Mike O'Driscoll

About Mike O'Driscoll

Mike has over 30 years experience in the international mining and minerals industry, specialising in industrial minerals and markets, for which he is widely recognised as a leading expert. After serving 26 years at Industrial Minerals (IM) magazine – 17 years as Editor – Mike left IM in 2014 to pursue an independent career in the industrial minerals business, and launched IMFORMED in January 2015 with Ismene Clarke. Read more >

China and raw material security dominates European refractory industry

IMFORMED proud to present at PRE & ANFRE meetings Refractory raw material supply availability is the chief concern among Europe’s refractory producers as the situation in China, the primary source of key refractory minerals, continues to indicate future supply disruptions. Gathered luminaries of the European refractories industry at the superb dinner venue (Moulin de [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:20+00:00Friday, 15 June, 2018|Newsfile|6 Comments

Magnesia source alternatives emerge in Serbia and Australia

  Test mining at Korab Resources' Winchester magnesite deposit just 60km from Darwin port, Northern Territory, Australia. Courtesy Korab Resources With the prospect of continued short supply from the world’s major source of magnesia in China, traders and buyers are seeking alternatives worldwide. Among several potential possibilities these now include a planned rejuvenation [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:20+00:00Wednesday, 23 May, 2018|Newsfile|Comments Off on Magnesia source alternatives emerge in Serbia and Australia

Hawaii comes to Houston

Oilfield Minerals Forum 2018 Review Whether it was the spirit of Aloha evoked by the Hawaiian-themed Welcome Reception organised by Excalibar Minerals, or the rising oil price supporting a recovery in drill rig activity, the positive buzz surrounding this year’s Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum Houston made it seem like the good times were back [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:20+00:00Tuesday, 15 May, 2018|Newsfile|Comments Off on Hawaii comes to Houston

Mineral Recycling Forum 2018: Review

Refractory wreck-out: a steel ladle disgorges its spent refractory brick lining - once a waste product bound for expensive landfill sites, now a keenly sought after secondary raw material. Courtesy Sidenor IMFORMED’s Mineral Recycling Forum 2018 took place at the Radisson Blu, Cologne 15-16 March 2018 where international delegates networked and discussed the [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:21+00:00Thursday, 29 March, 2018|Uncategorized|1 Comment

Refractory raw material supply “the single most important challenge”

Refractory Rendezvous Delhi – IREFCON18 Report India's Tirupati Graphite Group has been a leader in flake graphite production for over two decades supplying refractory, foundry and speciality markets; pictured is the mine at Gaura in Palamau district, Jharkhand state, which has a production capacity of 50,000 tpa flake graphite. Tirupati is evaluating other deposits [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:21+00:00Wednesday, 28 March, 2018|Newsfile|Comments Off on Refractory raw material supply “the single most important challenge”

Southern Sand Storm

How US proppant demand has influenced ceramic mineral supply The Kermit, Texas plant of Hi-Crush Partners LP, located in the Permian Basin, has an annual production capacity of 3m tons of high-quality West Texas frac sand sourced from Quaternary aeolian sand dunes. Hi-Crush sold a total of 8.9m. tons frac sand in 2017, more [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:21+00:00Wednesday, 21 March, 2018|Newsfile|4 Comments

Oilfield Minerals Outlook Middle East

Review of Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum Middle East 2018, Bahrain Courtesy RheoMinerals Inc. 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 [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:21+00:00Wednesday, 28 February, 2018|Newsfile|1 Comment

Dog Days ahead for Chinese mineral consumers?

Refractory bauxite: CMP starts new plant | Bosai to add new rotary kilns Dogged by shortages and rising prices: a lone hound sniffs out some calcined bauxite at a stockyard in Tanggu; inset left CMP's new calcination plant in Guizhou; insert right bagged bauxite awaiting export. As we approach the eve of the [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:21+00:00Tuesday, 13 February, 2018|Newsfile|3 Comments

Forums 2018 Update: Fluorine Forum | Refractory Recycling Field Trip

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 [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:21+00:00Thursday, 18 January, 2018|Newsfile|Comments Off on Forums 2018 Update: Fluorine Forum | Refractory Recycling Field Trip