Alban Lynch

Alban Jude Lynch (15 August 1930 – 17 September 2021) was an Australian mining engineer and academic who helped develop the mineral processing teaching experience for mining students.

Early life Alban Lynch was born in Queensland in 1930. He attended the Christian Brothers College, St Patricks, Strathfield. He worked as an industrial chemist between 1947 and 1953 while studying his Diploma of Chemical Engineering part time through the Sydney Technical College.

Career After completing his diploma Lynch worked as a metallurgist with the Zinc Corporation of Broken Hill from 1954 to 1958. Here he worked with Maurice Mawby. He studied a BSc externally from the University of New South Wales graduating in 1956. He took his PhD from the University of Queensland in 1965 and a DSc from the University of New South Wales in 1975.

Lynch joined the staff of the University of Queensland's Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering as a Research Officer in 1958. He began work on an Australian Mineral Industries Research Association (AMIRA) project on grinding in 1962. He worked with Jim May, who was the CEO of AMIRA for a number of decades from the late 1960s. This was conducted at Mount Isa Mines (MIM) using circuits in its old concentrator to conduct their experiments. James Foots, the General Manager of Mount Isa Mines supported the project during this time. This project continues at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) and other universities. 2000 – AM Gaudin Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, “for his many contributions to the simulation and control of comminution and flotation circuits.” 2004 – Honorary Fellowship from the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (HonFAusIMM) “in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the minerals Industry over many years which has previously been recognised through 50 years membership in 2004.” 1989 – President, AusIMM 2010 – Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Mineral Processing Congress 2013 – International Mining Hall of Fame induction