How to level up the profitability of your critical mineral operations: 4 tips from our experts

More than ever, mining companies are under pressure to extract the most value possible from increasingly complex and lower-grade ores.

In our Critical Minerals Expert video series, Malvern Panalytical specialists explored how elemental and mineralogical analysis, automation, and standardized workflows can help producers maintain recovery rates, control costs, and protect profitability.

1. Combine analysis techniques for robust quality control

The series opened with a foundational discussion on why cutting-edge quality control can make all the difference to your profitability.

Experts Uwe König and Matteo Pernechele outlined how declining ore grades, greater mineralogical complexity, and more remote mining locations are reshaping analytical requirements across the value chain.

They emphasized that relying on a single analytical technique is no longer sufficient. Instead, combining XRF elemental analysis with XRD mineralogical insight allows producers to tailor processing routes, reduce waste, and avoid costly downstream issues.

Rewatch episode 1 to find out more.

2. Don’t ignore mineralogy

In the second session, Uwe König was once again joined by Matteo Pernechele to take a deeper dive into mineralogical analysis and its growing role in modern mining workflows.

The message was clear: with ores bodies becoming more variable, elemental analysis alone won’t cut it. Understanding how elements are bound in minerals is just as important as knowing which ones are present when it comes to tailoring your processing techniques.

The discussion highlighted XRD as a solution. Technology like our Aeris instrument enables faster, data-driven decision making, from predicting energy consumption to optimizing reagent usage and flotation strategies. Real examples showed how mineralogical misinterpretation can quickly erode profit margins.

Simply put: Effective processing starts with mineralogical insight, ensuring extraction methods match the true nature of the ore.

Rewatch episode 2 to find out more.

3. XRF enables faster elemental QC

The third episode shifted focus to elemental analysis, with Uwe König, Alexander Komelkov, and Lieven Kempenaers discussing how modern XRF supports rapid, flexible quality control across mining environments.

From handheld and benchtop systems to high-accuracy lab instruments, the experts explained how XRF can be deployed at every stage of the process, balancing speed, accuracy, and infrastructure requirements. Advances in software and computing power have also expanded XRF’s role well beyond the laboratory.

Alongside mineralogical insight, fast, adaptable elemental analysis is essential as ore complexity increases, and XRF can deliver – whether in the field, the lab, or at the processing line.

Rewatch episode 3 to find out more.

4. Standardize analysis with smart preparation and automation

The final session brought the analytical chain into focus. Uwe König, Neil Eatherington, and Qiaona Zhang explored how sample preparation, calibration, and automation directly influence data quality and decision-making.

They highlighted that even the most advanced instruments depend on consistent preparation methods and robust calibration strategies. As mines become more remote and operate around the clock, automation and integrated XRF and XRD workflows are vital for maintaining reliable, repeatable results.

Rewatch episode 4 to find out more.

Learn how to implement the latest in analytical technology

Together, the four episodes form a practical guide to modern critical minerals analysis, showing how integrated elemental and mineralogical workflows, supported by automation and standardized practices, help producers respond to rising demand and tightening margins.

Whether you are refining quality control strategies or planning future laboratory investments, the series offers clear, experience-driven guidance to help you move forward with confidence.

Do you have any questions about the topics discussed during this webinar? Please contact one of our experts.