Raw Material Acquisition Research Articles

Hunter-gatherer mobility and embedded raw-material procurement strategies in the mediterranean upper paleolithic.

Since the early 1980s, the sourcing of lithic raw materials has become central to studies of the territorial range and mobility strategies of Pleistocene foraging societies. Results have been fruitful but somehow repetitive. We will discuss the embedded procurement strategy, which presumes that raw material acquisition was part of other subsistence activities rather than an autonomous technological task. We argue that this theoretical assumption, when taken as dogma, restricts the role of technology in human history and also underestimates the way some lithic resources may have affected the organization of past hunter-gatherers. We base our discussion on the Upper Paleolithic (UP) from the Liguro-Provençal arc, with examples from the Proto-Aurignacian and the Epigravettian. Our regional record shows that in this context the movement of rocks over distances greater than 100 km was the norm rather than the exception. We argue that these long-distance procurements mirror technical needs that were oriented toward the selection of high-quality flints. We support the hypothesis that indirect procurement was an important component of regional socio-economic networks.

Interpreting long-term use of raw materials in pottery production: A holistic perspective

Pottery-related resources can be exploited over a long period of time for many different reasons. For example, raw material collection can be influenced by ecological, economic or functional criteria, as much as social and symbolic phenomena. The scope of these different theoretical perspectives is discussed in order to reach integrated and symmetrical interpretations of raw material acquisition. This approach is exemplified using a case study of the potter communities inhabiting the Santa Ponsa area (Mallorca, Spain) during the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age. The identification of the raw materials used is explained briefly, based on petrologic, palaeontological and chemical characterisation of the archaeological ceramics and the clays from the area surrounding the site. Additionally, the reasons behind the prehistoric exploitation of certain kinds of clay over time are discussed, by considering the theoretical models of ceramic ecology, functionalism and a combination of landscape archaeology and social theory of technology.

Greenhouse Gas emission in Jewelry Industry: Carbon Footprint of a Silver Flat Ring

In the present paper, a carbon footprint (CF) of a silver ring was evaluated by the assessment of the material flow and energy consumption in the production process. The boundary of analyzing CF was defined as Business to Business (B2B). All primary data were obtained from the studied factory. Raw material acquisition of silver has found to be the main GHG contribution of CF and was considered as a hotspot of CF. It was accounted 0.9740 kg CO 2 eq (carbon dioxide equivalent) or 94.44%, followed by GHG emission from the production process 0.0573 kg CO 2 eq and transportation 0.002 kg CO 2 eq, respectively. Meanwhile, the total CF of silver ring was 1.03 kg CO 2 eq per a silver ring product. To reduce CF of a silver ring, it could be suggested that choosing low GHG emission of producing silver can lead to significant reduction of the CF. In addition, options for recycling waste and using high performance of electronic equipment are also suggested in this study

Greenhouse Gas Emission in Jewelry Industry: A Case Study of Silver Flat Ring

This paper describes an assessment of the carbon footprint (CF) of a silver ring, together with an attempt to measurematerial and energy consumption. The boundary of analyzing CF was defined as Business to Business (B2B). All primary data were obtained from a survey of the case study factory. Acquisition of raw material (silver) was the main GHG contribution to the overall CF and was thus considered as a CF hotspot. Acquisition accounted for 0.9740 kg CO2e or 94.44% of total emissions, followed by production processes (0.0573 kg CO2e) and tran-sportation (0.002 kg CO2e). The total CF amounted to 1.03 kg CO2e per silver ring product. To reduce the CF, it is suggested that choosing low GHG production processes could result in significant reduction in total CF. In addition, the study proposes options for recycling waste and using high performance electronic equipment.

Português

Due to the significant increase in consumption of fruits and their derivatives, it is necessary to invest in operations aimed at their use, minimizing the pre and post-harvest losses, due to its high perishability. The fruit processing pulp is a widely used technique because much of the population seeking convenience and a healthier diet, in addition to increase the product shelf life and can provide it to distant regions and periods off season. This study evaluated physicochemical and microbiological characteristics, in three consecutive months, 17 flavors of fruit pulp of a manufacturing company in order to use the final product control as a means to identify control gaps present in the acquisition of raw materials as well as during processing steps and packaging. It was noticed that about 60% of all pulps were unfit for human consumption, with the highest percentage in the physicochemical analysis (45%), followed by microbiological (30%). In the microbiological characteristics, the large amount of molds and yeasts suggest failure through cleaning and sanitizing fruits and in the processing area. For the physicochemical analysis, pH and total soluble solids content were the most alarming, verifying the possibility of water adittion (illegal) and acidulant excess, which causes the pulp loses its fruit identity. The most problematic fruits were pineapple, prune, caja, cashew, graviola, guava and passion fruit. The control of the final product proved essential to the company's quality assurance.

Environmental assessment tool to analyse the presence of critical and valuable raw materials

The aim of this paper is show the software 'Sustainable Electronics' (SE), developed in the University of Zaragoza as an environmental impact assessment tool, specially developed to design components taking into account the presence of critical and valuable raw materials consumption; simulating environmental impact and measuring the overall raw material consumption, taking into account material composition of the electronic components. It considers raw material acquisition, manufacturing processes, transports and end of life. This software allows us to easily update and use the datasets provided by Life Cycle Inventory databases, such as, for example, EcoInvent, developed by the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories. The methodology has been tested through the software in an electronic board of a touch control used in an induction hob. As result, it has been obtained that there is a high consumption of materials such as copper, tin or aluminium.

Impacts of electrification of automotive transport in different OECD countries

This paper evaluates the effects of road transport electrification and its regionally widely differing environmental impacts. Life-cycle assessment is carried out to quantify the environmental impacts of electric cars in all OECD countries with widely different electricity generation mixes. The environmental impacts of internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles are compared. For cars, the life-cycle assessment considers the environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle, from raw material extraction and acquisition, through energy and material production and manufacturing, to use and end-of-life treatment and final disposal. For fuels and electricity, the whole life cycle from cradle to gate is considered. The results show significant differences in the environmental impacts of battery electric vehicles between the countries. Policies to advocate the electrification of road transport differ from country to country, and the still very carbon-intensive electric mixes of most countries make the environmental gains of electric vehicles questionable. Combining technology forecasting and life-cycle assessment tools can provide a foundation for policy planning towards more sustainable automobile transportation.

Impacts of electrification of automotive transport in different OECD countries

This paper evaluates the effects of road transport electrification and its regionally widely differing environmental impacts. Life-cycle assessment is carried out to quantify the environmental impacts of electric cars in all OECD countries with widely different electricity generation mixes. The environmental impacts of internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles are compared. For cars, the life-cycle assessment considers the environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle, from raw material extraction and acquisition, through energy and material production and manufacturing, to use and end-of-life treatment and final disposal. For fuels and electricity, the whole life cycle from cradle to gate is considered. The results show significant differences in the environmental impacts of battery electric vehicles between the countries. Policies to advocate the electrification of road transport differ from country to country, and the still very carbon-intensive electric mixes of most countries make the environmental gains of electric vehicles questionable. Combining technology forecasting and life-cycle assessment tools can provide a foundation for policy planning towards more sustainable automobile transportation.

Producción y uso de objetos ornamentales elaborados sobre dientes de carnívoros en contextos arqueológicos del Humedal del Paraná Inferior

En este trabajo se analizan una serie de piezas dentarias de carnívoros discutiendo su utilización como objetos ornamentales por las poblaciones humanas que ocuparon el sector meridional del humedal del Paraná inferior durante el Holoceno tardío. La identificación taxonómica de los distintos elementos dentarios se efectuó mediante estudios morfométricos, siendo de particular interés señalar el reconocimiento de especies que son poco frecuentes o que hasta ahora no estaban presentes en el registro arqueológico regional como Canis familiaris y Nasua nasua. A través del análisis microscópico, logramos identificar distintos rastros o huellas de transformación y utilización de los dientes, incluso en aquellos ejemplares que a ojo desnudo no presentaban modificaciones antrópicas. En función de los resultados obtenidos se discute la obtención y uso de estos objetos como objetos ornamentales y se realizan distintas consideraciones en cuanto a su potencial valor simbólico, señalando ciertas limitaciones interpretativas que existen sobre este tópico, así como las vías analíticas y conceptos desarrollados por otros autores para abordar problemáticas similares a las aquí estudiadas.

Green Supply Chain Management: A New Market Approach for Climate Governance

Climate change has become a spot issue of the international community, and how to efficiently carry out international cooperation to deal with climate change is a serious problem to be solved. Actions on climate change launched by government have become a national consensus to various countries, while actions by private sectors, establishment and operation of relevant market mechanisms are also an important approach to address climate change through global cooperation. We have undertaken the construction of international or regional carbon market, clean energy quota market, Energy Management Contracting (EMC) and other market mechanisms, laying a solid foundation for further exploring market mechanism that enhances international climate governance, which also illustrates the significance of market mechanism to international community. New market mechanisms continue to be explored in market activities, and green supply chain management is one of them. Green supply chain management refers to the monitoring and management of impact on environment in the processes of acquisition, transportation, and storage of raw materials, distribution and utilization of products, and disposal of waste products while considering the impact of production processes on environment as well. Green supply chain management, as a market-based mean which balances climate environmental performance and economic benefits, will enable enterprises to include the influence of whole process of production on the climate and environment into decision-making process, launch green monitoring to the whole production cycle of product, so as to realize green and low-carbon development of enterprises. Green supply chain management not only has direct influence on enterprises to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction, but also has positive meaning to industrial transformation and upgrading, high-end development of manufacturing industry, and promoting the construction of ecological civilization, which accords with economic and industrial development of China in the future, worth being explored and practiced as a new market mechanism.

Middle Holocene Production of Mussel Shell Fishing Artifacts on the Coast of Taltal (25° Lat South), Atacama Desert, Chile

ABSTRACTShell fishhooks have been found in several sites along the Pacific Coast of the Americas, but little is known about prehistoric workshops of these tools and the socio-economic context of their production and distribution. The present study provides new data about the production of mussel (Choromytilus chorus) shell fishing tools (MSFT) at Morro Colorado and Zapatero, two Middle Holocene sites on the coast of Taltal, northern Chile. The MSFT assemblages of the two sites suggest the existence of workshop areas and a specialized manufacture of C. chorus fishhooks associated with an increased dependence on fishing in local subsistence practices. Abundance and type of mussel shell fishing artifacts, preforms, and shell debris at these two shell midden sites are discussed to better understand Prehispanic workshops, the techniques used to work C. chorus shells, and the possible relationship between raw material acquisition, technological change and overall transformations in subsistence practices and levels of social complexity among Middle Holocene coastal groups along the northern coast of Chile.

Contractor Energy Information System: Energy-Savings Tool for Building Construction

AbstractThe lifecycle of a building has various phases, from raw material acquisition during preconstruction to deconstruction and disposal. Activities associated with these phases demand energy and other resources, which impose a burden on the environment. Therefore, every phase must be explored to minimize the energy requirements of each building project. There is a pressing need for sustainable projects in this highly competitive market. Demand is continually growing for contractors to innovate and incorporate measures to reduce energy consumption and the associated environmental impact of their operations. This study focuses on the energy consumed during the construction phase of buildings. It proposes a framework to assist contractors in estimating and recording such energy consumption. The tool, Contractor’s Energy Information System (CEIS), was developed to aid in this endeavor. The tool was applied on a three-story office project to demonstrate the concept’s utility. This study demonstrates that a...

Lithic cultural variability during the Gravettian in the Cantabrian Region and the western Pyrenees: State of the art

The field and laboratory work carried out in recent decades have substantially changed our vision of various aspects of the Gravettian in the Cantabrian Region and the western Pyrenees. The objective of this work is to carry out a critical synthesis of the available data for the lithic industry of the Gravettian in this region, according to raw material procurement, exploitation strategies and typological markers. Thereby several aspects are of importance: (1) the alternating availability of high quality raw material, where two territories can be divided: one to the West, where raw material acquisition is showing a wide range of raw materials (notably flint, quartzite, quartz), and one to the East, where assemblages are completely dominated by a single raw material: flint; (2) the great similarity between different reduction strategies, mainly in relation to flint; and (3) an existing polymorphism throughout the territory in case of the tool types, within which protrude two typological groups: back elements and burins, notably the Noailles burins. The latter are massively present in the eastern part of the Cantabrian Region and the western Pyrenees. This variability does not seem to correspond to chronological phases, but has to be probably understood in functional terms.

Lithic economy and territory of Epipaleolithic hunter–gatherers in the Middle Tagus: The case of Pena d'Água (Portugal)

In Central Portugal (westernmost Eurasia) the transition from the traditional Pleistocene hunter–gatherer societies to the complex Mesolithic societies of the Holocene has been debated for decades. While some argue that these differences were a progressive phenomenon that started with the shift from the Pleistocene to the Holocene, others defend that the Late Pleistocene patterns were fairly similar to those of the Epipaleolithic and that the major shift was rapid, dramatic and triggered by the necessary adaptation to the 8.2 ka cal BP (8.09–8.25 ka cal BP) climatic event. The study of lithic raw material provenance might be useful for this discussion, since it has been suggested that the Magdalenian and Epipaleolithic populations from this region were collecting this resources within a close range territory, whereas the Mesolithic populations were acquiring them at longer distances.In this paper, we present the results from p-XRF, VP-SEM-EDS and μ-XRD analysis done on the Epipaleolithic lithic assemblage from Pena d'Água Rockshelter, and in some geological samples from secondary sources located ∼14 km from this site. This layer is of major relevance for this debate since it is dated from 8.19 ka cal BP. If the transition was gradual, it would be expected that this assemblage would show some traits of higher-complexity seen in the Mesolithic, namely of longer distance acquisition. However, our results indicate correspondence between the archaeological chert types and some of the geological sources. The differences seen between the archaeological specimens and geological samples are mostly present in traits that can be related with manufacture, handling and post-depositional phenomena.The results suggest that, in what concerns to the economy of abiotic resources, the Epipaleolithic populations living at the time of the dramatic 8.2 ka cal BP cold event, were performing a short range acquisition of lithic raw materials which reinforces the idea of continuity from the Late Pleistocene to the 8.2 ka cal BP event and an abrupt and dramatic shift soon after this phenomena.

Timescales, space and culture during the Middle Palaeolithic in northwestern France

Northwestern France is characterized by the presence of many Middle Palaeolithic sites, covering the entire period. The Saalian phase is less documented, partly for taphonomic reasons. The lithic industries indicate mastery of all production systems for flakes, blades, points and to a lesser extent, bifaces. During the Upper Pleistocene, occupation of this territory by Neandertal groups is important. The vast majority of these lithic series cannot be attributed to cultural facies of Mousterian defined by Bordes, due to the low number of retouched tools. Aside from some typical Mousterian of Acheulean tradition bifaces and blade production characteristic of the Early Weichselian, which are stylistic and cultural markers, there is nothing to differentiate Mousterian groups. In an attempt to identify their cultural identities, lithic assemblages were apprehended globally, using the operative sequence concept from the acquisition of raw material to the final objectives of the different production systems, and abandonment of tools. The situation is considered from each chronostratigraphic phase to try to distinguish the settlement patterns of this region. This renewed approach to technical studies points to a wide diversity of Neandertal adaptive faculties, which can be interpreted in terms of cultural diversity.

Eco-efficiency analysis of the life cycle of interior partition walls: a comparison of alternative solutions

This paper presents an eco-efficiency analysis of the entire life cycle of 10 alternative solutions that can be used for interior partition walls that are variants on five building solutions commonly used in Spain (gypsum plasterboard system, hollow clay brick system, hollow concrete block system, autoclaved aerated concrete block system and gypsum block system). The full life cycle was considered for each of these interior partition wall solutions, which includes raw materials acquisition, transportation to the construction site, on-site installation and demolition and waste management at their end-of-life. For the environmental analysis, standard EN 15804, which provides product category rules for developing environmental declaration of construction elements based on the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, was applied. Main contributions for this application were the development of a comprehensive life cycle inventory adapted to the case study and the sensitivity analysis conducted for evaluating the influence of the characterisation factors in the environmental impact indicators. For the economic analysis, the costs of the life cycle of each solution were obtained. Finally, with the aim of selecting the alternatives with the best behaviour from both perspectives, an eco-efficiency study was conducted, the results of which showed that the gypsum plasterboard system and hollow concrete block system are the ones that combine the best environmental and economic performance. This is mainly due to the fact that they combine the lowest contribution to the impact for all the categories that were analysed, with lower life cycle costs.

Abrupt technological change at the 8.2 ky cal BP climatic event in Central Portugal. The Epipalaeolithic of Pena d’Água Rock-shelter

In central Portugal, the basic structures of the Pleistocene economy, technology and social organization patterns remain fairly similar until the 8.2 ky cal BP climatic event. Their impact has not yet been thoroughly analysed with regard to changes in lithic technology. The Epipaleolithic occupation of Pena d’Água Rock-shelter is dated to ca. 8.19 ky cal BP. In this paper we present a description of its lithic assemblage and put it in context with coeval and later sites of the Middle Tagus, highlighting the observed differences that pre- and post-date this event. Results indicate similarity in raw material acquisition strategies, mainly locally available quartzite cobbles for flake production. After the 8.2 ky event, chert becomes more common, allowing the systematic production of bladelet toolkits with high percentages of geometrics. Reorganized mobility patterns, from forager to logistic, may explain these changes, which remain stable until the Neolithic, ca. 7.4 ky cal BP.

Influence of the material composition on the environmental impact of surface-mount device (SMD) transistors

The aim of this study is to better elucidate the influence of surface-mount device (SMD) transistor material composition on the environmental impact of such transistors. A life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed in which the EcoInvent dataset was updated with material compositions provided by several manufacturers. The influence of the material composition has been studied, providing a more precise understanding of the environmental impact. The software used to develop the LCA model was SimaPro 8.0.3.14, developed by Pré Consultants. The LCA was calculated with the CML methodology. In addition, a life cycle inventory was developed using EcoInvent v3.The EcoInvent methodology was used as a comparison tool for information provided by the manufacturers in terms of environmental impact, thus improving transistor selection in electronics design. The environmental impact of an SMD transistor can vary substantially with respect to material composition. Raw material acquisition represent between 20.3% and 99.9% of the total impact in most environmental categories. By contrast, the environmental impact of each transistor created due to part production is usually lower. The lowest environmental impact comes from the end of life treatments, values for which are approximately 0.1%.This environmental impact study demonstrates the large influence of transistor material composition for those analyzed herein.

English

As a result of the nature of pollutant and exhaustible of fossils energies, developed countries have made use of renewable energy sources to make effective their energy systems. To stow on that vision in Cameroon, the promotion of micro-hydroelectric powers plants (MHPP) is a priority and any contribution to its ease is beneficial. The objective of this study is to characterize some main forges in the west region of Cameroon and show their technical input in the development of MHPP in that region. The survey was conducted in January, 2014. Socioeconomic data related to blacksmiths and main features were studied by the use of questionnaires, direct interviews, site observations and measurements. Main results show that the first forges was set in the Foto village in 1850 by blacksmiths from Nigeria. The studied forges are of traditional (62.5%) and modern type (37.5%). More than 50 products belonging to the main use sectors are manufactured, adapted and/or repaired. The main problems identified are acquisition of raw materials, the lack of equipment and limited technical knowledge. The blacksmiths has been involved in MHPP facilities since 1997, the installation year of the pilot MHPP with the participation of local craftsmen. Civil engineering structures, hydroelectric unit, transportation and distribution equipment are built by local blacksmiths using as much maximum materials as possible. This is often a source of malfunction. Thus, funding of local craftsman and equipment by the government or other agencies can render the forges useful for sustainable development in the west region of Cameroon.   Key words: Study, blacksmiths, micro hydroelectricity, funding, Cameroon.

The Environmental Impacts and Allocation Methods Used in LCA Studies of Vegetable Oil-Based Bio-diesels

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool to assess the environmental impacts and resources used during the life cycle of a product, i.e., from raw material acquisition, via production and use phases, to waste management. The methods of development in LCA have been strong, and the paper is aimed at providing a review of recent developments of LCA methods employed in the production of bio-diesel from various vegetable sources like Jatropha, palm, soybean, sunflower, canola and rapeseed. The essential features of LCA methods like the goal, scope definition and system boundaries have been reviewed and authors have mainly focussed on impact categories on environment and energy. The review also covers impact categories like human health, ecosystem quality and resource depletion. The interpretation of results indicates that the implication of LCA is strong in energy analysis of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and there is less GHG emission in second generation bio-diesel as compared to first generation. Some uncertainties and gaps in the application of LCA are identified and discussed. The uncertainties are mainly due to inconsistent choices across different allocation, system boundaries, time period in impact assessment and scope of the analysis. The uncertainties are dealt by tools like Monte Carlo simulations, fuzzy set theory etc.