THE WITWATERSRAND GOLDFIELDS (1907)

Comprehensive mining study on the Witwatersrand Goldfields, first published in 1898 and expanded here to include the chapter on Tarkwa. With large multiple folding "Map of the Central Rand" (93 x 25 cm), 3 multiple folding tables (including the large folding table "Analysis of Working Expenditure of the Crown Reef" - 98 x 25 cm; and folding table "The Witwatersrand Goldfields - Output for 1897"), 11 illustrated plates (2 folding) and 205 in-text illustrations.

"In this work the particular occurrence of the goldbearing ore, the banket, is described, and the mining operations which are performed in its exploitation are followed, till the ore arrives at the mill ore-bins" (Vorwort). 

"The Witwatersrand Goldfields, banket & mining practice; With an appendix on the banket of the Tarkwa Goldfield, West Africa."; Original red cloth hardcovers; Text in English; Collation complete – Frontispiece, Title page, XXV, 517 pages, with folding map, 3 folding tables, 11 illustrated plates (2 folding) and 205 in-text illustrations; Binding is tight and firm, with some fading/lost of color, little bumped, minor shelf wear to the extremities. Pages/Text block with little yellowing, but clear, no marks or foxing throughout. Folding maps and tables are whole and well preserved, minor traces of use. A sound copy.

Samuel John Truscott (1870-1950) was born in Cornwall and was trained at the from 1886 to 1889 where he obtained the Associateship in Mining and gained the Murchison Prize and the De La Beche Medal. He was then employed for three years with Becher Jarvis and Co. in the Malay Peninsula, leaving in 1892 to take up the position of assistant manager of Lisbon-Berlyn Mining Co. at Lydenburg, Transvaal. He remained on the Witwatersrand goldfields until 1897, first as manager of Nigel Deep and later as assistant to the late John Hays Hammond, consulting engineer to The Consolidated Goldfields of South Africa.

After visiting the Urals and Borneo, he worked as manager of Nederland Indies Gold Mining Co. in the Celebes from 1900 to 1901. He was engaged on exploration in West Africa in 1902 and gold mining in Sumatra from 1902 to 1908, returning to London in 1909, where for some years he practised as consulting engineer. In 1913 he was appointed assistant professor of mining at the Royal School of Mines and in 1919 succeeded to the Chair of Mining. On his retirement the title of Emeritus Professor was conferred on him.

Professor Truscott, who was elected a Member of the Institution in 1901, gave almost continuous service on the Council since 1909, first as an elected member and then as Vice-President for the period 1925-28, and as President for the session 1928-29. He continued to serve as Past- President for eleven years, and after a gap of four years had the distinction of rejoining the Council as an elected member, being re-elected the following year and subsequently remaining on the Council as Past-President until his death.

The Gold Medal of the Institution for 1937 was awarded to Professor Truscott 'in recognition of his services in the advancement of the science and practice of mining and metallurgy, with special reference to his services in technological education', and in 1948 the status of Honorary Membership of the Institution was conferred on him. He received the honorary degree of D.Sc. (Engineering) of the University of the Witwatersrand in 1930, and in 1950 he was elected Senior Fellow of the Geological Society of London, of which he had been a Fellow for 60 years. (https://nmrs.org.uk/resources/obituaries-of-members/obituaries-of-members-names-beginning-with-t/samuel-john-truscott/)

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