Robert M. Smith, a mining engineer who was often described as “the soul” of Barrick Gold, died Oct. 27 in a Toronto hospital from complications resulting from surgery. He was 66.
While Chairman Peter Munk supplied the vision and business talent that made Barrick one of North America’s largest gold producers, Smith built, led and inspired the technical team that transformed Munk’s vision into reality. It was one of the mining world’s most successful and enduring partnerships.
Smith was born in Haileybury, in the heart of Ontario’s silver mining country. His life-long fascination with mining began as a teenager, when he spent summers prospecting. He graduated with a degree in mining engineering from the University of Toronto in 1956.
Early in his career, Smith worked in positions of increasing responsibility for Denison Mines, the Iron Ore Co. of Canada, Canadian Bechtel, Consolidated Morrison and Camflo Mines. Barrick acquired Camflo Mines in 1984 and, in the process, obtained Smith and a mining team considered to be one of the best in the country.
Smith’s expertise and leadership enabled Barrick to grow from a small operation that produced 57,000 oz. gold in 1984, to a company with production exceeding 3 million ounces in 1996. In the process, his name became associated with the development of mines across the continent, most notably the Betze-Post and Meikle mines on the now famous Goldstrike property in Nevada.
But Smith’s name is associated with much more than building and operating mines. A “miner’s miner” who loved spending time in the field, he inspired the loyalty of Barrick’s many employees, and the respect and genuine affection of the mining community worldwide.
In 1993, Smith was named “Mining Man of the Year” by The Northern Miner. He is survived by wife Jane Ann, one daughter and two grandchildren.
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