Private donations expand — U of T’s geological research — Geology and physics departments get $1 million each

The University of Toronto has received two separate donations that will lead to the creation of chairs for ore genesis geology and exploration geophysics, within the departments of geology and physics, respectively.

The Dr. Norman B. Keevil Chair in Ore Genesis Geology is the result of a $1-Million donation to the geology department from the Canadians Resident Abroad Foundation, which provides health, schooling and tax assistance to expatriate Canadians.

The chair, which has already been filled by U of T geology professor Anthony Naldrett, will focus on research concerning the formation of ore deposits using field-based computer modelling and theoretical and geochemical studies of mineral deposits. A consultant to the mining industry and winner of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum’s Barlow medal, Naldrett previously conducted research into the geology and mineralogy of Ontario’s Sudbury district, as well as volcano-related ore deposits.

The chair was named for the late Norman Keevil (1910-1989), a former U of T professor and founder of Teck, one of Canada’s largest mining firms.

In the early 1940s Keevil pioneered the teaching of geophysics at the U of T.

He left his academic career in 1946 to establish a geophysical consulting firm. In the early 1950s, he used geophysical methods to refine targets in the Lake Temagami region of Ontario. This work led to the discovery of the high-grade copper deposit that became the Temagami mine, and the foundation of Teck. As chairman of the company from 1963 to 1981, Keevil acquired major interests in a group of mines, including such familiar names as Matagami, Pickle Crow, Teck-Hughes, Lamaque, Highmont and Afton, as well as the David Bell mine in Hemlo.

Teck is currently presided over by Keevil’s son, also named Norman.

In an unrelated contribution, Teck has donated $1 million to the university’s physics department to establish the Teck Corporation Chair in Exploration Geophysics. The chair, which has yet to be filled, will focus on research related to the exploration of mineral deposits using electric, magnetic, gravitational and seismic techniques.