OWNER / DIRECTOR FRANK HART B.Sc. (combined honours in Geology & Chemistry)
has extensive experience in industrial minerals gained through 40 years of direct involvement in technical evaluation and quality control.

5 YEARS IN THE PAPER & BOARD INDUSTRY
Assistant Mill Chemist at Thames Board Mills in Warrington where Kaolin and
GCC were used as a filler and for coating of White Lined Chipboard

5 YEARS IN THE GLASS FIBRE INDUSTRY
Quality Control Manager at Gyproc Glass Fibre. Various minerals were used
to form the glass melt prior to ‘spinning’ e.g. Dolomite and pure Silica Sand

28 YEARS IN KAOLIN EXTRACTION
Technical Manager at Goonvean Ltd, responsible for all geological and
chemical aspects of mining / refining from 5 open cast kaolin quarries and the last operating china stone quarry, for many years the sole indigenous source of feldspar in the UK.
Also managed a testing facility for other companies investigating new deposits. This included kaolin and halloysite samples from Canada, USA, Sweden, Korea, Australia and Africa. Talc, GCC and silica sands were also tested.

FIRST TEST MINERALS
Since the company was established in 2013 I have managed contracts for the analysis, refining and market development of new kaolin and halloysite deposits in Australia, USA and the Middle East.  Since 2018 I have been involved in a number of projects to determine market potential of quartz, feldspar and mica produced as by-products from new lithium projects. Further details under Client History.

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

Industrial Minerals Magazine
September 2014: Advances in Medical Uses of Kaolin and Halloysite
October 2014: The Use of Naturally Occurring Minerals in Animal Feed
March 2015: Feeding the World: The Future Role of Minerals
April 2016: Carbon Nanotubes - The Next Industrial Revolution?
July 2016:Halloysite - A Bright Future?
June 2017: Metakaolin in High Performance Concrete
April 2019: Positive Outlook for Kaolin in Ceramics

The quantitative mineralogy of ceramic grade kaolin from the St Austell Granite and its relationship to chemistry and physical properties. Proceedings of the Ussher Society, 9, 91-96.
http://www.ussher.org.uk/journal/90s/1996/documents/Scott_et_al_1996.pdf

Columbite-tantalite, rutile and other accessory minerals from the St Austell Topaz Granite, Cornwall. 
Proceedings of the Ussher Society, 9, 165-170.
http://www.ussher.org.uk/journal/90s/1998/documents/Scott_et_al_1998.pdf

 Tropical Biofiltration Halloysite Nanotubes in Tropical Biofiltration

Cementitious composites reinforced with metakaolin and halloysite nanotubes for construction https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169131720300983

MARKETING CONSULTANT SIMON WARREN F.I.M.M.M.
30 years of technical and commercial experience in industrial minerals, including Kaolin, Ball Clays, Feldspars and calcined Kaolin.

Extensive technical knowledge of all aspects of ceramic manufacture and raw materials, former Chair of the Whitewares Division of IOM3 and current Fellow member.

Global knowledge of commercial aspects for ceramic raw materials: sales, pricing, logistics.

Experience with Industrial applications include:

Prepared ceramic body preparation
Spray Drying
Tableware (Plastic, Pressure Casting, Dust-pressing)
Investment Casting (Equiax, DS & Single Crystal)
Sanitaryware (Traditional & Pressure Casting)
Craft Pottery manufacture and sales
Animal Feeds
Cosmetics
Pharmaceuticals
Employment with English China Clays PLC, Imerys, Potterycrafts & Goonvean Ltd in senior managerial marketing roles.

PRODUCTION AND ENGINEERING CONSULTANT DAVID PERKS M.I.Q.
More than 40 years’ experience in kaolin and by product sand operations, mostly at senior management level. 

Steetley: Manager Bodelva clay works

Redlands: Manager Bodelva and Greensplat works

Goonvean: Works Manager in charge of all aspects of kaolin operations, including 5 opencast kaolin quarries and 2 processing, dewatering and drying sites, producing 200,000 tonnes per annum kaolin. Responsible for 160 operatives, budgets, health and safety and training. Key role in the design and commissioning of £8m upgrade to Trelavour Works in 2000, including new press decks and dryer.