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 >

Foundry Minerals & Markets Forum 2015, 15 June, Essen

Chromite, zircon, graphite, andalusite, mullite, bentonite, silica sand, dunite, cenospheres Only 1 week to Early Bird Rate cut-off 15 May 2015. Book now for a €125 saving! IMFORMED’s high profile 1-day conference for the foundry mineral business is attracting much attention from all those active in the supply and use of industrial minerals used in [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Friday, 8 May, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Foundry Minerals & Markets Forum 2015, 15 June, Essen

Indian barytes upgrade jv between APMDC and ONGC

Revised barytes tender outcome uncertain India’s vast stockpile of low grade barytes material will be the feedstock for a new upgrading initiative planned between the country’s largest barytes producer, Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corp. Ltd (APMDC), and leading barytes consumer, national oil and gas explorer and producer, Oil & Natural Gas Corp. Ltd (ONGC). Meanwhile, [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Wednesday, 6 May, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Indian barytes upgrade jv between APMDC and ONGC

Ceramic proppant pilot plant commissioning in Australia

Coretrack Ltd has commenced commissioning at its recently constructed pilot-scale proppant plant at Clontarf, near Brisbane, Queensland. Coretrack is developing a new ceramic proppant grade based on fly-ash for use in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells. Construction of the pilot plant commenced in December 2014 and the fine grinding mill is now built [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Friday, 1 May, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Ceramic proppant pilot plant commissioning in Australia

Mineral Logistics on a high in Rotterdam

IMFORMED's first event a success IMFORMED’s inaugural event, Mineral Logistics Forum 2015, took place last Friday, 24 April 2015, in Rotterdam, and by common consent of the attendees was an unqualified success. A total of 92 international delegates representing the full range of operations across the industrial minerals supply chain gathered at the impressive Inntel [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Tuesday, 28 April, 2015|Newsfile|3 Comments

Imerys move to buy Andalusite Resources quashed

SEE NEWSFILE UPDATE SA Competition Commission found deal “significantly preventing competition” The acquisition of Andalusite Resources (Pty) Ltd, which would have bolstered Imerys’ already strong grip on the global andalusite supply sector, has been prohibited by South Africa’s Competition Commission. After examining the deal and considering the concerns of refractory manufacturers and end users of [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Monday, 20 April, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Imerys move to buy Andalusite Resources quashed

Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum Houston 2015

Only 1 week to go until Early Bird Rate cut-off 27 April 2015! Book now for a US$300 saving! IMFORMED’s high profile conference for the global oilfield mineral business is attracting much attention as the market adjusts to the slowdown in rig activity and anticipates the timing of recovery. Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum Houston [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Monday, 20 April, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum Houston 2015

Barytes US imports up in 2014

Port of Houston tour confirmed for Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum According to the USGS, estimated US barytes imports in 2014 increased by more than 29% to 2.9m tonnes compared with those of 2013, indicating increased demand for barytes in the drilling sector during that year. The US drilling fluids industry relies heavily on barytes imports, [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Thursday, 2 April, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Barytes US imports up in 2014

Mineral Logistics Forum 2015

THIS FORUM HAS TAKEN PLACE - FOR DETAILS ON PROGRAMME, ATTENDEES, PICTURES, & FEEDBACK PLEASE CLICK HERE With just a month to go until IMFORMED’s inaugural Mineral Logistics Forum 2015, 24 April 2015, in Rotterdam, there is a final chance this week to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration Rate saving of €125. The [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Tuesday, 24 March, 2015|Newsfile|Comments Off on Mineral Logistics Forum 2015

Imerys seals S&B acquisition: so what does it mean?

Imerys, the world’s leading industrial minerals group, in a significant move for the industrial minerals sector has closed its purchase of Greek industrial minerals group S&B Industrial Minerals SA. The buy brings considerable mineral assets to the French multinational, in particular bentonite, perlite, and wollastonite. S&B's perlite processing plant and port at Voudia, Milos [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:25+00:00Friday, 6 March, 2015|Newsfile|2 Comments