Robert Carl Sticht
Encyclopedia
Robert Carl Sticht was an American
metallurgist and copper mine manager, active in Colorado
and Montana
, U.S.A. and in Tasmania
, Australia
. Sticht was the developer of the first successful purely pyritic smelting in the world.
, U.S.A., the son of German-American parents from Brooklyn, his father's name was John C. Sticht. Sticht studied at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and graduated from there with B.Sc.
in 1875, then went studied metallurgy at the Clausthal Royal Mining Academy, Germany
, where he graduated with honours in 1880.
smelting company and erected smelters in Colorado and Montana
. In 1893, on the recommendation of the American mining expert Edward Dyer Peters, Sticht was appointed chief metallurgist to the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Co. Ltd.
in Tasmania
. Sticht married Marion Oak née Staige, of Illinois
in January 1895. The newly married couple arrived in Queenstown, Tasmania
around July 1895.
Sticht persuaded the company to use pyritic smelting, designed and supervised the erection of the reduction works plant and in 1897 was appointed general manager of the company. His successful dealing with pyritic ores marked him out as a great metallurgist. Other difficult problems arose but each was successfully dealt with as it came, and his ability in selecting suitable assistants and heads of departments was a great factor in the continued success of the company. Although a technical success, pyritic smelting had a "horrendous cost to the environment in the destruction of a vast area of rainforest and in pollution of rivers".
Sticht had a holiday tour in the United States in 1914–15; in 1917 he was again in Tasmania investigating problems in connexion with the Mount Read and Rosebery
ores. He died at Launceston, Tasmania
, on 30 April 1922. Sticht was survived by his wife and three sons.
, and many of his scarce and valuable books were bought by the library. Sticht showed his interest in the welfare of the employees of the Mount Lyell mine by the establishment of "betterment" facilities near the mine, and took a leading part in the opening of the technical school in Queenstown
. Sticht's kindliness was extended to his employees, to prospectors, and all interested in the mining industry; he was devoted to his work, and the mine owed its success to his administrative powers, his resourcefulness and his great knowledge. Sticht's reputation became world-wide and the long chapter of 125 pages in the 1907 edition of The Principles of Copper Smelting, by Edward Dyer Peters, owed so much to him, that the author stated that "to save constant quotation marks and references, I believe that it will be more just to ascribe this chapter, in the main, to Mr Sticht".
The mineral Stichtite
is named for him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
metallurgist and copper mine manager, active in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, U.S.A. and in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Sticht was the developer of the first successful purely pyritic smelting in the world.
Early life
Sticht was born at Hoboken, New JerseyHoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, U.S.A., the son of German-American parents from Brooklyn, his father's name was John C. Sticht. Sticht studied at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and graduated from there with B.Sc.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1875, then went studied metallurgy at the Clausthal Royal Mining Academy, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where he graduated with honours in 1880.
Career
Returning to the U.S.A., Sticht was appointed chief chemist and assistant metallurgist at a ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
smelting company and erected smelters in Colorado and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. In 1893, on the recommendation of the American mining expert Edward Dyer Peters, Sticht was appointed chief metallurgist to the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Co. Ltd.
Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company
Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company was a Tasmanian mining company formed on the 29 March 1893, most commonly referred to as Mount Lyell. Mount Lyell was the dominant copper mining company of the West Coast from 1893 to 1994, and was based in Queenstown, Tasmania.Following consolidation of...
in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Sticht married Marion Oak née Staige, of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in January 1895. The newly married couple arrived in Queenstown, Tasmania
Queenstown, Tasmania
Queenstown is a town in the West Coast region of the island of Tasmania. It is located in a valley on western slopes of Mount Owen on the West Coast Range.It had a population of 5,119 people . At the 2006 census, Queenstown had a population of 2,117....
around July 1895.
Sticht persuaded the company to use pyritic smelting, designed and supervised the erection of the reduction works plant and in 1897 was appointed general manager of the company. His successful dealing with pyritic ores marked him out as a great metallurgist. Other difficult problems arose but each was successfully dealt with as it came, and his ability in selecting suitable assistants and heads of departments was a great factor in the continued success of the company. Although a technical success, pyritic smelting had a "horrendous cost to the environment in the destruction of a vast area of rainforest and in pollution of rivers".
Sticht had a holiday tour in the United States in 1914–15; in 1917 he was again in Tasmania investigating problems in connexion with the Mount Read and Rosebery
Rosebery, Tasmania
Rosebery is a town on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is situated at the northern end of the West Coast Range, in the shadow of Mount Black and adjacent to the Pieman River now Lake Pieman....
ores. He died at Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, on 30 April 1922. Sticht was survived by his wife and three sons.
Legacy
Sticht was a cultivated man, interested in music, art and literature. The trustees of the Felton Bequest presented his large collection of drawings by old masters, engravings, etchings, and a collection of examples of early typography of extraordinary value, to the public library, museums and National Gallery of VictoriaNational Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
, and many of his scarce and valuable books were bought by the library. Sticht showed his interest in the welfare of the employees of the Mount Lyell mine by the establishment of "betterment" facilities near the mine, and took a leading part in the opening of the technical school in Queenstown
Queenstown, Tasmania
Queenstown is a town in the West Coast region of the island of Tasmania. It is located in a valley on western slopes of Mount Owen on the West Coast Range.It had a population of 5,119 people . At the 2006 census, Queenstown had a population of 2,117....
. Sticht's kindliness was extended to his employees, to prospectors, and all interested in the mining industry; he was devoted to his work, and the mine owed its success to his administrative powers, his resourcefulness and his great knowledge. Sticht's reputation became world-wide and the long chapter of 125 pages in the 1907 edition of The Principles of Copper Smelting, by Edward Dyer Peters, owed so much to him, that the author stated that "to save constant quotation marks and references, I believe that it will be more just to ascribe this chapter, in the main, to Mr Sticht".
The mineral Stichtite
Stichtite
Stichtite is a mineral, a carbonate of chromium and magnesium; formula Mg6Cr2CO316·4H2O. Its colour ranges from pink through lilac to a rich purple colour. It is formed as an alteration product from chromium containing serpentine....
is named for him.
Further reading
- 2003 edition - Queenstown: Municipality of Queenstown.
- 1949 edition - Hobart: Davies Brothers. ; ASINAsínAsín is a municipality located in the Cinco Villas comarca of the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, located a few kilometers west of Orés. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 106 inhabitants....
B000FMPZ80 - 1924 edition - Queenstown: Mount Lyell Tourist Association. ; ASINAsínAsín is a municipality located in the Cinco Villas comarca of the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, located a few kilometers west of Orés. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 106 inhabitants....
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