Proceedings of the 11th International Congress for Applied Mineralogy (ICAM)

These proceedings comprise the peer-reviewed contributions submitted to the 11th International Congress for Applied Mineralogy (ICAM) held on July 5-10, 2013, at the Southwest University of Science and Technology (SWUST) in Mianyang, China. The biennial ICAM is the most important gathering of applied mineralogists, organized every odd year by the ICAM-Council. The multidisciplinary research presented in this book will be of interest to scientists and professional dealing with topics like environmental and medical mineralogy; industrial minerals; bio-minerals and biomaterials; advanced materials; process mineralogy; mining and metallurgy; cultural heritage; the interaction of minerals with microorganisms; and solid waste treatment and recycling, including genetic mineralogy.§§The field of applied mineralogy has been able to match society s pace by continuously reinventing itself, quickly adopting new technologies and instrumentation as they became available, and put them to work at the service of mankind living in a world substantially relying on minerals. Over the past decennia, applied mineralogy has evolved into a trend-setting discipline, staking out course for science and engineering, research and development, for the benefit of society. Contrary to popular layman belief, mineral resources are limited, and we are obliged to our heirs to use them responsibly.§§Dr. Maarten A.T.M. Broekmans§§Post-President ICAM Council§