The geometallurgical concept shows a high potential for increasing resource efficiency and value from the Norwegian mining industry. By obtaining better control of variations in in-situ properties, (modal mineralogy, mineral textures, ore hardness, etc.) and creating 3D economic block models based on grades and other important properties, it is possible to enhance production by means of capacity and yield as well as other variables specific for the raw material in question.

Geometallurgy has globally been thought of as a tool for ore producing mines. Geometallurgy related problems encountered in the industrial mineral industry are both comparable and not comparable to the problems known from the ore mining industry. In this project we study the Norwegian mining industry in a geometallurgical perspective and aim at identifying and describing some of the issues that are special for the industrial minerals sector.