The BGS industrial minerals evaluation, mineral processing and consultancy service is founded on the extensive UK and international experience of its staff and the well-equipped laboratory facilities. The service offered to clients has the following components:

• Free consultation (up to 1 hour) on industrial mineral commodity evaluation and processing; the BGS industrial minerals expert (Clive Mitchell) will provide impartial information and endeavour to identify solutions to meet the needs of our clients. Contact can be made by telephone (+44 (0)115 936 3257), email or fax (+44 (0)115 936 3520); we aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours. There are six BGS industrial mineral laboratory manuals available as free downloads: Limestone, Flake Graphite, Diatomite, Kaolin, Bentonite and Construction Materials.
• Laboratory characterisation analysis options include the determination of mineralogical, chemical and physical properties; this will usually be accompanied by advice and recommendations for mineral processing and end-use commodity testwork.
• Mineral processing testwork involves mineral liberation analysis, sample preparation and mineral processing (up to pilot-scale); otherwise known as mineral separation or beneficiation.
• End-use property testing and commodity evaluation which involves assessment of the technical suitability for industrial use of commodities such as ball clay, barytes, beach sand (including ilmenite, rutile and zircon), bentonite, brick clay, calcite, cement raw materials, construction aggregate, feldspar, fire clay, fluorspar, fullers earth, gypsum, kaolin, limestone & dolomite, quarry fines, silica sand, mineral waste and many other industrial minerals. The BGS industrial mineral planning factsheet are available to download.
  
• Industrial mineral markets consultancy: the value of the technical evaluation can be enhanced by advice on potential markets, market survey research and investment promotion activities. The BGS industrial minerals consultant (Clive Mitchell) has carried out industrial minerals research and investment promotion in many countries, including: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the UAE, and Zambia.
• Further information on industrial minerals can be found here: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/planning/industrial.html and here: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/mines/industrial.html
  

For further information please contact:

Clive J Mitchell
Industrial minerals specialist
British Geological Survey,
Nicker Hill, Keyworth,
Nottingham, NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 115 936 3257 Fax. +44 115 936 3520

• Thin Sections
• XRD, Thermal Analysis and Clay Mineralogy
• XRD overview
• XRD techniques
• Petrography and Microanalysis
• Industrial mineral commodity and end-use property testing
• Minerals processing