Thanks to the Queen鈥檚 Geology Department, in general, and Geophysics Professor Mike Fitzpatrick (RIP), in particular, Larry had a successful career as a geophysicist in minerals and metals exploration.
If one defines success as finding something that is actually mined, the majority of people involved in exploration are unsuccessful. Larry coined the term 鈥渘egative success鈥 for this situation, where individuals do their jobs but don鈥檛 find anything. One could also use the term 鈥減ositive failure,鈥 as suggested by a colleague. Larry, on the other hand, was successful.
From an anomaly on a geophysical survey Larry conducted on Eskay Creek in northern B.C., drilling discovered one of the richest gold deposits ever found. Credit for his discovery is widely attributed to the geologists involved, but prior to his involvement they had been working on the project for two years and had drilled 108 unsuccessful drill holes, so the term 鈥渘egative success鈥 (or 鈥減ositive failure鈥) certainly applies to them.
He could regale with stories from that project 鈥 the Eskay Creek bear encounters, claim jumping, a helicopter crash 鈥 but it would probably take too much time and space.