First Announcement: Biomining '20 and Sustainable Minerals '20

In announcing these two forthcoming conferences, allow me to explain the change of name of the Biohydrometallurgy conference series to Biomining. This is to highlight the increasingly important role of biotechnology, not only in the treatment of primary ores and concentrates, but in the quest for the circular economy. Biotechnology is likely to have a major role in remediation, treatment of tailings, electronic and other wastes, and as a potential aid to processes such as flotation.

In this respect Biomining is intimately linked to the Sustainable Minerals series, which was very evident last month in Namibia, where over 60% of the Biohydromet '18 delegates also attended Sustainable Minerals '18.

Biomining '20 and Sustainable Minerals '20 will run back to back in June 2020 in the beautiful Cornish town of Falmouth. The venue will be the National Maritime Museum, in the heart of old Falmouth, overlooking the world's 3rd largest natural harbour. As in Namibia, there will be a single conference dinner (venue to be announced) to bring delegates from both conferences together.

Falmouth's inner harbour, with the Maritime Museum in the background

We invite your active participation in these two important events. If you would like to present papers, short abstracts should be submitted by the end of January, 2020. Drafts of accepted papers will be available at the meetings on Proceedings USBs, and after the conferences authors will be invited to submit final papers for peer-review, for possible publication in Minerals Engineering, all accepted papers being collated into virtual special issues.

Cornwall is one of the world's most beautiful areas, but as well as stunning coastal scenery it also has a rich mining heritage, so we always advise delegates to stay on for a few days to explore this unique and remote part of England. The Cornwall section of the blog might whet your appetite!

As the conferences evolve, updates on Biomining '20 will be posted at #Biomining20, and Sustainable Minerals '20 at #SustainableMinerals20.

Twitter @barrywills