Who is doing mineral processing research?

[DB Zambia]

As a mine-site man, I would be interested in knowing who the major players are these days in mineral processing research.

A few years ago there were major organisations, such as Mintek in South Africa, Warren Springs in UK, CANMET in Canada, BRGM in France and JKMRC in Australia, but these days there seems to be little activity from these organisations.

Warren Springs is long gone, and Mintek seems to be involved only with pyrometallurgy.

A couple of years ago, MEI Online was full of reports on the activities of the JKMRC, and its association with AMIRA, but since the retirement of its director, Tim Napier-Munn, also reported in MEI Online, there have been few reports on activities and publications. Has this organisation closed? I ask this, as I have just looked at their web site, which contains little current information, and the associated JKTech web-site was last updated in November 2005.

It would be nice to hear the views of researchers in the field.

[ahinde]

In recent years, Mintek's Minerals Processing Division has focussed mainly on commercial service activities. However, this is beginning to change and we are now involved in research activities of a a more fundamental nature in the areas of comminution, flotation and physical separation. This work is being done in collaboration mainly with the University of Cape Town (milling and flotation) and Pretoria University. The main contact persons are myself, Adrian Hinde, in the area of comminution, Mike Bryson in the flotation field and Carl Bergmann with regard to physical separation processes.

[DB]

Many thanks for your reply Dr. Hinde

[L Hayes]

In response to D B Zambia, the JK Centre is very much alive and active in the research and commercial spheres! Our recently upgraded web site (www.jkmrc.uq.edu.au) outlines current research programs at the JK . The Centre has grown substantially in the last year, and 2006 will see some 30 additional staff and students join us. Collaborative research ventures are being undertaken with like-minded Australian, South African and North American institutions and our research programs continue to receive support from a wide range of companies in the mining sector. With our growth over the last couple of years, some activities like PR have fallen behind but we are hoping to catch up as we gain breathing space later this year. In the meantime, if you have a specific query please do not hesitate to contact us.

[nikolay]

Hello everybody,

since many years this question gained his relevance again. Who actually is deeply involved in sophisticated research in mineral processing regarding to REE carbonatite ores? It would be nice to hear about present opportunities