Don Hoover
Don Hoover.
Don Hoover Completed a Doctor of Science (PhD equivalent) at the Colorado School of Mines in Denver, USA.
Don was employed for a long time with the United States Geological Survey specializing in Seismology, Volcanology, Geothermal energy and the disposal of nuclear waste. (Authors Note: It was during this time that I first met with Don, discussing information regarding the Eruption of Mount St Helens in 1981, and then discussion on Hawaiian volcanoes).
Don also achieved a Graduate Gemmologist Diploma, and Fellowship of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. In 2007 he was awarded and honorary fellowship of the Gemmological Association of Australia.
personal communications
I cannot remember the exact time frame of my association with Don, however we shared a mutual enthusiasm for research on precious opal. In early correspondence Don was very kind in providing me with Opal specimens from his personal collection to assist both with teaching and lecturing with the Gemmological Association of Australia as well as for use in scientific research regarding opal.
Perhaps one of the highlights of our correspondence was a discussion about the new discovery of precious opal in Ethiopia. At an early point, and in co-operation that Don had with Telehun Johannes of the American - Ethiopian development board Don provided many specimens of this new opal occurrence.
Dons paper in the Australian Gemmologist in 1996, is a least one of the first Gemmological papers published on this material. Our correspondence with each other on opal, diamonds, gemmology and geology continued for many years.
One of Dons major interest was with Diamonds in Brazil which we discussed often. Further to this as Don made many contacts and gained information on the geology and gemstones in Brazil. We had also many discussion about opal in Brazil .
As recently as 2022 Don and I were discussing opals, and the last generous specimen was received being a piece of matrix opal from the Mississippi. Don was volunteering with the County Museum of Natural Science, and in conjunction with Matthew Forir we corresponded about this occurrence of opal. A photograph of Mississippi matrix opal can be viewed in the Academy post talking about matrix opal.
Hoover, D.B., Yohannes, T.Z., Collins, D.S., (1996) Ethiopia a New Source for Precious Opal. Australian Gemmologist, Volume 19, Number 7. p303-307. You can read the text here:
Hoover, DB., Karfunkel, J., Walde, D., Moraes, RVA., Michelfelder, G.,Renger, FE. Ribeiro, LCB., Krambrock, K., Klock, CF., (2018) The Alto Paranaiba region, Brazil: A continuing source for pink diamonds. Australian Gemmologist, Volume 26, Number 9 and 10, p 196-204.
Hoover, DB., Karfunkel, J., Ribeiro, LCB.,, Moraes, RVA., Michelfelder, G., Krambrock, K., Quintao., Walde, D. (2017) Diamonds of the Alto Paranaiba, Brazil: Nixon’s prediction verified? Australian Gemmologist Volume 26,. Numbers 5 an 6. pp 88-99.
Hoover, DB., Karfunkel, J., (2009) Large Brazilian diamonds, Australian Gemmologist Volume 23, Number 10, pp434-440.