Investigations into lithium minerals processing
Dr Massoud Aghamirian
Dr. Massoud Aghamirian, Ph.D., P.Eng. is a senior metallurgist with over 30 years of experience in mineral processing, metallurgical testwork, and flowsheet development. He currently serves as Principal Metallurgist at SGS Minerals Services in Canada, where he has led more than 50 lithium projects spanning scoping studies, variability programs, and continuous pilot plant operations. His expertise covers a wide range of commodities, including lithium (spodumene, lepidolite, petalite, zinnwaldite), rare earth elements (REEs), niobium, phosphate, and potash.
Dr. Aghamirian specializes in flotation, dense media separation (DMS), magnetic separation, and gravity separation. He is also experienced in testwork design, process optimization, and geometallurgical integration. In recent years, his focus has been on critical minerals and the development of robust, scalable flowsheets that enhance recovery and reduce operating costs.
In addition to his technical leadership, Dr. Aghamirian is actively engaged in mentoring junior engineers and supporting applied academic research. He collaborates closely with Queen’s University’s Department of Mining Engineering, collaboration in Ph.D. and postdoctoral research on flotation chemistry, lithium processing, and niobium flotation.
Dr. Aghamirian holds a Ph.D. in Mineral Processing from Queen’s University and an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering. He has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed papers and technical presentations for international conferences. Known for his client-focused approach and ability to troubleshoot complex metallurgical challenges, he continues to advance innovative solutions to support the transition to sustainable, battery-grade mineral supply chains.