Thursday 28 March 2024

Petrolab extends its regular involvement with MEI Conferences

Cornwall's Petrolab is a regular sponsor of MEI's Process Mineralogy conferences, and will be supporting us again in November.  James Strongman is Technical Director and has been with the company since 2001, starting as a junior petrographer under the supervison of Petrolab's founder, the late Dr Alan Bromley and subsequently purchasing the company in 2006.

James Strongman (centre) at Process Mineralogy '18

James said "Petrolab is delighted to be in a position to sponsor Process Mineralogy '24. Looking back at previous conferences, they have not only marked our progression and development in the mineralogy space, but have often been the starting point for some key collaborations, with clients and technology partners. As with all MEI events, above all Process Mineralogy is about those attending and this conference follows the theme of bringing together a great blend of leaders from industry, academia, technology providers and service labs together. This blend provides a showcase of the latest technologies and research, but also helps to keep an anchor to real world problems and client issues. These insights have been invaluable to us, to focus our business development on improving our existing services but also identify new opportunities and partnerships. We are really looking forward to November and the opportunity to catch up with many old and, hopefully, new friends in the process mineralogy community".  

MEI is also delighted to have Petrolab with us again, and we are particularly pleased that the company has recently agreed to sponsor Critical Minerals '24, which immediately follows at Cape Town's Vineyard Hotel. Petrolab joins Capstone Copper, Promet 101, AECI Mining Chemicals and Conundrum, who are also sponsoring both November events, and Steinert, who is also a sponsor of Physical Separation '24.

Critical Minerals '24 comes at an opportune time and place, as it is forecast that the demand for critical minerals will soon far exceed supply and Africa will play an important role in providing supply. Andries Rossouw, Utilities and Resources Leader for PwC Africa Energy, said in Mining Review Africa that this is a fantastic opportunity for Africa, which is home to approximately one-third of the world’s mineral resources. The African continent has been at the centre of global discussions around energy security and the energy transition, both of which have accelerated demand for minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese and platinum group metals.

#ProcessMineralogy24
#CriticalMinerals24

Monday 25 March 2024

Memories of Comminution '04

MEI's 4th International Comminution Symposium, Comminution '04, began 20 years ago yesterday. It was held in Perth, Australia and was attended by 125 delegates from 18 countries, the event being sponsored by "Limn: The Flowsheet Processor" developed by David Wiseman Pty Ltd, Xstrata Technology and the Minerals Gazette. The 3-day conference followed Gravity Concentration '04 at the same venue.

A full report on the conference was published and below are a selection of photos, with I'm sure many familiar faces:

Friday 22 March 2024

Memories of Gravity Concentration '04

MEI's 2nd International Gravity Concentration Symposium, Gravity Concentration '04, in Perth, Australia began 20 years ago today. It was sponsored by Falcon Concentrators, Gekko Systems, Roche Mining and the Minerals Gazette. The conference was attended by 70 delegates from 15 countries and a selection of photos taken at the event are shown below:

March Cornish Mining Sundowner

There was a reasonable turnout last night for the March Cornish Mining Sundowner at Falmouth's Chain Locker. Although many of the regulars were missing, there were a few new faces, including Des Redmond (left in photo below), of Measurement Systems Consulting, who had traveled the 35 miles from his home in Pendeen, not far from Land's End.

There was good news from Camborne School of Mines that the CSM Trust is to offer six £5,000 scholarships for exceptional students enrolling in 2024 on a mining or geology related course. The scholarships can only be awarded to students who have an offer of a place to study at CSM on one of the following MSc programmes: Mining Engineering, Mining Environmental Management, Minerals Processing, Mining Geology. Exploration Geology,  Geotechnical Engineering.

There was a surprise announcement from Cornish Metals last week of the departure of Chief Executive Officer Richard Williams, effective on March 31 when he will also leave the Company’s Board. Richard will remain available to the Company on a consulting basis going forward. Ken Armstrong, Non-Executive Director will step in as Interim CEO and Patrick Anderson, Chairman of the Board, will become the Executive Chairman of the Company during the transition and search for a permanent CEO to lead the Company through the next stage of development of South Crofty tin mine, as the Company moves towards construction. At the UK Mining in Cornwall conference last September Richard Williams received the UK Mining Exploration Award.

Richard (right) receiving the Exploration Award from Steve Double MP

Monday 18 March 2024

A brief update on MEI's November conferences

We hope that you will be able to join us in Cape Town in November for two conferences running back to back at the Vineyard Hotel.

Process Mineralogy '24 is back in Cape Town after the event two years ago was held in Spain to avoid the South African Covid restrictions. The 7th in the series, this year we welcome new sponsors AECI Mining Chemicals and Conundrum to our regulars Zeiss, Capstone Copper, Promet101, and Petrolab (see also posting of 7th December 2023). Our media partners are International Mining and Minerals Engineering, and our Industry Advocate is the Critical Minerals Association.

The deadline for abstracts is the end of May. There will be a small exhibition in the coffee and lunches area, and currently 3 booths are available for rental.

The conference dinner will be held at the GOLD Restaurant, which offers an authentic African experience. So much more than just an African restaurant, a night at GOLD is an immersive experience that will take you on a 14-dish taste-safari paired with traditional Mali puppets and entertainment.

Immediately following Process Mineralogy '24 will be the two day Critical Minerals '24, a new MEI conference (see posting of 11th December 2023). This is sponsored by Promet101, AECI Mining Chemicals, Capstone Copper, Steinert and Conundrum, with media partners International Mining and Minerals Engineering and industry advocates the Critical Minerals Association and the Coalition for Eco-Efficient Comminution (CEEC).

The latest sponsor, Steinert, is a provider of sensor-based sorting technology to the mining industry and is also a sponsor of Physical Separation '24 this year.  Ines Roth, of Steinert's Marketing Management, Germany said "Due to the energy transition, exponential growth in critical minerals is expected by 2050. Hence mining companies are extensively involved in finding and developing new resources of such critical minerals. Mining is expected to experience an incredible growth phase and this growth phase is not just with regards to the volume of rock which is expected to be moved but also the mix of minerals which are being and will be mined in the future. Combustion engine vehicles have a different metal mix requirement compared to electrical vehicles for example. Electrical vehicles require critical minerals such as: graphite, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and REE, where as conventional combustion vehicles do not require these".

The deadline for abstracts is the end of May and there will be a very small exhibition, with currently one booth available for rental.

The conference dinner on the first night will provisionally be at South Africa's oldest wine estate, Groot Constantia a short coach drive from the Vineyard Hotel.

Groot Constantia

#ProcessMineralogy24

#CriticalMinerals24

Friday 15 March 2024

Recent comments

There have been comments on the following postings since the last update:

Back to our roots in the industrial north
Nature's paradise: Chobe, Botswana
The need to get more new blood in the mining industry
Conundrum to sponsor all six forthcoming MEI Conferences
The MEI Blog is 15 years old today
Why the supply of critical minerals is so critical
Visit Africa's jewel in the crown after MEI's June conferences
Deep diving in the 1970s
The Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Awards Reception, Phoenix
Is the world's best Cornish pasty in downtown Phoenix, Arizona?
2024 SME Annual Meeting, Phoenix: Conference diary

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