F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 8
www.resourceworld.com 61
Teck's Dr. Norman
Keevil publishes
company history
Never Rest on Your Ores is a book that
will be welcomed by both the mining
and investment communities. Written
by Dr. Norman B. Keevil, who founded
Teck Resources Ltd. with his father, also
Dr. Norman B. Keevil, it is a fascinat-
ing expedition into big-time Canadian
mining. The company is Canada's larg-
est diversified mining company with
operations covering steel-making coal,
oil sands, zinc, copper, smelting and
even foreign health programs.
Loaded with ability, father and
son, both geoscientists, built Teck
Resources up from scratch by fol-
lowing tried and true formulas and
shrewd deal-making that those inter-
ested in a career in mining may wish
to emulate. It's obvious both father
and son have a love of exploration
I picked up some pointers for would-
be mining entrepreneurs: hire talented
people who want to help you succeed;
be innovative but still practical; know
your limitations; forget about 9-5 hours
– deals can be made on weekends; sci-
ence plus entrepreneurial drive bring
success.
In Teck's case, the talented
employees included engineers
and mine builders that enabled
the company to develop as a
successful mineral explorer, mine
builder and mine operator – three dif-
ferent skill sets. Keevil's book recounts
eye-opening meetings with powerful
politicians, financiers and leaders of
industry. I don't know if Dr. Keevil
took notes over Teck's 50-year history
but the details are mind-boggling.
He doesn't spare the ink recalling
how greedy ill-informed politicians
tried to force unrealistic royalties and
taxes on the company. This is a great
read.
n
Never Rest on Your Ores is published by
McGill-Queen's University Press.
BOOK REVIEW
(see editorial on page 80)
