Proceedings of the Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain and Notices

摘要

We are delighted to announce that at the Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 14 September E Alan Jobbins was elected President of the Association for the term 2004-2006. E Alan Jobbins BSc CEng FIMM EGA was Curator of Minerals and Gemstones at the Geological Museum in London from 1950 to 1983. During these years he acted as consultant to a wide range of enquirers from which a series of research papers developed. These included, among many others, a major study of East African garnets, the first papers characterizing the structure and identification of synthetic opals, the discovery of a new mineral magnesio-axinite and the field study of the Barwell meteorite fall. His many overseas assignments (for the United Nations and the British Government) included setting up a gemmological laboratory in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) and the subsequent training of a cadre of students who successfully passed the Gemmology Diploma examinations; a major study of the Pailin ruby and sapphire deposits in Cambodia with recommendations for improved working methods; an assessment of diamond and opal deposits in Piaui State, Brazil; a survey of the Sri Lankan gemstone industry to improve cutting techniques and many other projects. In 1988 he gave a series of lectures and initiated gemmological training with new laboratory facilities at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan. In the UK his record includes 32 years as a gemmological lecturer at the Sir John Cass College (now the London Metropolitan University), some 20 years as an examiner for the Association's gemmology examinations and eight years as Editor of The Journal of Gemmology. He is a popular lecturer and has presented papers in some 30 countries around the world. In 1986-89 he was privileged to be a member of the team which conducted the first gemmological examination of the English Crown Jewels. These researches were published as part of a major two volume catalogue. He is an Executive Member of the International Gemmological Conference and is currently President of the Society of Jewellery Historians.