after a long and distinguished career in geological exploration, Hugh resides in Toronto with his wife, Betty.

— Ralph Edie’s company, Andrichuk and Edie, is based in Calgary, Alta.