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 >

The World of Industrial Minerals Under COVID-19

Challenges & Opportunities IMFORMED was honoured to be asked to present the Keynote presentation at the General Session of the recent Industrial Minerals Association-North America Virtual Annual Meeting. Industrial Minerals Association-North America (IMA-NA) is the representative voice of the industrial minerals sector in North America, bringing together the industry’s leaders to promote best practices, organising [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:16+00:00Wednesday, 7 October, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments

Fluorspar market trends & outlook

Fluorine Forum 2020 ONLINE Programme Confirmed IMFORMED is delighted to announce the programme for Fluorine Forum 2020 ONLINE, 12.00-16.30 BST Tuesday 13 October (details here) While our original planned event in Hanoi has been postponed to 18-21 October 2021 (see Fluorine Forum 2021) we are pleased to offer delegates an online alternative with which to assess [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:16+00:00Monday, 21 September, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments

Refractory minerals outlook: “Industrial waste resources will become the new normal”

IMFORMED interviewed for Interceram’s Refractories Manual 2020 Recovering spent MgO-C refractory bricks from a ladle at Sidenor, Spain - a very active pioneer in valorisation of refractory waste. Courtesy Sidenor IMFORMED was delighted to have been interviewed for this year’s Refractories Manual 2020, the annual Special Edition of Interceram. Interceram - International Ceramic [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:16+00:00Friday, 11 September, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments

Guyana bauxite newcomer starts bulk shipments

First Bauxite high grade alternative source for non-met. markets PLUS: Australian Bauxite progress | China bauxite latest Early July saw First Bauxite LLC load the first bulk ocean vessel of its Guyanese raw high grade non-metallurgical bauxite for overseas markets in refractories, cement, abrasives, and water treatment. Although it has taken some 10 years to [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:16+00:00Wednesday, 5 August, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments

Industrial Minerals: Fallout, Opportunities, Recovery Strategies

IMFORMED-Tractus Asia Webinar Reviewed The industrial minerals sector has been rocked; first, by the US-China trade war, its ensuing political tensions, and then by the pandemic. Last week 150 attendees signed up to a webinar on Wednesday 22 July organised by IMFORMED and Tractus Asia to learn about recent market developments, potential strategies to mitigate [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:16+00:00Tuesday, 28 July, 2020|Newsfile|2 Comments

Magnesia in Question: China & World Trends Discussed

Report on NAIME’s Magnesia & Refractory Webinar Dashiqiao 9 July 2020 Last week IMFORMED was delighted to be invited to present on world magnesia supply trends at a special conference and webinar organised by the Northeast Asian Industrial Minerals Exchange (NAIME), Beijing Easynai Information Technology Co. Ltd, and the Liaoning Magnesium Industry Development Group. “2020 [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:16+00:00Thursday, 16 July, 2020|Newsfile|1 Comment

2020 Vision for Industrial Minerals

Introduction to Mining Engineering's annual review of industrial minerals IMFORMED is delighted and honoured to have been invited to write the introductory article "2020 Vision for Industrial Minerals" for Mining Engineering's latest annual review of industrial minerals. The article, written by Mike O'Driscoll, Director, IMFORMED, has just been published in the July 2020 issue of Mining [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:17+00:00Monday, 13 July, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments

WEBINAR: Industrial Minerals – Trade War, Politics, & Covid-19

WEDNESDAY 22 JULY 2020 | 22:00 SINGAPORE | 15:00 LONDON | 10:00 EST The industrial minerals sector has been rocked; first, by the US-China trade war, its ensuing political tensions, and then by the pandemic. Join IMFORMED and Tractus Asia to learn about recent market developments, potential strategies to mitigate risk and take advantage [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:17+00:00Friday, 10 July, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments

Magnesia from the “Roof of the World” to Kentucky

The Kamaduo magnesite deposit near Chamdo, north-east Tibet, lies at some 4,200 metres altitude, hosting >50m tonnes reserves of magnesite grading 47.6% MgO with low iron and silica. PRCO has an exclusive 99 year lease on the Tibetan deposit. Courtesy PRCO First Chinese MgO-C refractory plant in US: PRCO America to use high purity [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:17+00:00Tuesday, 30 June, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments

2020 Global Magnesia Refractory Conference/Webinar – Northeast Asia Magnesia Exchange

9-10 July 2020 14:00-18:00 Beijing Time In-person & Virtual Conference Lihua Hotel, Dashiqiao, Liaoning Province, China PLEASE NOTE: ALL SESSIONS IN CHINESE EXCEPT FOR MIKE O’DRISCOLL’S PRESENTATION IN ENGLISH DAY 1: 9 July 14.00 Beijing Time | 08.00 CET Organisers Northeast Asia Magnesia Exchange Easynai Liaoning Magnesium Industry Development Group Supporters IMFORMED Industrial Mineral Forums [...]

By |2024-03-22T05:52:17+00:00Tuesday, 30 June, 2020|Newsfile|0 Comments