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 >

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 [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Thursday, 2 September, 2021|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Fluorine Forum 2021 ONLINE – Global Supply & Demand Trends | Networking | Confirmed Speakers

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 [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Wednesday, 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 |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Monday, 26 July, 2021|Newsfile|Comments Off on No stone unturned

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 [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Tuesday, 15 June, 2021|Newsfile|2 Comments

Cofermin evolves: talkin’ ’bout a new generation

Global minerals distributor enters new era with new management team IMFORMED reviews Cofermin’s journey and interviews Managing Director Andreas Pabst In its 2015 announcement of the launch of two subsidiaries, Essen-based Cofermin Rohstoffe GmbH & Co. KG quoted the US author of success principles, Robert Collier: “If you don’t make things happen, things will happen to you”. Well, [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Thursday, 20 May, 2021|Newsfile|Comments Off on Cofermin evolves: talkin’ ’bout a new generation

Magnesia movers: latest round-up

Magnifin/Huber | Magnor (RHI Normag) | TIMAB/Mag. do Brasil | Brucite+ | Premier | FromMag | Delamin/Morgan As we progress mid-way through the second quarter of 2021, magnesia markets are showing signs of recovery while there has already been a fair bit of change in the corporate landscape as players seek the optimum strategy to [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Thursday, 13 May, 2021|Newsfile|Comments Off on Magnesia movers: latest round-up

The vision for industrial minerals: IMFORMED Rendezvous 2021 Review

Key trends shaping the global industrial minerals industry CO2 reduction | Transforming beyond trading | Covid-19 impact and economic outlook | Critical minerals | EV supply chain | Making profit from strategy | Processing developments Yes, it was disappointing that yet again we could not meet up in Amsterdam for the IMFORMED Rendezvous 2021 (cross [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Thursday, 6 May, 2021|Newsfile|Comments Off on The vision for industrial minerals: IMFORMED Rendezvous 2021 Review

Phil Owen 1964 – 2021

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Phil Owen, popular and much befriended Advertisement Manager of the former Industrial Minerals magazine. Phil, 56, died peacefully in his sleep on 16 February 2021. As anyone who met him knew, Phil was a very proud Welshman and loved his rugby. He grew up [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:13+00:00Friday, 30 April, 2021|Newsfile|2 Comments

Barite oilfield market looks to recovery after 2020 impact

US output halted as overseas alternatives emerge | India expands Described as “one of the worst years in recent history” for the oilfield market, it is unsurprising that world barite production was estimated to have decreased by about 15% during 2020. Title image Digging Deep: The world's largest barite mine at Mangampet, Andhra Pradesh, India; APMDC is [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:14+00:00Wednesday, 21 April, 2021|Newsfile|Comments Off on Barite oilfield market looks to recovery after 2020 impact

Industrial minerals reach critical mass awareness – about time

Critical minerals challenge & outlook covered at IMFORMED Rendezvous 2021 ONLINE 14 April To those in the industry this is nothing new. But it is one thing for the experts to know about something important, and quite another for the wider populous and their respective governments to grasp, let alone then respond to, the key [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:14+00:00Tuesday, 6 April, 2021|Newsfile|Comments Off on Industrial minerals reach critical mass awareness – about time