Perhaps some people might be interested in a little background information on how I came to be here and what I’m about?

Mineral Dealer

I’ve been dealing in minerals now for about 24 years. In the early part of that 24 years, with one sabbatical, I ran a mail order mineral business, sending out detailed paper lists of mineral descriptions to collectors and institutions around the world. I don’t send out lists any more but, on my website, try to offer detailed explanations of specimens and their provenances in a way similar to the way that I did with my lists. It is better now with the website since that technology allows the addition of images and other information, to give my clients as much information about specimens and localities, as possible.

My modus operandi in mineral dealing is two-fold: I try to accumulate the best Canadian minerals of all types either by field collecting, small scale mining projects, acquisition of old collections, purchasing of surplus specimens from field collectors, acting as agent for mining companies, etc. Equally, I am very interested in acquiring excellent specimens of sulphides, sulphosalts and native elements from anywhere in the world. These types of mineral specimens have always interested me, due to my interest in mining. I find great satisfaction in finding excellent, interesting specimens for my clients. If you have surplus specimens, wish to sell all or part of your collection, or have a deposit that has very good specimen producing potential, please contact me. Additionally, I have appraised many collections for museums, educational institutions, individual collectors and businesses. I will appraise individual specimens or entire collections.

Explosives and Blasting Consultant

I have spent over 30 years involved in various aspects of explosives, blasting and mining and am available to take on consulting assignments in applied explosives use, particularly in mining or Dave, on right, underground at the quarrying blasting applications. In any situation Macassa Mine, Kirkland Lake, Ont where explosives are used, there is usually an opportunity to improve results by better application of: types of explosives, blast geometry, economic understanding, different mining techniques or improved education of management or miners. As well, I can approach the problem from an independent, unbiased standpoint, unlike explosives suppliers who can provide excellent technical advice but have their business to protect, as well. I haven’t seen a mine yet where there were not substantial savings to be had by better application or understanding of explosives. Not just in the costs of blasting but in better results –fragmentation, less peripheral damage, safety, etc. If you suspect that your application of explosives is not optimum, please contact me. The dollar savings and productivity improvements to a mining operation can be large!

Mineral Collector

I have been interested in minerals since I was 12 years old. That interest blossomed into a lifelong interest in minerals both from a professional standpoint and a continued involvement with mineral collecting. I started out as a member of the junior club, the “Rockids”, of the Scarborough Gem and Mineral Club, back in the 60’s. I’ve been a member of the Scarborough Club, the Willowdale Gem and Mineral Club, the Richmond Gem and Mineral Club and the Sudbury Gem and Mineral Club and for the past 21 years, the Walker Mineralogical Club, the oldest mineral Club in Canada. For more on the Walker Mineralogical Club go to www.walkermineralogicalclub.com . I have been president, vice president and have held various positions on the council of the Walker Mineralogical Club and am currently the newsletter editor. As well, I’m on a committee that organizes and operates a junior mineral club that provides the opportunity for young Searching for Silver at Cobalt people from the Toronto area to participate in mineral collecting. If you’d like to learn more about the “Young Toronto Mineralogists Club” please go to www.ytmc.org .

Music

Another passion that I have is music! Together with my life-partner Carol Teal, we perform as a duo in the contemporary folk music genre. About two-thirds of the songs that we play are our own compositions with another third being traditional North American songs or contemporary music that we enjoy. We mostly play the “folk music” types of venues at coffee houses, folk festivals, special occasions and assorted special concerts. We have completed two compact disc recordings “Simple Pleasures (2000)” and “Some Things You Do for Love(2005)”, both compilations of some of our songs. They are available, if you’d like a copy, for Can/US$20.00. Just let me know and I’ll send you one. If you would like to know more about this aspect of my life go to www.carolanddavid.ca.

My main instrument is the guitar but I also integrate a good measure of banjo and harmonica into our performances. Carol plays the guitar, the mandolin and the washboard!

Other Personal Background

I am from Scarborough, Ontario, originally, although I haven’t lived there since I was 19. At that tender, age I left Scarborough for the north country and graduated from the Haileybury School of Mines in mining engineering technology. I had always intended to work for mining companies when I graduated but instead, took a job with CIL Explosives Inc. (later ICI Explosives and now Orica Inc) and worked for that company and subsidiaries for 22 years, moving from coast to coast in Canada taking on various assignments in explosives technical service work as well as various business roles. As well, I was fortunate to travel to many places in the world on explosives/mining related business. I loved it! Later, I was privileged to work for several mining contracting/engineering firms, BLM Service Group, Dynatec Ltd., Aker Kvaerner E & C, recently finishing my “corporate career” as Vice-President –Business Development for SNC-Lavalin Inc.’s 900+, person Toronto engineering and project management office.

My life partner, Carol Teal, is Executive Director of the ArtCan Circle, an organization that sends groups of visual and musical artists to remote aboriginal communities to work with aboriginal youth “at risk”. To learn more about the ArtsCan Circle, got to www.artscancircle.ca. As well, Carol is a speech pathologist and keeps involved in this field by working with pre-school children in York Region and Barrie, particularly autistic children.

Between Carol and me, we have four great children, Christopher, Anne, Daniel and Jacki. Chris is a Graduate of Laurentian University and is currently a grade 7&8 public school teacher in Sutton, Ontario. Anne is a graduate of the University of Toronto and is an excellent grade school teacher at a public school in Toronto. Daniel attended the Nova Scotia College of Arts and Design University, recently completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and is engaged in art gallery work in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jacki, recently graduated in Recreation Leadership at Brock University and currently works for the Newmarket Parks and Recreation department in the Youth Centre.

Professional Affiliations and Awards