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 >

Jinding USA named exclusive Americas supplier for Liaoning Jinding Magnesite Group

Direct sourcing of Chinese high grade fused and dead burned magnesia One of China’s leading magnesia producers, Liaoning Jinding Magnesite Group Co. Ltd (JDMG), has named Jinding USA (JDUSA) its exclusive magnesia sales agent and exporter for North, Central and South America. JDUSA, based in Pennsylvania, was recently established by James Piraino, its President, formerly [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Tuesday, 19 July, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Jinding USA named exclusive Americas supplier for Liaoning Jinding Magnesite Group

Graphite’s future: what lies ahead?

Graphite Supply Chain 2016 | The world’s new meeting place for the natural graphite industry As industrial minerals go, graphite can be as exciting as it gets (no disrespect to US frac sand developers in the mid-2000s!). There are few commercially developed sources, distinct grade development and specifications are required, and processing and logistics can [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Thursday, 7 July, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Graphite’s future: what lies ahead?

Houston Highlights

Oilfield Minerals Forum 2016 Review Despite the cautious rally of oil prices in recent weeks the oil industry has remained depressed. In such downturns it is often imperative to glean market knowledge as never before. So perhaps it was no surprise that last week’s Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum Houston 2016 organised by IMFORMED with [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Tuesday, 14 June, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Houston Highlights

Magnesia comes home

MagForum 2016 Review Austria is host to some wonderful scenery and culture, but it is also the home of the modern magnesia industry, and thus Vienna was a most fitting venue for IMFORMED’s inaugural magnesium minerals and markets conference MagForum 2016, 9-11 May 2016. RHI's Weissenstein magnesite mine, Austria Last week 130 international [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Thursday, 19 May, 2016|Newsfile|1 Comment

Oilfield market outlook: new dawn rises?

The BIG picture for oilfield mineral demand Have we reached the bottom of the oil price decline and tentative recovery is on the way? Perhaps. Oil prices have consistently risen in the last few weeks and while there remains caution in the market, there are signs that perhaps the corner has been turned and there [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Wednesday, 18 May, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Oilfield market outlook: new dawn rises?

Barite capacity impacted by oilfield blues

Halliburton idles Nevada plant; starts new source in Kazakhstan It’s been a busy month for the barite sector, despite the prevailing dark clouds of the oilfield industry. Halliburton’s Q1 2016 operational update last Friday made bleak reading and their executives were pulling no punches. “Life has changed in the energy industry, especially in North America” said [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Tuesday, 26 April, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Barite capacity impacted by oilfield blues

Industrial mineral supply chains explained

Mineral Logistics Forum 2016 Review Understanding the logistics aspects of mineral supply chains is crucial to the success of any operation and project. Those attending Mineral Logistics Forum 2016 in Rotterdam last week were fortunate to be able to hear first hand from nine experts some of the latest trends and developments in supply [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Friday, 22 April, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Industrial mineral supply chains explained

Fused magnesia projects: are they always crystal clear?

Outside China, production of fused magnesia has usually been in the hands of the few, and those that at least can negotiate half-decent electricity rates – fused industrial minerals are not known as “crystallised electricity” for nothing. It seems that junior magnesite developers now want in on the fused action as well. "Crystallised electricity": [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Thursday, 7 April, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Fused magnesia projects: are they always crystal clear?

Recycling industrial minerals: not so “secondary”

Mineral Recycling Forum 2016 Review Last month witnessed the successful launch of IMFORMED’s inaugural Mineral Recycling Forum held in Rotterdam during 14-15 March. Over 100 delegates came away enriched with knowledge and new contacts for one of the fastest evolving industrial mineral sectors: raw materials from recycled waste products. Darren Wilson, COO, LKAB Minerals, [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Wednesday, 6 April, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Recycling industrial minerals: not so “secondary”

Magnesia market challenges & opportunities

MagForum 2016 eyes options for suppliers & buyers These are testing times for the global magnesia business. Producers are looking to diversify into non-refractory markets amid a significant downturn in the steel industry. IMFORMED’s inaugural magnesium minerals and markets conference, MagForum 2016, 9-11 May 2016, in Vienna, will be taking the pulse of the magnesia industry and [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:22+00:00Thursday, 24 March, 2016|Newsfile|Comments Off on Magnesia market challenges & opportunities