The Barytes Association News

32nd General Assembly in Houston (USA) on 5 June 2024

The Barytes Association held its General Assembly at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston Gallery. Representatives of 20 member companies participated in person or virtually. The members elected a new President, Moritz Ostenrieder of Sachtleben Minerals, as well as a new Executive Committee.

For the first time, the General Assembly was organized together with the Barite & Oilfield Minerals Forum, which had ‎broadened its scope to baryte markets outside the oilfield market, such as ‎the chemicals and filler markets.‎

31st General Assembly was held in France on 31st May 2023 at Moulin de Vernègues Hôtel, Mallemort

The Barytes Association is proud to welcome two new members:

Fireside Minerals Ltd. and Minerales y Arcillas, S.A. de C.V. (MINAR)

View photos from the visit

View photos from site visit: courtesy of Omya International AG

View photos from wine-tasting, Château Bas, courtesy of Halliburton Energy Services

The 30th General Assembly was held in Houston, US on 1st June 2022

There were 41 attendees joining this event (some of the participants joined online).

View photos from the 30th General Assembly here.

View photos from the Reception and Cruise Dinner here.

View photos from the Halliburton Plant Visit here.

The Barytes Association elects David Henrick as new president

The Barytes Association announces the election of David F. Henrick as its new president, effective 4th June 2020, succeeding Mr. Lion Kirkels, who is stepping down after 6 years and having been a Board member for many more years.

Mr. Henrick’s career in the mineral and mining industry expands the course of 38 years, with experience in all aspects of the processing, mining and shipping of mineral resources and products. He is experienced in working with both Industrial and Oil & Gas exploration companies and a diverse range of customers.

David F. Henrick had been working for Excalibar Minerals for 22 years including as President, General Manager, Director Sales and Marketing, Director of Operations and Operations Manager. Prior to Excalibar, Mr. Henrick worked for IMASCO Minerals as Operations Manager and 16 years for J. M. Huber Corp. in the Engineered Minerals Division where he served in various roles in Management, Research& Development, Process Design, Operations and Quality Assurance.

As Mr. Henrick mentioned during the last General Assembly “The Barytes Association and our members are successfully responding to the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19 and the decline in Barytes markets Globally.  It is more important than ever that we remain a strong voice for our industry and help shape the environmental, regulatory and financial policies of the future ......,”

The 26th General Assembly was held at Schnellinger Silberstub, Haslach Schnellingen, in the Black Forest, Germany, 10th-12th June 2018

There were 44 attendees - 21 of our 27 members were present

View photos of the 26th General Assembly here

The 25th General Assembly was held in Houston, Texas, US, 23rd-25th May 2017

There were 45 attendees - 24 of our 25 members were present

View photos of the 25th General Assembly here

The 24th General Assembly was held in Peralada, Figueres, Catalonia, Spain 11th-13th May 2016

Courtesy of August Conesa and MIneralia
There was a record attendance of 52 delegates from 22 of our 25 members including Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, UK, and US

View photos of the 24th General Assembly here.

The 23rd General Assemblywas held in Houston, Texas, USA 25th-27th May 2015.

Joint hosts were Excalibar Minerals, RockFin Minerals, Halliburton and MI-SWACO. The meeting was followed by the Oil Field Minerals Conference 28th-29th at which the Association and several members gave presentations.

The 22nd General Assembly was held in Dubai, UAE courtesy of Oren Hydrocarbons 14th-17th May 2014

The 21st General Assembly was held in Morocco courtesy of Broychim 29th-31st May 2013

The 20th General Assembly was held 6th- 8th June 2012 in Stavanger Norway

courtesy of  Norbar Minerals, and included a visit to their operations on Karmøy Island and a Rødne fjord cruise. 

View photos of the 20th General Assembly here.   

The 19th General Assembly was held on 3 May 2011 at Geertruidenberg, Netherlands.

The processing plant visit was courtesy of Ankerpoort NV; and the group stayed in Amsterdam. View photos of the 19th General Assembly here.

The 18th General Assembly was held on 7 June 2010 in Brussels, Belgium

The 17th General Assembly was held on 18 May 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.

The Spring General Assembly was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 22nd -23rd May 2007. The processing visit to IJmuiden was by kind invitation of Cebo Holland BV.

Association member Glebe Mines Ltd from the UK features on the front of October's Industrial Minerals' magazine.

The Spring General Assembly was held in Antalya, Turkey on 22nd -23rd May 2006. Mine and processing visit was by kind invitation of Ado Mining.

A report on the meeting was published in Industrial Minerals magazine July 2006 www.indmin.com and can be downloaded here (PDF)

Association members visit ADOs mines at Sarkikaraagac between Isparta and Konya, 1800m elevation. 23rd May 2006