How US proppant demand has influenced ceramic mineral supply
Since the mid-2000s, three of the most important ceramic raw materials – silica, kaolin, and bauxite – have been in high demand from the North American oil and gas drilling industry as proppants in its pursuit of developing unconventional resources, in particular, shale gas and shale oil.
After […]
Review of Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum Middle East 2018, Bahrain
Key takeaways
Middle East growth recognised by oilfield service companies
Rising power demand drives push for unconventional gas resources
Drilling muds a delicate balancing act using minerals
Call for global standardisation of drilling barite specs “beyond API”
CS Mining Barite expands significantly in Turkey, Morocco, USA, Canada, UK
New concepts in mobile processing […]
Refractory bauxite: CMP starts new plant | Bosai to add new rotary kilns
As we approach the eve of the Chinese New Year of the Dog, for many Chinese refractory mineral consumers and traders, it is hoped that this will be a time of taking stock and perhaps seeing just what might be in store regarding […]
Fluorine Forum 2018
IMFORMED is delighted to announce the dates and venue of its fluorine minerals and markets conference Fluorine Forum 2018, 15-17 October 2018, Hotel Wellington, Madrid.
We intend to build on the success of our inaugural Fluorine Forum 2017 held in San Luis Potosi last year: for a review please see Fluorspar feel good factor […]
As IMFORMED nears its third anniversary, Mike and Ismene would like to thank all our customers, sponsors, friends, and families for their unstinting support during the year.
May we take this opportunity to wish all of you a most Happy, Peaceful, and Prosperous New Year, and very much look forward to continuing our business and meeting you in […]
Price rises with 5-month Shanxi plant shutdown to March 2018 in anti-pollution measure
Just when you wondered if things could get any worse. Further to our earlier report on the impact of environmental legislation on China’s minerals industry (see Newsfile: China minerals meltdown) it now seems that bauxite and brown fused alumina producers in Shanxi province […]
Bauxite/BFA supply shortage | CMP last man standing?
If ever there was a time to acknowledge and try to understand the significant influence of Chinese policies on industrial mineral supply to western markets – and there have been doubters out there with their “crying wolf” accusations in recent years – that time is now.
Indeed, if one […]
Offtake deals for new players | Ceylon Graphite exploration
As the industry builds up to its annual meeting at Graphite Supply Chain 2017, 5-7 November, Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach, organised by IMFORMED and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a raft of announcements indicates global development activity for graphite is showing no signs of letting up.
No doubt seen as a […]
Fluorspar market upturn projected for 2018 | US HFC ban showdown
British Fluorspar’s rejuvenation of the Milldam Mine in Derbyshire, UK is one of several industrial mineral developments which have galvanised a perceived revival of UK mining opportunities in recent years.
UK developments in evaluating and mining fluorspar, barite, salt, gypsum, potash, polyhalite, and lithium were highlighted […]
Canada Fluorspar leads pack of emerging new suppliers
Canada Fluorspar Inc.’s St Lawrence mine was officially opened, or rather, reactivated last month, following almost 40 years of exploration and attempts to restart operations since the mine was closed in 1978 (see history chart).
The rejuvenation of the St Lawrence operation will be a major boost to the […]