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 >

Fluorspar supply sources emerge: Mongolia | USA | Canada | Greenland

Being designated a “critical mineral” in the EU and more recently in the USA has certainly assisted fluorspar’s standing as an exploration target.

However, those already in the market have known for some years now that mine closures and production capacity reductions in the West combined with China becoming a net importer, a growing consumer, with […]

By |Wednesday, 13 October, 2021|Newsfile|0 Comments

New dawn for Brazilian bauxite

Bautek expands & enters refractory, abrasive, chemical markets
It is often said that timing is everything. And right now, the timing of bringing to market any new or alternative source of aluminosilicate minerals outside of China is most apposite.

Indeed, there are relatively few commercially developed world sources of high quality non-metallurgical bauxite, andalusite, kyanite, and refractory […]

By |Friday, 8 October, 2021|Uncategorized|2 Comments

Refractory Mineral Maelstrom: The heat is on | Seen & heard at ICR Aachen

China Crisis Deepens | Refra-Horn Recycling JV | Cofermin Magnesia Arm | Alumina Issues
Last week’s 64th International Refractories Colloquium held in Aachen, organised by the European Centre for Refractories gGmbH (ECREF) was a somewhat surreal experience: a mix of euphoria and novelty in finally reconnecting with each other again face to face (or mask to […]

By |Wednesday, 6 October, 2021|Newsfile|1 Comment

Magnesia markets outlook: MagForum 2021 ONLINE Review

Supply & Demand | China | CO2 Reduction | Sensor Sorting | Process Costs | Digitisation | Dolomite | Synthetic MgO | Trading | Chemical Markets
In what has proved to be another most challenging year for magnesia minerals supply and markets, we review the highlights and key take-aways of IMFORMED’s MagForum 2021 ONLINE which took […]

By |Thursday, 23 September, 2021|Newsfile|0 Comments

M!NERALS now one of Europe’s largest industrial mineral suppliers

Cofermin’s evolution 2: Expanding beyond a Chinese minerals focus
Securing Chinese industrial minerals supply for world markets has been a vital and growing role for mineral traders and distributors since the 1980s. And it has never been easy.

Today, ongoing issues with primary ore availability, environmental controls, government reforms, process costs, logistics, and most recently the impact […]

By |Wednesday, 15 September, 2021|Newsfile|0 Comments

Forums announced for 2022 – Save the dates!

CALL FOR PAPERS | SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES | EARLY BIRD RATES
Mineral Recycling Forum 2022
28-30 March
Hilton Imperial, Dubrovnik
The latest developments in recycling industrial minerals from a range of waste sources, including tailings, refractories, slags, ash and their markets FULL DETAILS HERE
IMFORMED Rendezvous 2022
24-26 April
Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin (Noordwijk), Amsterdam
The vision for industrial minerals. Essential […]

By |Tuesday, 7 September, 2021|Newsfile|0 Comments

Fluorine Forum 2021 ONLINE – Global Supply & Demand Trends | Networking | Confirmed Speakers

Confirmed Speakers | Early Bird Ends Monday 13 September
IMFORMED is delighted to announce confirmed speakers on key topics for Fluorine Forum 2021 ONLINE Wednesday 20 October.
Fluorspar Supply | AlF3 | Steel | Refrigerants | Semiconductors | HF | Li-ion Batteries

Listen to presentations on key topics by leading experts

Engage in Q&A with speakers and attendees

Network informally (publicly & privately) […]

By |Thursday, 2 September, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Industrial Minerals Review 2020-21

Responding to challenges & change
This time last year I was invited by Mining Engineering* journal to write an article as an introduction to its well-established annual review of the industrial minerals industry. I was delighted and honoured to be asked again by ME to write a piece this year.

Back then I commented on a “2020 Vision for Industrial Minerals” […]

By |Wednesday, 28 July, 2021|Newsfile|4 Comments

No stone unturned

Ever sat down on the beach or just anywhere, and picked up an interesting-looking pebble, turned it over, then wondered about its colour, origins, and composition?
Well, here’s the ideal companion to that wonderful timeless pastime while lying on the beach, taking a leisurely stroll, or just waiting for the bus:
“The Pebble Spotter’s Guide” by Clive […]

By |Monday, 26 July, 2021|Newsfile|0 Comments

Refractory minerals market: facing up to the future

Refractory Minerals Forum 2021 ONLINE Review
Outlook | China | India | Magnesia | Dolomite | Bauxite | Andalusite | Graphite | Chromite
As we head towards the halfway mark of what has proved to be another most challenging year for refractory minerals supply, we review the highlights and key take-aways of IMFORMED’s inaugural Refractory Minerals Forum 2021 […]

By |Tuesday, 15 June, 2021|Newsfile|2 Comments