If you think your job is a grind, meet Kyle Bartholomew. Not only is his job a real grind, he’s an expert.
Specifically, Bartholomew is a comminution expert, which is mineral grinding. This is a critical step in separating the desired minerals out of ore deposits. And it’s not as simple as it sounds.
“That’s what makes it interesting. It’s actually very complex,” he said. “Most people are shocked that about half the cost of a mineral processing plant is the grinding. And most don’t realize that inefficient or indiscriminate grinding is even more costly.”
If ore is ground too small, past a precise target, energy is wasted and production rates are reduced. And downstream processes -- where the valuable minerals are concentrated -- lose performance.
Sharing the Grind
A big chunk of his career has been training engineers on the basics of grinding circuit measurement and optimization as chief metallurgist at Metcom Technologies, Inc. in Grand Rapids, Minn.
“I really enjoy making sure the next generation has access to best-in-class grinding circuit training,” added Bartholomew.
But in March, he decided to refocus his career at NRRI in an expanded role as a mineral processing specialist, while still leaving time to continue training at Metcom. And this is his second NRRI assignment. He worked at NRRI Coleraine from 2008 to 2012 as a metallurgical engineer.
“What’s really exciting now at NRRI is applying a new fine-grinding technology to help enable the transition to higher value iron ore products on the Iron Range,” he said. “There are immediate, practical applications of the technology but also a wide range of process fundamentals that will be explored in the coming months and years.”
Broad Reach
Being involved in the scale-up phase of new technologies – taking concepts from the benchtop to pilot before they are applied in industry – is a satisfying role for Bartholomew. He is able to tap a wide range of expertise and experience across NRRI and the University system.
“We go from detailed science to practical application with subject matter experts all the way to industrial end users, each with very different perspectives on what success looks like,” he said. “This increases the odds of success and reduces the time needed to achieve it.”
And the administrative staff play a critical role, too, saving a tremendous amount of the researchers’ time for something as simple as acquiring an equipment user manual for a new piece of machinery.
“Robin Oberton, our finance and administration person, is always cheerful and helpful, just when I need it,” he said.
Off Hours
The Bartholomew family is the opposite of loud grinding machinery. They are all about making beautiful music.
“My wife plays clarinet, my youngest son plays the saxophone and my oldest son was in choir throughout high school,” said Bartholomew. “And in the past year I joined the Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus with my son. It’s been a great experience, even though I can’t read a note of music!”