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 >

Magnesia sea change in Japan

A review of synthetic magnesia development By Akio Ishida, Managing Executive Officer, Ube Material Industries Ltd, Japan It started with salt Although Japan has no natural magnesite resources, a number of unique synthetic magnesia producers have emerged since the late 19th Century. Most of these originated and are located in “Setonaikai” (the Seto Inland Sea; [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:23+00:00Wednesday, 18 November, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Magnesia sea change in Japan

Mineral recycling renaissance

Secondary Raw Materials to become more mainstream source for buyers There is a sense that the recycling of industrial minerals in Europe is about to take a quantum leap during the next 5-10 years, boosted by European Commission and other initiatives, rising primary raw material costs, and the evolution of processing technology. This trend has [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:23+00:00Monday, 19 October, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Mineral recycling renaissance

Ecutec to build GCC plant in Jordan – industry “picking up”

Manaseer to pursue calcium carbonate fillers market Ecutec Barcelona SL is to construct a major ground calcium carbonate (GCC) plant for the Manaseer Group in Jordan, as Joe Roettle, Global Sales Manager, provides IMFORMED with a positive outlook for the industrial minerals market. Developed Crushers Co., part of the diversified Manaseer Group in Jordan, has chosen [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:23+00:00Thursday, 8 October, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Ecutec to build GCC plant in Jordan – industry “picking up”

European Minerals Day – Minerals Matter!!

IMFORMED welcomes European Minerals Day 2015! The 2015 European Minerals Day is officially launched today in Rumelange, Luxembourg, at the Cimalux cement facility. Children get to grips with chalk (calcium carbonate) and learn how it is mined and processed in Europe for a wide range of everyday products. Courtesy European Minerals Day The [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:23+00:00Friday, 25 September, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on European Minerals Day – Minerals Matter!!

Refractory minerals outlook: slow growth period looms

Mineral supply chain and market competition awareness urged One of industrial minerals’ key consuming markets, refractories, is expected to undergo a period of slow growth for the next few years, meaning at least steady, if not reduced, demand for refractory minerals. RHI AG's Weissenstein magnesite mine, Austria, supplies feedstock for dead burned magnesia used [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:23+00:00Tuesday, 22 September, 2015|Newsfile|2 Comments

Save the dates!

IMFORMED announces H1 2016 conferences Recycling | Logistics | Magnesia | Oilfield IMFORMED is delighted to announce confirmed dates and venues for the first half of 2016. In response to this year’s success of our inaugural Mineral Logistics and Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forums, we shall be running these again in 2016. As well as fresh [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Friday, 11 September, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Save the dates!

Refractory graphite supply under spotlight as battery market evolves

Graphite users are closely monitoring the emergence of the new generation battery market as its market share grows. The evolution of Li-ion batteries and their growing application in electric vehicles, utility storage facilities, and consumer-led electronic devices has led to this market to taking a major share of world flake graphite supply, and now vies [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Thursday, 10 September, 2015|Newsfile|1 Comment

Ceramic proppant producers unite for Indian shale gas market

LWP/Ashapura fly ash proppants JV: a future supply for the Middle East? Described as a “quantum leap” for LWP Technologies Ltd, the Australian ceramic proppant developer has just announced a joint venture with Indian ceramic proppant producer Hallmark Minerals (I) Pvt Ltd. The JV agreement calls for LWP’s recently developed proppant manufacturing technology to be utilised [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Wednesday, 22 July, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Ceramic proppant producers unite for Indian shale gas market

Foundry Minerals Forum casts weather eye over mineral supply & demand

Precursor to GIFA/METEC sets scene for foundry market week Chromite | Bentonite | Carbon | Andalusite | Cenospheres | Zircon | Dunite | Silica sand | Mullite | Bauxite Main picture: Pasek Minerales’ dunite mine in Cabo Ortegal, Galicia; the company is looking to blend calcined dunite with bentonite and silica sand for foundry [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Monday, 22 June, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Foundry Minerals Forum casts weather eye over mineral supply & demand

Oilfield Minerals Forum goes down a storm in Houston

IMFORMED conference abuzz with discussion and networking Barytes | Barite | Bentonite | Hectorite | Garnet | Frac sand | Ceramic proppants | Shipping | Grinding | Drying | Handling | India | China | Argentina Main picture: Baramin's La Huiche mine, Mexico (Courtesy Mario Trevino); Inset top: Al Wilson, President, Cimbar tests the [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Friday, 5 June, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Oilfield Minerals Forum goes down a storm in Houston