Doug Morgan F.G.A. (1919-2017) RIP
20th Nov 2017 09:53 UTCRoy Starkey 🌟 Manager
Born in Birmingham, he had pursued a varied career in the industries associated with cast iron and foundries, becoming an acknowledged international expert on moulding sands. He worked for many years as a research scientist for the British Cast Iron Research Association (BCIRA) in Birmingham and later at their headquarters in Alvechurch. Periods in industry included a spell as metallurgist at the Idoson Motor Cylinder Company and a role as Chief Metallurgist to the Radiation Group of Companies. He rejoined BCIRA in 1956 and remained there until his retirement.
Studies into slag and refractory problems lead to the publication in 1963 of his paper "Identification of Slag and Dross Inclusions" which became the main reference work on this topic. It was the associated optical work which had triggered his interest in crystallography and mineralogy. This in turn, particularly in later life, stimulated Doug's enthusiasm for manufacturing thin sections of rocks and slags. One of his favourite slides is pictured below. This shows carbon arc phosphorus furnace slag showing pseudo-hexagonal twinning in bredigite at x150 in crossed polars with a quarter wave plate inserted.
Doug was a well-known lecturer in moulding and core making technology, usually ending in a specially composed verse relating to the subject. His talks, given to numerous International Conferences, and publication of over thirty papers and technical articles resulted in the award of the prestigious Oliver Stubbs Gold Medal for services to the Industry by the National Ironfounders Employers Federation.
Doug was truly a man of many talents - this (somewhat incomplete!) list gives an idea of the diversity of his interests and skills
Marquetry
Classical guitar
Mah Jong (including making his own tiles)
Making Parsnip wine
Engineering
Microscopy and optical instrument manufacture
Micromounts
Petrological thin sections
Honestones
Optical Mineralogy
Making things for people!
Playing the piano
Writing limericks
Mineralogy
Faceting
Book binding
Gardening
Gemmology
Old Hand Tools
And a whole lot more……..
Doug is known in so many different walks of life, but particularly across the worlds of mineralogy, gemmology, faceting and microscopy, where he invested much of his leisure time during retirement. He was awarded the Founders Cup of the British Micromount Society in 2008. He was a very active member of the Postal Microscopical Society, and also the Quekett Microscopical Society, and much in demand for his technical and engineering expertise relating to optical instruments and equipment.
Many people in the mineral collecting community will have come across Doug as a result of his faceting skills, and in particular his penchant for cutting superb stones in British fluorite.
He will be sadly missed by many, but remembered by all for his humour, his technical abilities, his never-ending desire to learn and acquire new skills, but most of all as a really nice guy.
Our condolences go to Sue, Bill, Jean and the rest of the family at this sad time.
Roy Starkey
