Prepared by Jeanne B. Percival and A. George Plant, Nov. 9, 2015

Ann Phyllis Sabina was born in Lemberg, Saskatchewan in 1930. She grew up in Winnipeg and attended the University of Manitoba. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology in 1952 and then joined the Geological Survey of Canada in Ottawa. Ann was hired in the new research area of mineralogy known as X-ray diffraction by Dr. S.C. (Binks) Robinson. In those early years, Ann spent most of her time developing an invaluable database of X-ray diffraction patterns and their mineral specimen mounts, using specimens from the mineral collection and other sources and this led to her first publication in 1960 with Bob Traill – a catalogue of 650 X-ray diffraction patterns and specimen mounts (Sabina and Traill, 1960). In addition, Ann was tasked by Dr. Robinson to begin a new series of books on mineral collecting and guidebooks of Canada’s highways due to an increasing interest in geology by the public. The first fieldwork for this initiative was conducted in July 1962 when Ann visited mineral occurrences between West Hawk Lake, Manitoba and Ottawa. According to GSC’s annual report for 1962 “the results of this fieldwork will be used in replying to requests for information, and in preparation of a special publication on mineral collecting.” Ann used the information to write the first paper in the “Rocks and Minerals for the Collector” series – GSC Paper 63-18 that covered the route from Sudbury to Winnipeg. Ann also produced three volumes entitled Rock and Mineral Collecting in Canada that covered Western Canada and Territories (vol. I), Ontario and Quebec (vol. II) and Eastern Canada (vol. III). These books were very popular and a gemmologist and author of “Gemstones of North America” sent a letter to the Director of the GSC praising the GSC for producing these booklets with “great care to keep Canadian nationals informed who are not miners for mineral wealth or drillers for oil, but just ordinary persons interested in recreation” (Letter to the Director Nov. 27, 1965 by John Sinkankas from Earth Sciences Literature, San Diego). The popularity of these books enabled her to continue this endeavour in more detail. Ann continued producing reports on new areas — she added 12 by 1976 and an additional one (Bancroft to Parry Sound, Misc. Report 39) in 1986, for a total of 14 different regions of Canada, from Newfoundland to the Yukon/Alaska border, each crossing two provincial/territorial boundaries. Miscellaneous Report 32

Ann Phyllis Sabina Stenson January 28, 1930 – September 29, 2015)

in 1983 (originally GSC Paper 67-51) was the first of many revisions that continued to the present time. It is interesting to note that when GSC Paper 63-18 was revised in 1991 as Miscellaneous Report 49, it had grown from 77 pages to 315! This popular geoscience series known as “Rocks and Minerals for the Collector” has inspired many to go rock, mineral and fossil hunting. Ann was a “rock star” of sorts when attending the local Gem and Mineral shows in Ontario and Quebec. People would line up to get her autograph on their personal copy of her reports – Ann was the GSC’s ambassador to the rock and mineral collecting community across Canada. When Ann retired from the GSC in 1995, her mandate as an emeritus scientist was to continue to re-edit these books and bring them up to date. Ann was passionate in her work and her last contribution was to complete the “Rocks and Minerals for the Collector: Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; South Shore, Nova Scotia” which will be released shortly, on-line in both official languages. In addition, Ann pulled together all the “Information for Collectors” that used to grace the GSC website, which will be released in a forthcoming Open File Report. Besides the popular geoscience books Ann authored, she was a diligent researcher in the Mineralogy Section. According to Tarassoff et al. (2006) Ann and a student assistant first visited the Francon quarry (Saint Michel district) in Montreal on July 19, 1966, as part of her research for the Kingston, Ontario to Lac St. Jean, Quebec guidebook (GSC Paper 67-51). For security reasons related to insurance, women were not allowed in operating Canadian quarries. Therefore, Ann asked a young fellow working in the quarry to bring her, for $5.00, various samples that he would collect in the bottom of the quarry. Her astute observations of small cavities containing minute crystals were just the start. Back in the lab, Ann noticed some small lemon-yellow crystals which had no match against the X-ray powder diffraction database that she had helped to develop, and she quickly concluded that this was a new mineral. Ann named the new mineral “weloganite” after the GSC’s founder, Sir William Logan (Sabina et al., 1968). Ann was responsible for collecting 9 of 10 new mineral species between 1968 and 1990. These include: weloganite (Fig. 1a), dresserite, hydrodresserite, strontiodresserite, sabinaite (Fig. 1b), franconite, doyleite, hochelagaite, montroyalite and voggite. Since that time, 90 species have been documented in that quarry (Tarassoff et al., 2006).

Fig.1. Photomicrographs of a) weloganite (Sr3Na2Zr(CO3)6 ·3H2O) and b) sabinaite (Na4Zr2TiO4(CO3)4) (courtesy of Dr. Tony Peterson (GSC)).

a)

b)

Ann was also a teacher. She taught mineralogy and gemmology classes at Carleton University in the eighties and prepared students for the Canadian Gemmological Association’s fellowship examinations. Ann was one of the founding members of the Ottawa Valley Mineral Association and was a co-founder of the Canadian Gemmological Association. Ann was a long-time friend and acquaintance of many of the members of the Ottawa Lapsmith and Mineral Club as well as all the other clubs across Canada and was well liked and respected. All lapidary and mineral clubs across Canada relied on her GSC publications for over 50 years for their field trips and collecting endeavours. Ann was the recipient of many awards over her career. In 1977, Ann was one of nine members of the Mineralogical Association of Canada who received the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in recognition of their scientific achievements and their service to the scientific community. In 1994, Ann received the Leonard G. Berry Medal from the Mineralogical Association of Canada. This medal is awarded annually for distinguished service to the Association in an elected role. Ann was a long-serving Treasurer of the Society for over 25 years. They also established the “Ann Sabina Award” to be given to the best self-collected collection exhibited at an annual show competition as determined by the Central Canadian Confederation of Mineralogical Societies. In 2009 the Club de minéralogie de Montréal awarded Ann the “Elsa and László Horváth Prize” recognizing Ann’s exceptional contributions to mineralogy in Canada (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. From left to right: Jean-Pierre Lefebvre, Elsa Horváth, Ann and László Horváth, Club de minéralogie Award, 2009.

Ann became a Fellow of the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) in 2000. In 2002, they recognized Ann for her outstanding contribution to the “Next Generation Powder Diffraction File”. ICDD will be honouring Ann once more in March 2016. Ann was nominated to receive the McMurdie Award, due to her long-time commitment (~ 50 years) as a member of the Minerals Subcommittee and Task Group. Ann was thrilled to have been selected as the 2016 recipient. Ann married Alec (Alexander) Stenson on October 9, 1968. They had a lovely home on the Ottawa River and she was very proud of the unique fireplace that was constructed for them (Fig. 3). Ann mentioned that the rocks (tourmaline-bearing granite) were carefully collected from a quarry in Quebec, and the Gowganda conglomerate was sent to her from an Ontario quarry. The hearth and top are fossiliferous limestone from southern Ontario. Ann and Alec loved to golf and enjoyed their membership at the Hunt Club Golf club. Ann was an avid traveller, attending conferences and field trips until very recently. Ann would boast about catching the “red eye” back from Vancouver after spending a lovely day with her brother and his family. Then Ann would show up to work as usual!

Fig. 3. The commissioned fireplace in Ann’s home. The granite fieldstones were collected by her on one of her local field trips.

Ann was predeceased by her husband Alec (1999), and is mourned by her brother Paul, and nieces (Sharon, Beverly, Valerie) and nephews (David, Daniel, Timothy). Ann was the quintessential public servant – dedicated to her work, - always striving to provide value and service to her fellow citizens, - proud to work at the Geological Survey, -and more than willing to take on tasks to support her profession and to advance her science – mineralogy. She was a valued colleague and will be greatly missed. References Sabina, A.P., Jambor, J.L. and Plant, A.G. 1968. Weloganite, a new strontium zirconium carbonate from Montreal Island, Canada. Canadian Mineralogist, v. 9, p. 468-477 Sabina, A. P. and Traill, R. J. 1960. Catalogue of X-ray diffraction patterns and specimen mounts on file at the Geological Survey of Canada. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 60-4. (doi:10.4095/101184). Tarassoff, P., Horváth, L. and Pfenninger-Horváth, E. 2006. The Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec. The Mineralogical Record, v. 37 (Jan.-Feb.), p. 5-60. Selected Bibliography Sabina, A. P. In press. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and South Shore, Nova Scotia. Geological Survey of Canada, Popular Geoscience 97, 456 pp (doi: 10.4095/293933). Sabina, A. P. In press. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Baie de Fundy (Nouveau-Brunswick et Nouvelle-Écosse) et littoral Sud (Nouvelle-Écosse). Geological Survey of Canada, Popular Geoscience 97, 495 pp (doi:10.4095/293934). Sabina, A.P. In preparation. Information for Collectors. Open File Report.

Sabina, A.P. 2007. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Ottawa to North Bay and Huntsville, Ontario; Gatineau (Hull) to Waltham and Témiscaming, Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 48, 249 pp; 1 CD-ROM (doi: 10.4095/222658). Sabina, A.P. 2007. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: d'Ottawa à North Bay et Huntsville (Ontario); de Gatineau (Hull) à Waltham et Témiscaming (Québec). Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 48, 260 pp; 1 CD-ROM (doi: 10.4095/222694). Sabina, A.P. 2003. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Iles de la Madeleine, Quebec, the Island of Newfoundland, and Labrador. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 58, 304 pp (doi: 10.4095/214397). Sabina, A.P. 2003. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Îles de la Madeleine (Québec), île de Terre-Neuve et Labrador. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 58, 312 pp (doi: 10.4095/214422) Sabina, A.P. 2003. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Kirkland Lake - Rouyn-Noranda - Val-d'Or, Ontario and Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 77, 322 pp (doi: 10.4095/214759). Sabina, A.P. 2003. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Kirkland Lake - Rouyn-Noranda - Val-d'Or (Ontario et Québec). Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 77, 336 pp (doi: 10.4095/214760). Sabina, A.P. 2000. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Cobalt-Belleterre-Timmins (Ontario et Québec). Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 57, 270 pp (doi: 10.4095/211321). Sabina, A.P. 2000. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Cobalt-Belleterre-Timmins, Ontario and Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 57, 266 pp (doi: 10.4095/211322). Sabina, A.P. 1994. Rocks and minerals for the collector: northeastern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, and Prince Edward Island. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 51, 91 pp (doi: 10.4095/194755). Sabina, A.P. 1994. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur : nord-est de la Nouvelle-Écosse, Ile du Cape-Breton et Ile-du-Prince-Édouard. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 51, 96 pp (doi: 10.4095/194756). Sabina, A.P. 1992. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Estrie and Gaspésie, Quebec; and parts of New Brunswick. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 46, 156 pp (doi: 10.4095/134062). Sabina, A.P. 1992. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Estrie et Gaspésie, Québec; partie du Nouveau - Brunswick. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 46, 171 pp (doi: 10.4095/134063). Sabina, A.P. 1992. Rocks and minerals for the collector: the Alaska Highway; Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Yukon/Alaska border. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 50, 129 pp (1 sheet) (doi: 10.4095/183881). Sabina, A.P. 1992. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: route de l'Alaska; de Dawson Creek, Colombie-Britannique à la frontière Yukon/Alaska. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 50, 135 pp (1 sheet) (doi: 10.4095/183882). Sabina, A.P. 1991. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Sudbury to Winnipeg. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 49, 315 pp (doi: 10.4095/132238). Sabina, A.P. 1991. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: de Sudbury à Winnipeg. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 49, 334 pp (doi: 10.4095/132239). Sabina, A.P. 1987. Rocks and minerals for the collector: La Ronge-Creighton, Saskatchewan; Flin Flon-Thompson, Manitoba. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 42, 81 pp (doi: 10.4095/122455).

Sabina, A.P. 1987. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: La Ronge-Creighton, Saskatchewan; Flin Flon-Thompson, Manitoba. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 42, 83 pp (doi: 10.4095/122456). Sabina, A.P. 1987. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Hull-Maniwaki, Quebec, Ottawa-Peterborough, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 41, 141 pp (doi: 10.4095/122460). Sabina, A.P. 1987. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Hull-Maniwaki, Québec; Ottawa-Peterborough, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 41, 147 pp (doi: 10.4095/122461). Sabina, A.P. 1986. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Buckingham-Mont-Laurier-Grenville, Quebec; Hawkesbury-Ottawa, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 33, 90 pp; 1 CD-ROM (doi: 10.4095/120600). Sabina, A.P. 1986. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Bancroft - Parry Sound area and southern Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 39, 182 pp (doi: 10.4095/121046). Sabina, A.P. 1986. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Bancroft - Parry Sound et sud de l'Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 39, 182 pp (doi: 10.4095/121047). Sabina, A.P. 1986. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Buckingham-Mont-Laurier-Grenville, Québec; Hawkesbury-Ottawa, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 33, 96 pp; 1 CD-ROM (doi: 10.4095/121105). Sabina, A.P. 1983. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Kingston, Ontario to Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 32, 130 pp (doi: 10.4095/119737) Sabina, A.P. 1983. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Kingston, Ontario - Lac Saint-Jean, Québec. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 32, 130 pp 10.4095/119738 Sabina, A.P. 1976. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Hull-Maniwaki, Québec; Ottawa-Peterborough, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 69-50, 181 pp (doi: 10.4095/106140). Sabina, A.P. 1976. Roches et minéraux du collectionneur: Ottawa-North Bay, Ontario-Hull-Waltham, Québec. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No.70-50 (doi: 10.4095/106141). Sabina, A.P. 1976. Rocks and minerals for the collector: the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, and the Island of Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No.75-36, 199 pp (doi: 10.4095/123967). Sabina, A.P. 1974. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Cobalt-Belleterre-Timmins, Ontario and Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 73-13, 211 pp (doi: 10.4095/103345). Sabina, A.P. 1974. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Kirkland Lake-Noranda-Val d'Or, Ontario and Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 73-30, 162 pp (doi: 10.4095/103462). Sabina, A.P. 1973. Rocks and minerals for the collector: the Alaska Highway; Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Yukon / Alaska border. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 72-32, 146 pp (1 sheet) (doi: 10.4095/102473). Sabina, A.P. 1972. Rocks and minerals for the collector; La Ronge-Creighton, Saskatchewan; Flin Flon-Thompson, Manitoba. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 71-27, 100 pp (doi: 10.4095/102481). Sabina, A.P. 1972. Mineral collecting areas along the Alaska highway. In, Blackadar, R G (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 72-1A, p. 237-238 (doi: 10.4095/119839). Sabina, A.P. 1971. Rocks and minerals for the Collector: Ottawa to North Bay, Ontario, Hull to Waltham, Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 70-50 (doi: 10.4095/102463).

Sabina, A.P. 1971. Mineral collecting localities in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In, Report of Activities Part A, April to October 1970. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 71-1A, p. 248 (doi: 10.4095/119853). Sabina, A.P. 1970. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Hull-Maniwaki, Quebec; Ottawa-Peterborough, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 69-50, 177 pp (doi: 10.4095/103344). Sabina, A.P. 1969. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Buckingham, Mont Laurier, Grenville, Quebec; Hawkesbury, Ottawa, Ontario. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 68-51, 107 pp (doi: 10.4095/102317). Sabina, A.P. 1968. Rocks and minerals for the collector, Kingston, Ontario to Lac St Jean, Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 67-51, 147 pp (doi: 10.4095/107977). Sabina, A.P. 1967. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Eastern Townships and Gaspé, Quebec and parts of New Brunswick. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 66-51, 170 pp (doi: 10.4095/100931). Sabina, A.P. 1965. Rocks and minerals for the collector: northeastern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Prince Edward Island. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 65-10, 76 pp (doi: 10.4095/100984). Sabina, A.P. 1964. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Bay of Fundy area. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 64-10, 105 pp (doi: 10.4095/101010). Sabina, A.P. 1964. Rock and mineral collecting in Canada, volume I: Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 8, 147 pp (doi: 10.4095/119881). Sabina, A.P. 1964. Rocks and mineral collecting in Canada, volume II: Ontario and Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 8, 254 pp (doi:10.4095/119882). Sabina, A.P. 1964. Rocks and mineral collecting in Canada, volume III: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, Miscellaneous Report 8, 103 pp (doi: 10.4095/119883). Sabina, A.P. 1963. Rocks and minerals for the collector: Sudbury to Winnipeg. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 63-18, 77 pp (doi: 10.4095/101068). Sabina, A.P. 1963. Mineral collecting areas along the Trans-Canada Highway, Ontario and Manitoba. In, Summary of Research: Field, 1962. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 63-1, p. 65 (doi:10.4095/121549).