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ANTOINE MARC GAUDIN
1900-1974
BY REINHARDT SCHUHMANN, JR.
ANTOINE MARC GAUDIN eminent mineral engineer, died in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, on August 23, 1974, after a long illness. He was
Richards Professor of Mineral Engineering Emeritus at the Mas-
sachusetts Institute of Technology, where he had taught since
1939.
Professor Gaudin was a vigorously creative man and, throughout
his productive career, an internationally respected leader of the
profession of mineral engineering. Beyond his many significant
technical and scientific contributions to such fields as froth flota-
tion, comminution of ores, and uranium extraction, he manifested
a strong sense of responsibility that engineering and engineers
serve society. Thus, in 1964 he fittingly became one of the active
founding members of the National Academy of Engineering. For
his many students, as well as close colleagues, he was engineering
teacher, wise and friendly counselor, and professional leader.
Antoine Gaudin was born August 8, 1900, in Smyrna, Turkey,
where his father was general manager of a French-owned railroad.
He grew up literally in the shadow of classic marbles from his
father's archeological diggings. After early schooling in Haifa,
Versailles, and Toulon, he received the degree of Bachelier-es-
Sciences from Paris (1916) and Aix-en-Provence (19171. After his
father came to the United States with the French War Mission,
Antoine followed in 1917 and entered the Columbia School of
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Mines. He completed the six-year program in four years and was
awarded the Engineer of Mines degree in 1921.
After a few years of beginning engineering and industrial expe-
rience, Gaudin in 1924 returned to Columbia University as Lec-
turer in the School of Mines. From that time on, he was engaged
continuously in teaching and research in mineral engineering and
allied fields. During 1926, he became a U.S. citizen. From 1926 to
1929 he was Associate Professor of Metallurgical Research at the
University of Utah and from 1929 to 1939 he was Research
Professor of Mineral Dressing at the Montana School of Mines. His
and his students' researches in Utah and Montana focussed on the
then young science of froth flotation of minerals, and the flow of
significant contributions and ensuing commercial applications
brought national and international recognition. Protessor Gaudin
moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1939
as Richards Professor of Mineral Engineering and in this position,
until reaching emeritus status in 1966, continued and broadened
his oursuit of new mineral engineering knowledge and of solutions
1~ - - - ~ - ~
of important problems.
Although the campus was always Professor Gaudin's home base,
he found great stimulation and challenge in putting his brain and
hands to work on problems of the real world of the mineral
industry~specially those others couldn't solve. His consulting
practice was large, but he mastered the art of combining consult-
ing, research. and teaching to the mutual benefit of each.
One of Dr. Gaudin's greatest accomplishments was his leadership
of a team of engineers at MIT during World War II in developing
processes for recovering uranium from low-grade raw materials. In
the words of Lt. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, Manhattan District, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, written in 1955:
In March of' 1946, he started work on the extremely low grade tailings
from the South African gold mines. Many of' our technical people and all
those outside the project with whom we discussed the various problems
were quite firm in the view that we were doomed to failure. Professor
Gaudin justified our faith in his ability and judgment. A successful treat-
ment process was developed and without undue delay. The prool'ol' this
has been given in the size of' today's shipments of' uranium from the Union
of' South Africa.
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The uranium recovery project, with its urgency, major scientific
and engineering challenges, and ultimate success, was a memorable
educational and professional experience for all the young en-
gineers and scientists whom Professor Gaudin brought together for
the task.
As one of the twenty-~ve founding members of the National
Academy of Engineering (NAE), Dr. Gaudin gave distinguished
service to the Academy and to the U.S. Government. He was a
Member of the NAE Council from 1964 to 1969 and active in several
NAE operating committees. He brought his broad knowledge and
perspective of mineral and metallurgical industries to the impor-
tant work of NAE and NRC ~ (National Research Council) panels and
committees relating to materials resources and resource develop-
ment.
Always active at the leading edge of mineral engineering re-
search for a period of more than forty years, Professor Gaudin
authored more than 150 journal publications. Many of these be-
came part of the foundation of the science of froth flotation.
Others constituted pioneering work in comminution, surface
chemistry, applications of radiotracers, microscopy of minerals,
and new process development. Dr. Gaudin also found time to
organize and write important textbooks: two editions of Flotation
( 1932 and 1957) and Principles of Mineral Dressing ( 1939 ).
The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum
Engineers (AIME) recognized the outstanding work of Antoine
Gaudin by several of its highest awards: the Robert H. Richards
Award (1957), the Mineral Industry Education Award (1969), and
Honorary Member ( 1972~. His honorary lectures were always
.
.
stimulating events and included the Henry Krumb Lecture (AIME,
1967), the Extractive Metallurgy Lecture (AIME, 1961), and the Sir
Julius Wernher Memorial Lecture (Institute of Mining and Metal-
lurgy, London, 1952~. The Montana School of Mines awarded him
the degree of Doctor of Science Honoris Causa in 1941.
Many of Tony Gaudin's former students and colleagues came to
know his charming and gracious wife, Nancy, and to enjoy the
hospitality of the Gaudin home. He was himselfjustifiably proud of
his sons, Paul and Robert, daughter, Elinor, and twelve grandchil-
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dren. To his family, his daily living, and his many hobbies, Tony
brought the same zest for living, curiosity about nature, and taste
that characterized his professional activities. Thus, he was an avid
fisherman, on occasion a gourmet cook, an artist, and a collector of
paintings, as well as a patron of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
and of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
The life and works of Antoine Marc Gaudin leave a clearly
documented record of distinguished contributions to engineering
knowledge and to the service of society. His influence will continue
to grow into the future through the students and associates who
benefited from his strong tutelage and example.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
professor gaudin
