New book: The Art and Science of the Flowsheet

In this new book, launched at last month's SME Annual Meeting in Salt lake City, John O. Marsden explores the essential visual language of extractive metallurgy, the flowsheet,and the unique intersection where engineering meets art. From the hand-drawn process diagrams of the 19th century to today’s digital simulations, Marsden traces how these schematic representations have evolved to capture the innovation, precision, and creativity that define mineral processing. 

Richly illustrated with more than 190 historical and modern flowsheets, this volume tells the story of how metallurgists, engineers, and draftsmen have translated complex processes into elegant, functional design. Through examples spanning gold, copper, nickel, lithium, and other key commodities, Marsden reveals how each diagram reflects its era’s technology, challenges, and ingenuity and how flowsheets continue to shape the efficiency and sustainability of modern operations.  

Part history, part technical guide, and part visual tribute, The Art and Science of the Flowsheet invites readers to appreciate the discipline as both a craft and a cornerstone of process design.  With more than 200 full color flowsheets and diagrams, this book is a definitive reference for metallurgists, process engineers, and students - those who still sketch ideas on napkins, seek clarity in complexity, and understand that every good flowsheet tells a story.

John Marsden (left) at the SME Bookstore in Salt Lake City

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