Mike Adams has extensive experience and knowledge in the metallurgical engineering space. For over 10 years Mike has been focused on the development, implementation and commercialisation of the Lifezone Technology for the environmentally and economically effective recovery of PGM, gold, base and rare metals.
Prior to this, Mike has led significant studies and acted as Project Manager for bankable hydromet pilot plant programs and refined nickel, cobalt and PGM projects across the globe, including: Tati Nickel (Anglo American); Ravensthorpe Nickel (BHP Billiton); Niquel do Vermelho (Vale); Syerston Nickel (Ivanhoe); and Pilanesberg Platinum Kell Plant (Sedibelo Resources). He developed from first principles and project managed the bankable piloting for a hydromet process for recovery of Zr/Hf, Nb/Ta and REE products for ASM’s Dubbo Project, which is currently permitted and ready for construction, subject to financing.
Born in Zimbabwe, Mike’s career spans almost 40 years, in which he established independent consultancy Mutis Liber Pty Ltd, and held senior roles as Director of Rockwell Minerals Ltd (now ASX-listed Elementos Ltd), Metallurgical Manager with SGS Lakefield Oretest in Australia and Head of Process and Environmental Chemistry at Mintek South Africa.
Mike also spent eight years as Associate Editor for Hydrometallurgy journal and has edited three books, including Gold Ore Processing. He completed BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees in Applied Chemistry at Witwatersrand University, a PhD on The Chemistry of the Carbon-in-Pulp Process and a DSc in Engineering on Advances in the Processing of Gold Ores. Dr Adams has made a significant contribution to the chemistry and optimization of the carbon-in-pulp process for gold recovery, for which he received the Raikes Gold Medal from SACI and two silver medals from SAIMM.
Mike directs group research and development programmes, undertakes fundamental process design chemistry and thermodynamics and leads patent specification.
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