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Analcime from Little Deer Park
Images by David Green

Harmotome and Ancylite from Corrantee
Images by David Green

Minerals for Life

Venue: Edinburgh

Date: 17-19 June 2013 

There is considerable support for a meeting which combines input from those in industry with that from those in academia (materials and minerals).  Input from regulatory agencies (Environment Agency, SEPA, DEFRA, HSE, etc.) will also be encouraged.

The meeting will have four themes. The ambition is that people would come for the whole conference and not just short segments of interest to them. Leaders in all fields as invited speakers will encourage attendance from all communities.  The thinking of those in academia is set to change, to become more aligned with the needs of industry, and to provide careers information for students paying large fees for third-level education.

Themes

Strategically important mineral resources

This should include the sustainability of mineral resources, such as strategically important elements (considering both primary and secondary sources), ethically/responsibly sourced metals and gems and related topics such as resource recovery and management. Recycling of minerals addressed here as appropriate.

Functional materials and minerals

To include nano-, micro- and meso-porous materials (both synthetic and natural) such as zeolites, pillared clays and the like; thin films of (or on) mineral surfaces, mineral catalysts. This topic may include any ‘functional' mineral application (or mineral derived material) such as sensors and transducers, sorbents, ion-exchange media and others.

Minerals for Environmental Protection

This theme will include both nuclear and non-nuclear applications and consider the use of minerals as retarding media in engineered chemical barriers, alongside physically engineered sub-surface structures such as mineral liners; permeable reactive barriers and examples of environmental remediation in which mineral technology has had significant
impact. Carbon capture and storage is another important part of this theme, as is CO₂ remediation/mitigation (i.e. how planned use of appropriate minerals may reduce CO₂ embodied in a process). Recycling of minerals addressed here as appropriate.

Biological Processes in Mineral Science and Technology

To include bio-mineralization, both naturally occurring and industrially applied applications. Biomedical mineralization (i.e. biomimetics; dental materials ; bone scaffolding
re-mineralization etc.) , health effects of volcanic dust

The following organizations (including some of their constituent groups) will help to co-organize this important conference.