Process mineralogy for processing of critical metals

Process mineralogy plays a pivotal role in optimising the processing and extraction of critical metals. It encompasses a range of techniques, including automated electron microscopy, mineral chemistry, surface chemistry, and X-ray diffraction. These techniques are employed to characterise various ores, providing crucial information such as mineral identification, elemental distribution, quantitative mineral and textural analysis, grain size determination, and assessment of mineral liberation and association.

This comprehensive characterisation allows the assessment of the behavior of both valuable and penalty metals within complex ore matrices. The data obtained from process mineralogy can then be integrated with metallurgical testwork and downstream processes.  This integration is essential for enhancing the efficiency of mineral processing operations, aiding in flowsheet development, and providing insights into efficient extraction methods.  

In a keynote lecture at next year's Process Mineralogy '26, Tassos Grammatikopoulos, of SGS Natural Resources, Canada, will present examples to demonstrate the strong dependence between quantitative mineralogy and the sustainable mineral extraction of REE, Li, Ga, and Nb, all of which are vital for green energy technologies.

Dr. Grammatikopoulos, is a process mineralogy expert specialising in mineral processing for critical, base, and precious metals, as well as other commodities. His work centers on integrating fundamental and specialised mineral data to advance mineral processing and extractive metallurgy, driving the development of new and improved mineral technologies.

Tassos received his PhD in Economic Geology from Queen's University in 1999. He began his career at Lakefield Research (SGS) in 1997 as a mineralogist and senior geoscientist, later serving as a research associate at AMTEL. He has also held academic positions as an Adjunct Professor at McGill University and as a Lecturer and Assistant Professor at the University of Patras, Greece.

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