Mike Hatcher, who was instrumental in championing the exploration of the Greenbushes lithium mineral deposit recently made his first visit to the mine in more than four decades.
Mr Hatcher, who now lives in Adelaide, began working at Greenbushes in 1976 when the primary minerals produced were tin and tantalum. However, after returning from a sponsored tour of Canada's Tanco operations in 1980, he pushed for the exploration and development of the Greenbushes spodumene deposit.
At the time there was a decline in the price of tantalum, and it seemed logical to develop the third important mineral found in the Greenbushes pegmatite – spodumene. Mr. Hatcher co-wrote three important papers on the Greenbushes lithium deposit, which were published in 1982, 1986, and 1990.
In 1983 a company called Lithium Australia was formed in Greenbushes, and that same year the Greenbushes mine became the first in Australia to produce and export lithium. Talison's Greenbushes Lithium Operation has been leading in lithium ever since, continuously innovating in the production and processing of spodumene, while also being instrumental in establishing global export markets for lithium products throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Today Talison plays a critical role in helping supply the lithium mineral concentrate needed to facilitate the global transition to clean energy.
Mr. Hatcher left Greenbushes in 1983, and his recent site visit was an interesting trip down memory lane, allowing him to see first-hand what he had helped begin all those years ago.
Pictured: Mike Hatcher with Talison Geology Superintendent Daryl Baker.