Obituary: Charles E. Michener

Charles E. Michener, who found some of Inco’s most prolific nickel properties by pioneering airborne geophysical systems, has died. The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame member was 97.

Michener helped discover the South nickel-sulphide mine in Sudbury, Ont., the Lupin gold mine in Nunavut, the Thompson complex in Manitoba, and Inco’s vast nickel-laterite holdings in Indonesia.

A native of Red Deer, Alta., Michener graduated from the University of Toronto with a bachelor of science degree in 1931. A year later, he earned his masters degree in geology from Cornell University, and in 1940, a PhD in geology and mining, again from the U of T.

Inco offered Michener a position in 1935, and between 1940 and 1942, he helped discover the South mine. From 1945 to 1950, he participated in the development of Inco’s first practical airborne electromagnetic system. Over the next the five years, Michener discovered the Duluth Gabbro, a 200-million-tonne orebody, which, owing to environmental concerns, was never developed.

In 1955 and 1956, these airborne systems were used to find nickel laterites in Australia and the Heath Steele deposit in New Brunswick.

Michener will be remembered for helping uncover the Thompson nickel belt between 1950 and 1957 and the Indonesian laterite deposits from 1960 to 1968 (it was he who acquired the Indonesian nickel concessions for Inco.)

In 1969, Michener retired from Inco and helped form Derry, Michener, Booth & Wahl, a geological consulting firm.

He received the Blaylock Medal from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Michener is survived by his wife of 68 years, Audrey, and three children, Gordon, Marilyn, and Roly. He had 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.