Supplier Of Minerals Research Articles

ASFALTO MIŠINIŲ AC 11 VS IR SMA 11 S SU SKIRTINGOMIS MINERALINĖMIS MEDŽIAGOMIS EKONOMINIO EFEKTO ANALIZĖ IR VERTINIMAS / ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE ECONOMIC EFFECT OF ASPHALT MIXTURES AC 11 VS AND SMA 11 S WITH DIFFERENT GRADED AGGREGATES

The European building sector is facing a pressing issue of natural resources. Importing road building materials for the asphalt surfacing increases the cost of the asphalt mixture. The asphalt surfacing mixtures shall consist of a mixture of graded aggregates accounting for 80−90% of the total volume of the asphalt mixture, or 90−96% of the total weight of the asphalt mixture and binder: road bitumen or polymer modified bitumen. In the Republic of Lithuania, asphalt mixes are designed in accordance to the Design Regulations for Road Pavement Standardized Pavement Structures KP SDK 19 and accordance to the normative documents and their requirements for graded aggregates and binders. Road builders import graded aggregates to asphalt mixes from other countries, and this increases the cost of asphalt mixes. According to the scientific researches in the Lithuanian quarry Petrašiūnai II, using unique production technology is produced class I dolomite crushed stone, which mechanical, physical properties and designed asphalt mixtures can replace imported graded aggregates. The economic question remains as to the economic effect of the most commonly used asphalt mixtures in Lithuania AC 11 VS (asphalt mixture of asphalt pavement wearing course) and SMA 11 S (crushed and mastic asphalt) made from indigenous minerals compared to imported minerals. The aim of the paper is to perform the calculation and evaluation of the economic effect of asphalt mixtures AC 11 VS, SMA 11 S with different minerals and micro-aggregate. The paper identifies and analyses the properties of asphalt test mixtures, and identifies the locations of mineral suppliers in Lithuania. According to the economic impact assessment scheme, the economic effect of asphalt mixtures AC 11 VS, SMA 11 S with different minerals and micro-aggregate was calculated. According to the calculations made, the economic effect of producing asphalt mixtures AC 11 VS, SMA 11 S with class I dolomite chips is 13−14%.

Building Alliances for Corporate Social Responsibility

Following the Dodd-Frank Act’s mandate that public companies disclose the use of conflict minerals in their products and processes, five well-known companies established an alliance and initiated a fund to audit mineral suppliers. Since contributing to a common fund has minimal direct benefits — audits are public and companies have equal access to certified suppliers regardless of contributions — companies have an incentive to free ride. Nevertheless, the initiative was successful: the alliance was established and dozens of other companies also contributed. We propose two factors that explain this success: the initial catalyst of an alliance and the status-seeking behavior of lower-status companies that subsequently contributed. To capture companies’ incentives to free-ride, we model the funding initiative as a public goods game and incorporate the two factors: (1) an invitation stage where some of the companies can form an alliance and make an initial contribution to the public good, and (2) status-seeking behavior, by which low-status firms want to be associated to high-status firms. We use the model to show how the combination of both factors leads to high contributions. We then conduct a laboratory experiment to test the effect of the two factors and how they interact. Our experiment shows that the invitation stage is key to high contributions. In particular, the formation of an alliance significantly increases group contribution. As our model predicts, we find evidence of status-seeking behavior which influences whether and how an alliance forms. Surprisingly, we find that high-status companies not in an alliance also contribute after the invitation stage. We attribute this unexpected result to higher moral responsibility for the high-status companies. Our findings demonstrate important insights for companies that seek to address industry-wide social responsibility problems.

Trade in Conflict Minerals -- Congolese Warlords, MNC’s, and Dodd-Frank 1502

This paper seeks to provide an overview of conflict mineral trade by analyzing it through an economic lens. Using data gathered from news sources, the memo first defines the term “conflict minerals” and identifies that the primary actors involved in the conflict mineral market are rebel militia groups and multinational corporations. The trade is mutually beneficial for these actors as it serves as the primary source of revenue for militia groups and allows multinational corporations to buy minerals at low costs. The memo also highlights the struggles legitimate Congolese miners face, as they face threats from militia groups and low market prices Also identified is Section 1502 of the Dodd Frank act, legislation which forces multinational corporations to list their mineral suppliers, thereby increasing supply chain transparency. While implemented with good intentions, it is extremely unsuccessful in stifling the conflict mineral trade as it lacks substantive regulatory measures. Furthermore, the EU and US plan to implement opposing conflict mineral trade policies — the EU looks to increase supply chain transparency while the US looks to repeal Section 1502 of Dodd Frank (an action which would decrease supply chain transparency). This paper believes that coordinated and homogenous action on the part of both federal governments and IGOs is necessary in order to concretely enforce restrictions on conflict mineral trade.

Toward a dynamic evaluation of mineral criticality: Introducing the framework of criticality systems

AbstractA new methodology to quantify minerals’ criticalities is proposed—the criticality systems of minerals. In this methodology, four types of agents—mineral suppliers, consumers, regulators of the market, and others, such as the communities near mining operations—interact with each other through three types of indicators: constraints, such as the political stability in the mining regions, the mineral's substitutability and economic importance; agents’ interactions, such as buyer–seller bargaining; and interactive variables, such as the demand, supply, and price. When the criticality systems of two mineral groups are constructed, analyses that compare the indicators of these criticality systems can determine which group is more critical than the other. This methodology allows evaluation of criticality in a dynamic and systemic manner.

Analysis of dietary minerals in selected seeds and nuts by using ICP-OES and assessment based on the recommended daily intakes

Purpose– Seeds and nuts include many dietary minerals as well as trace metals. It is very important to determine the nutritional mineral values in seeds and nuts. Many minerals can be analyzed simultaneously in low concentrations by using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. This paper aims to evaluate nutritional values of dietary and trace minerals in selected seeds and nuts.Design/methodology/approach– Dietary minerals in the sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus), pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepoL.), peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and corn (Zea maysL.) samples collected from the markets in Sakarya city of Turkey have been analyzed. Two digestion procedures were applied by using hydrochloric acid solution and the mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide solution.Findings– In the evaluation of the mineral contributions of the nuts, the micro-mineral contributions (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Se) were found at higher values than the macro-minerals (Ca, Mg, K and Na). Potassium was determined as the most abundant mineral, and sodium was found at lower levels. The results showed that nuts are trace mineral suppliers and possible Na-K regulator foods in human nutrition.Social/implications– The obtained results for the mineral profile and daily intake values provide useful information that could sensitize the people on the consumption of seeds and nuts.Originality/value– Findings from the digestion procedures and the assessments based on the recommended daily intakes have got valuable impact.

Latin American states and the extractivist imperative: continuity and change

Henry Veltmeyer and James Petras The New Extractivism: A Post-Neoliberal Development Model or Imperialism of the Twenty-First Century? Zed Books, London and New York, 2014; 320 pp: 9781780329925, 19.99 [pounds sterling] In capital's global quest for profits, control over natural resources has historically played a key role, vividly demonstrated by the 1973 oil shock; and more recently peaks in commodity prices have triggered a global race for resource extraction. Since its colonisation by the European powers, Latin America has served as a provider of mineral and agricultural commodities, and exploitation of its natural resources has consequently been crucial for its economic performance and development. Hence, in the context of the recent commodity price boom, it is no surprise that the region has again emerged as a key supplier of minerals, energy and agricultural staples. Most countries have embraced this role, regardless of the ideological differences that currently exist in the Latin American political landscape. Henry Veltmeyer and James Petras set themselves the task of discovering the main dynamics of the new extractivist model, as well as its contradictions and limitations (p. 5). The book presents six empirical cases from the region, and offers two conceptual chapters that provide a more holistic view of the processes and dynamics involved. For the authors, the development of the new extractivist model of growth is the result of a system in crisis that has spurred a further period of imperialist exploitation (p. 22). Chapters 3 to 7 develop six empirical cases of extractivist activities. These provide extensive information on the different forms the extractivist sector has taken in this group of countries. State, transnational capital and resistance movements interact in each of these scenarios, creating an overall tendency for the expansion and intensification of extractive activities. The emphasis on these three actors is different in each chapter, thus providing varied accounts of this phenomenon. However, we can identify one main issue that is present throughout the volume, and which shapes much of the current debates on extractivism: the 'return of the state' as an active participant in the design and management of the national economy. In Latin America particularly, this is associated with the arrival into power of left-wing governments, elected on a platform that promised to disarm the neoliberal policies implemented in the 1990s (Arsel 2012; Nem Singh & Bourgouin 2013). This 'pink tide' has spurred the expectation that such an ideological change would also include a transformation in the relationship between the state and transnational capitals--in the redistribution of rents, and in the role of nature within overall economic development (Arsel 2012). Before going into the relation between the state and extractive capital, it is necessary to comment on the underpinning typology of state that the authors present. First, we have the distinction between specific imperialist states--the USA and Canada--and the Latin American state in general. The latter acts as an object of the predatory policies of the former. The exact role of imperialist powers in orchestrating extractive activities in Latin America is not clearly elaborated through most of the book, with the exception of Kyla Sankey's chapter on Colombia's mining sector. There, the author explains in detail and with analytical coherence the mechanisms articulated by the Canadian state for the promotion and consolidation of mining activity, and particularly the participation of Canadian mining companies in the Andean countryside. Lust's chapter on the Peruvian mining sector also attempts to unpack the imperialist dynamics behind the expansion of this activity, and especially the role of international organisations as agents working in consonance with imperial powers, even if it is less clear than in the case of Colombia. …

Resourcing the future: Using foresight in resource governance

Australia is a major supplier of minerals globally, but the country’s ability to meet both projections for future demand and sustainability goals is hampered by a range of environmental and social issues associated with traditional modes of minerals production. At a time when society’s expectations for the environmental and social performance of companies are becoming more stringent, mineral production in Australia has become more difficult and expensive – issues that are often disguised by (and overlooked as a result of) high resource prices and an outwardly buoyant economy. Difficulty and expense are characterised not by the absence of resources, but by declining ore grades, substantially increasing mine waste, rising energy consumption, and falling multi-factor productivity. Together, social changes and production challenges are reinforcing the recognition that business as usual cannot deliver on the sustainability imperative. Technological development has been an important focus in seeking to address many of the challenges facing the Australian minerals industry, but this alone has not been adequate, and may not be the panacea of the future. Research exploring the future of minerals production and its implications for society and the economy must be accompanied by foresight into the long-term strategic challenges, future scenarios, social, economic and regional contexts where these implications will play out.This paper documents how foresight methods were used to facilitate a conversation between mining industry stakeholders and experts on the future of the industry in Australia, and to develop a shared vision of the future and recommendations for how to achieve a sustainable mining industry and one which contributes to a sustainable Australian economy. We articulate the implications of sustainability for the mining sector in Australia with respect to a vision to 2040, and discuss mechanisms to secure long-term national benefit for Australia from its finite mineral resources. We demonstrate that realising benefits from a mineral endowment over several decades requires considered and forward-looking resource governance, including a National Minerals Strategy. It should be characterised by innovative policy decisions and business models that engage communities, government and the private sector in not only the rhetoric, but also the business of sustainability.

Opportunities and challenges facing the Australian resources sector*

The resources sector has made a significant contribution to Australia’s prosperity over a large part of its postcolonial history. A combination of substantial mineral and energy resources, perceived low sovereign risk, a skilled workforce, technological leadership, openness to direct foreign investment and relative freedom from interventionist government policies has shaped the Australian resources sector into a highly competitive supplier of minerals and energy products to global markets. Despite this strong global market position, the past performance of the resources sector is no guarantee for its future. The sector operates within a highly competitive globalised environment. Its future depends on its ability to remain internationally competitive, while pursuing sustainable development through a combination of resources discovery and exploitation, socially responsible development and effective environmental stewardship.

The australian minerals industry-resources for the 21st century.

Australia has a genuine competitive advantage in natural resource-based industries. Australia's prospective geology, large uninhabited tracts of land, good mining conditions and skilled workforce have made it attractive for exploration.This has resulted in Australia now having a good mix of mature and greenfield projects and the potential to lift production to meet growth in demand into the next century. However, the resource industry in Australia has had to deal with a number of adverse influences.As discussed prices of nearly all commodities have declined in real terms, input costs have increased, and environmentalists and others have been successful in significantly reducing the area of land accessible to the industry, even for exploration.Superimposed over these influences is the fact that with most resource projects, there is a long time horizon between a substantial initial investments and the recoupment of that capital.In recent years in Australia, the exploration and development activity required to take the industry to a position in which it is able to meet long-term growth in demand has not taken place. The industry will ultimately survive short-term factors, such as the downturn in world commodity markets. Of more importance to Australia is how it compares with other countries in the cost of capital and infrastructure services, security of tenure, the level of taxation, land access, the pace of micro-economic reform, the cost and reliability of labour and the attractiveness of our industry to foreign investment.The Australian minerals industry, despite the low profits of recent years, is structurally sound and has improved its competitiveness. The industry has the potential to grow strongly over the next decade and be the preferred supplier of minerals particularly to the Asia Pacific region in the 21st century.

METALS AND AFRICA: ECONOMIC POWER IN AN INTERNATIONAL SETTING

I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO talk on the subject of 'Metals and Africa: Economic Power in an International Setting'. This subject was suggested by the Royal African Society; while I was honoured to accept the invitation, I realize there are others more qualified than I to address you on this subject. An alternative title which we considered and which I will use today as a sub-title is 'An Analysis of Africa's mineral wealth and its potential for political-economic influence'. I must start by explaining that these headings really cover three separate subjects which I will define as follows: First, an analysis of Africa's mineral wealth which requires some statistical data giving a sort of inventory of this wealth. This can be measured in one or both of two ways; by an assessment of Africa's present production of minerals and metals, or by some indication of Africa's mineral reserves. Secondly, an assessment of the importance of Africa to the rest of the world as a supplier of minerals and metals. This importance is to be measured of course in both absolute and relative terms though mainly in the latter. The degree of importance must be relative to the position of other continents or countries who supply similar products to the world. It also involves some discussion on the present and future demand for these products. Thirdly, Africa's potential for politicaleconomic influence. This rests not only on its importance as a supplier of mining products but also on its potential to deny such products to the world except at greatly increased prices. In other words one must analyse the extent to which Africa can either create discriminatory cartels or at least participate in any such cartels which may be formed by raw material producers elsewhere. Before starting on the first of these three sections, I have only to add that it is not part of this talk to assess the importance of mineral and metal production in any one country to the economy of that particular country, though in some cases the production of the metals or minerals is the main economic activity of an otherwise poor country. Zambia is of course an obvious example with its enormous dependence on its copper production and reserves. Turning now to the first section of my talk, as far as production is concerned one must rely on statistics which regrettably are not always too good in some countries. Even where they are produced regularly, I have had to rely on

Developing Countries and Non-Fuel Minerals

Trends in the world market place for nine major minerals, iron ore, bauxite, copper, manganese ore, lead, nickel, phosphate rock, zinc, and tin are discussed. Demand for bauxite, nickel, and phosphate rock is anticipated to increase faster than economic activity generally. Demand for iron ore, manganese ore, copper, and zinc will expand at rates of 4 to 4.5 percent per year. Lead and tin are estimated to increase at rates of 3.0 and 1.2 percent respectively. World reserves are ample for phosphate rock, iron ore, bauxite, nickel, and manganese ore; proven reserves for copper, lead, and zinc are expected to last 30 years or less; tin reserves are very low. Prices in the United States in 1973 have been very high due to currency adjustments, sharp upturns in industrial activity, and serious supply problems. Analysis of economic forces suggests that prices will drop in the following years. Developing countries' exports of these nine minerals are likely to increase from $4.8 billion in 1967-69 to $15.2 billion in 1980. Stockpiles, recycling possibilities, and substitution mitigate against the likelihood of an OPEC type cartel among mineral suppliers.

American Gem & Mineral Suppliers Association Holds Annual Meeting

American Gem & Mineral Suppliers Association Holds Annual Meeting

American Gem and Mineral Suppliers Association

American Gem and Mineral Suppliers Association