Frank A. Seeton, a fourth generation Coloradan and a 1947 graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, died on March 26, 2025 at the age of 100 years, 10 months and 2 weeks old. Having a mining heritage dating back to the 1870s of Colorado there was never any doubt that his career would be in the mineral industry. He recognized the importance of mining to our country’s security and standard of living.
While attending the Colorado School of Mines, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Theta Tau Honorary Engineering Fraternity and Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. During his professional career, he was a Legion of Honor member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America and the Colorado Mining Association.
He received the first award granted by the Colorado Mineral Processing Division of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration for his lifetime achievement, dedication and contribution to the mining industry. The award was granted in 2000 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the subsection of which he was a co-founder and long-time officer. The award is now granted annually. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Colorado, member of the Rolling Hills Country Club and Shepherd of the HIlls Presbyterian Church and life member of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.
He married Mary Helen Armstrong of Midland, Texas in 1947, whom he met in the historic mining town of Tin Cup, Colorado where the Seeton family had mining interests and a summer cabin. Tin Cup was a tranquil retreat for Seeton throughout his life as he enjoyed the outdoors and especially fly fishing the many streams of the area and prospecting. He held the record as the longest consecutive summer resident of Tin Cup, spending time there each summer from 1924 until his death, only missing the summer of 2020 and 2024.
After graduation from college, Seeton worked 21 years for the Denver Equipment Company and subsequently Joy Manufacturing after a merger of the two companies. He served as a metallurgist in their ore testing division, field engineer, chief metallurgist and manager of metallurgical operations.
He also served five years as operations manager for COG Minerals Corporation with producing properties in Colorado, Utah, and California. During this 26-year span, he traveled extensively to all parts of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and had special assignments in Peru, Thailand, Africa and Russia. He had 22 scientific articles published on a wide range of mineral processing subjects and a U.S. patent for processing uranium ores.
In 1974 he started a private consulting business which he operated for 18 years until his retirement in 1992. His diversified experience in mineral processing created demand for his consulting services. He specialized in the development of mineral processing flowsheets, equipment application and selection, mill planning, plant start-up, operation and economics. He was affiliated with many major mineral projects in his business. Throughout his professional career he was identified with two qualities: an uncompromising integrity and dedication to knowing his field.
As time allowed during the summer he prospected for gold, silver, tungsten and molybdenum in the high country of Colorado. He leased five of his discoveries to major mining companies Amoco, Minerals, Molycorp, Climax, Inspiration Development, Western Nuclear. His prospecting success fulfilled his intense interest in the mining industry.
Seeton’s wife died in 1999 and he is survived by daughter Carol Ann Sandquist of Nathrop, Colorado, and sons James Seeton of Lakewood, Colorado and Thomas Seeton of Golden, Colorado. Additionally he is survived by five granddaughters, two grandsons, eight great-granddaughters and three great–grandsons; four great-great-grandaughters, and two great-great-grandsons.
