Non-metallic mineral sector faces huge opportunities

A group of renowned scientists has noted that with the current accelerated transformation of industrial structures, the traditional non-metallic mineral industry is facing new development opportunities amid its expanding value-added applications.

Zhou Chunhui, director of Qingyang Institute for Industrial Minerals and a professor at Zhejiang University of Technology, said human beings have a very long history of utilizing non-metallic mineral resources in production and daily life.

Non-metallic minerals — also known as industrial minerals, including limestone, dolomite, clay minerals and silica — traditionally serve as essential raw materials in producing cement, ceramics and glass. With scientific and technological development, they are increasingly used to produce a wide range of advanced functional materials, including catalysts, adsorbents and composites.

However, industrial minerals and the related science and technology still face numerous challenges in such areas as exploration of characteristic functions, green and intelligent processing, and comprehensive and efficient utilization, said Zhou at the 9th World Forum on Industrial Minerals.

Under the theme "Integrative Innovation in Non-Metallic Mineral Industry Development and Clean Chemical Engineering", the four-day event opened on Oct 25 in Qingyang county, Anhui province, drawing over 600 participants from around the world, including scientists, government officials, entrepreneurs and educators.

Global innovations, along with artificial intelligence-driven processing, have been further expanding value-added applications of industrial minerals in electronics, energy storage, and environmental protection and ecological maintenance, enhancing the sustainable and efficient utilization of industrial mineral resources.

Data show that in 2024, the added value of the non-metallic minerals-based products industry in China for enterprises, each with an annual output of 20 million yuan ($2.81 million) or more, ushered in total assets reaching 10.29 trillion yuan and an operating income of 6.97 trillion yuan.

Balancing the demand for processing mineral resources for local economic growth with global goals for carbon neutrality and sustainability has become a critical task for science, technology and industry worldwide.

"Industrial minerals play a crucial role in many sectors including agricultural, environmental and industrial processes, as well as healthcare. They are the basis for a myriad of innovative materials, consumer products, and medicinal delivery systems," said Joseph William Stucki, a professor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the United States, in a speech at the opening session.

"Science transcends boundaries and fosters collaborative relationships that bring together people of all nationalities with inquiring minds who are focused on advancing the frontiers of scientific knowledge and solving problems," he said.

During the opening session of WFIM-9, Chinese and foreign speakers elaborated on cutting-edge research, innovative technologies and sustainable practices, highlighting the importance of international collaboration.

The traditional non-metallic mineral industry should play an active role in driving green, intelligent, and efficient industrial development globally, they noted.

The high-profile Qingyang Forum featured diverse activities, including plenary keynote lectures, parallel symposiums, technical demonstrations, oral and poster presentations, and industry-academia interactive sessions.

WFIM-9 also released a "Global Non-Metallic Mineral Technology and Industry Development Report 2025", showing the latest technological innovations such as AI-enabled mineral processing and advanced material development, as well as sustainable development practices such as efficient resource utilization and green industrial transformation.

In a special session, the participants discussed the creation of an international organization for nonmetallic mineral science and technology and held the first preparatory meeting for establishing a world-class academic journal in the field.

"Such a high-profile forum offers an excellent platform to learn about the latest advances in non-metallic mineral research and sustainable industrial practices," said Sivaganesh Dhanushkodi, an early-career researcher from India.

"I believe that the initiative to establish an international organization will help strengthen global collaboration and create opportunities, especially for young researchers like me, to work collaboratively and contribute more effectively to the field," he added.

Since its inception in 2017, the WFIM — also known as the Qingyang Forum — has become a leading international platform for promoting academic exchange and industrial cooperation in the field of nonmetallic minerals.

Prestigious awards were also presented at WFIM-9, including the Qingyang Forum Houhuai Prize in Science and the Qingyang Forum Houhuai Prize in Technology.

The awards are in honor of the outstanding contributions of Zheng Houhuai, one of the pioneering scientists in China's geological and mineralogical community and the first Chinese to earn a doctorate in geology from Harvard University in the early 1920s.