Mineral Products Research Articles

Correction: A Life Cycle Assessment Study of Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Using Steel Dust Mineralization Products

Correction: A Life Cycle Assessment Study of Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Using Steel Dust Mineralization Products

Integrated Evaluation Approach for Land Sustainable Management and Carrying Capacity of Clustered Mining Area in the Cement City of South India

ABSTRACTIn today's global context, sustainability is a crucial factor for both emerging and established industries, including mining. The sector significantly affects social, economic, and environmental dimensions, creating job opportunities that can boost regional income while also contributing to adverse environmental consequences such as air and water pollution, land degradation, and soil contamination. This study employs dynamic modelling and evaluation techniques to examine the interplay between social, economic, and environmental factors, focusing on the sustainability of mining in Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu. The findings indicate that Ariyalur district has achieved a nearly optimal state of sustainability, with the sustainable development index rising from 0.880 in 2016–0.921 by 2030. The sustainable development index intends to provide a holistic view on the social, economic, and environmental status of the region. This increase underscores the potential for enhanced carrying capacity in the region, allowing for future mineral production without compromising sustainability. These results provide valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship. The proposed model serves as a framework for evaluating sustainability across various industries, highlighting the importance of integrated approaches in resource management.

UPAYA PENGENDALIAN PENCEMARAN LOGAM MERKURI TERHADAP KEGIATAN PERTAMBANGAN EMAS SKALA KECIL : SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Mercury waste pollution is an environmental health issue resulting from poor management of mineral production waste materials. Small-scale gold mining areas using amalgamation techniques still contribute high levels of mercury waste to the environment. The technical issue of inadequate storage of production waste materials warrants adaptive control studies for small-scale gold miners (PESK). The aim of this research is to determine the efficiency of chemical and biological mercury waste control in small-scale gold mining cases. This research is a literature review using the systematic review method. The obtained articles underwent review, analysis, and comparison of the systematic capabilities of chemical and biological control. The results of this research found 11 relevant study articles published between 2017-2024. Chemical and biological control methods are capable of reducing mercury levels in tailing water by up to 99%. The form of adaptive control for small-scale gold mining conditions is assessed pragmatically and based on reduced mercury levels. The conclusion of this research is that applied research on mercury waste pollution cases in small-scale mining is still relatively lacking. Efficiency in controlling mercury levels is more realistic using biological control. Laboratory test result approaches can indicate the potential of biological control with bioremediation techniques as an efficient adaptive control effort for small-scale gold miners.

Comparative Study of Marketed Samples of Svarnamakshika Bhasma an Ayurvedic Medicinal preparation, using XRF and XRD Analysis

Svarnamakshika Bhasma is an Ayurvedic medicinal preparation widely used by Ayurvedic practitioners for the management of various ailments. Svarnamakshika Bhasma needs to be prepared from Svarnamakshika, a mineral product identified and defined as Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) in Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India (API). Minimum quantities of Iron, Copper and Sulfur, the three major elements necessary to be present in the Svarnamakshika (chalcopyrite), are prescribed as Pharmacopeial quality standard in the API monograph. Since included in the API, it is mandatory for the manufacturer to use Svarnamakshika (chalcopyrite) as specified in the API for preparation of Svarnamakshika Bhasma. However, it is generally observed that Svarnamakshika (chalcopyrite) complying with the standards prescribed by API is rarely found used for preparation of Svarnamakshika Bhasma. On this background seven samples of Svarnamakshika Bhasma comprising five marketed and two prepared by research scholars along with two samples of raw Svarnamakshika collected from research scholars were analysed in this study by using XRF and XRD analysis. The study indicates that only one marketed sample appears to have been prepared using Svarnamakshika (chalcopyrite) of pharmacopeial standard prescribed by API.

Enhancing concurrent production of volatile fatty acids and phosphorus minerals from waste activated sludge via magnesium ferrate pre-oxidation.

This study investigated the strategy of magnesium ferrate (MF) pre-oxidation to enhance acidogenic fermentation of waste activated sludge (WAS), targeting the simultaneous production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and phosphorus-minerals (struvite and vivianite). Results showed that such fermentation produced a high-value liquid within four days, achieving a peak VFA content of 241 ± 4 mg COD/ g VSfeed, ammonia nitrogen levels below 350 mg/L of and PO43-P under 3 mg/L. Further investigation revealed that the MF pre-oxidation raised the pH, enhanced key hydrolases activity, enriched acidogens and iron-reducing bacteria for driving the concurrent production of VFAs and phosphorus-minerals. The MF pre-oxidation promoted VFAs and phosphorus-minerals formation by enhancing the cooperation among the hydrolyzing bacteria of Acinetobacter and Proteocatella, acidogens of Fusibacter and Tissierella_Soehngenia, and iron-reducing bacteria of Dechloromonas and Thauera. This study provided an effective strategy for realizing concurrent production of high-purity VFAs along with struvite and vivianite from WAS.

Catalytic co-pyrolysis of PET/PP plastics and olive pomace biomass with marble sludge catalyst

Sustainable and efficient waste management requires involvement of symbiotic solutions to various types of wastes, and so to achieve circular economy. Through this motivation, in this study, combined thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis) of plastics, biomass and marble processing effluents physicochemical treatment sludge (K1) were studied. In this combination, plastics were petroleum-based synthetic aromatic (PET) and aliphatic (PP) organics, while olive pomace-OP was natural agricultural residue. K1 was mineral product, which was first introduced in the literature as pyrolysis catalyst by the authors. In the study, co-pyrolysis of polymers and biomass was catalyzed by mineral waste containing CaCO3. The effect of plastic type and pyrolyzed material mixture ratio on pyrolysis fractions were investigated. Moreover, material recovery potential from pyrolysis fractions were discussed. In catalytic co-pyrolysis, by increasing the plastic ratio in the mixture, the pyrolytic liquid and oligomer fraction increased while the solid (char) and gas fraction decreased. For 70%PP+15%OP+15%K1 mixture, liquid product was dominant, whereas with 60%PET+20%OP+20%K1 much more pyrolytic gas fraction produced. The thermal degradation of char products did not exceed 2-3% up to 600°C and this stability continues up to approximately 700°C reveals the potential of the char to be used in alternative areas as a material with high thermal resistance. The catalytic co-pyrolysis liquid products contain alkanes, alkenes, acids, phenols, benzene, aldehydes, esters, alcohols, ketones. Benzene, acid and alcohol groups were dominant in liquids, while alkane, alkene and alkyne groups were dominant in gases.

Data-based modeling of an industrial flotation column using classic and intelligent machine learning algorithms

ABSTRACT In the mineral production industry, the separation of valuable from waste minerals is generally conducted through the froth flotation process. Flotation is a multivariate and complex process that cannot be modeled using traditional mathematical procedures. Therefore, machine learning algorithms must be applied to experimental databases for the identification of the flotation system. The grade and recovery of concentrate serve as key metallurgical parameters in the flotation process, reflecting the quality and quantity of the final product. These parameters are directly linked to the manipulated variables of the process, such as gas velocity, frother type/dosage, and slurry solids concentration. In this study, the metallurgical parameters (i.e. copper recovery and concentrate grade) of an industrial flotation column were modeled using various machine learning algorithms. The final results indicate that optimised Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) outperforms the other learning algorithms in the data-based modeling of the flotation system.

A point mutation in a wspF-like gene in Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica enhances the anticorrosion activity.

The protection of steel based on microbial biomineralization has emerged as a novel and eco-friendly strategy for corrosion control. However, the molecular basis of the biomineralization process in mineralization bacteria remains largely unexplored. We previously reported that Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica EPS+ strain provides protection against steel corrosion by forming a hybrid biomineralization film. In this study, we identified that a point mutation in the AT00_08765 (wspF-like) gene, responsible for encoding a chemotaxis protein that regulates swimming motility and polysaccharide production, is linked to the observed anticorrosion activity in EPS+ strain. The engineered point mutation mutant strain, designated Δ08765(707A), exhibited similar phenotypes to the EPS+ strain, including colony morphology and cellulose production. Importantly, we demonstrated that moderate swimming motility in Δ08765(707A) plays a pivotal role in the development of a protective mineralization film on the steel surface. Additionally, we found that Δ08765(707A) enhances biofilm formation by rapidly forming small aggregates in the initial stage of biofilm growth. This process facilitated the assembly of more compact and larger mineralization products, effectively inhibiting steel corrosion. In addition, Δ08765(707A) formed a uniform mineralization film that completely covered the steel surface, preventing the formation of sheet-like steel corrosion products. Therefore, this study demonstrates that an engineering strain carrying a point mutation in the AT00_08765 gene can significantly enhance the anticorrosion activity. This enhancement is accomplished through the formation of small bacteria-induced aggregates, followed by the development of larger mineralization products and the creation of a uniform organic-inorganic hybrid film.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we revealed that moderate swimming motility significantly influences the anticorrosion activity of marine Pseudoalteromonas. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that overproduction of cellulose facilitates cell aggregation rapidly during the initial stages of biofilm formation, thereby promoting the development of larger mineralization products and the formation of a uniform organic-inorganic hybrid film on the steel surface. Our findings provide new insights into the biomineralization mechanisms in Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica, potentially catalyzing the advancement of an eco-friendly microbial-driven approach to marine corrosion prevention.

Towards Environmental Sustainability: An Input–Output Analysis to Measure Industry-Level Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Egypt

Egypt’s average share of global carbon dioxide emissions has been rising from mid-1990s to date. This motivates the present study to identify industries that drive carbon dioxide emissions (as direct emitters and as total emitters with high emission multiplier effects). Environmental input–output analysis is applied to Egypt’s 2017–2018 input–output table to measure sectoral emissions. The industries identified as high emitters are linked to Egypt’s achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, namely, Goals 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13. The findings indicate that ten industries qualify as environmentally degrading (dirty), having the highest emission multiplier effects (in descending order): electricity, gas, and water; non-metallic mineral products; basic metals; rubber and plastic products; chemicals and chemical products; paper and paper products; food products; hotels and restaurants; transportation and storage; and textiles. Eight of these industries also have high output multiplier effects. This underscores that although potential investment in and the growth of these industries will generate output multiplier effects, they will also be coupled with emission multiplier effects. Five other industries had high emission multipliers, as follows: water and sewerage; beverages; coke and refined petroleum products; extraction of crude petroleum; and mining of metal ores. The growth of these industries would not be in favor of the achievement of SDGs. Policy measures are recommended.

Characterization and identification of elemental sulphur, iron pyrite, mineral gypsum, phospho gypsum and marine gypsum using SEM-EDAX

India has 6.73 million ha of salt-affected soils, of which 3.77 million ha is sodic soil. Sodicity is a serious issue in agriculture, and it prevents to meet the properties of fertile soil. Sodicity alters its physical and chemical properties, including soil structure and hydraulic conductivity. High exchangeable sodium and pH decrease soil permeability, available water capacity and infiltration rates through swelling and dispersion of clays as well as slaking of soil aggregates. Gypsum is one of the sources used for sodic soil reclamation, and the cheaper and alternative source is marine gypsum which is recovered from salt pans during production of common salt in coastal region, particularly in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The recovery of by-product gypsum and marine gypsum together is substantial and is comparable with the production of mineral gypsum.The amendments generally used for sodic soil reclamation should be a source of sulphates such as elemental sulphur, iron pyrite, mineral gypsum, phospho gypsum and marine gypsum. Characterization of sources by SEM–EDAX is rapid and elementary. The elemental composition revealed by the spectra of the bentonite sulphur for weight percentage and atomic percentage of sulphur is quantified as 34.04% and 18.59%, respectively, in the ZAF matrix. In iron pyrite spectra the weight percentage and atomic percentage of sulphur are 4.89% and 2.31%,respectively, in the ZAF matrix, while in mineral gypsum, the calcium weight percentage is 10.14% and atomic percentage is 04.04% while sulphur weight percentage is 6.52%, atomic percentage is 3.50%. The calcium composition in phosphogypsum is weight percentage is 14.69%; Atomic percentage is 34%, and the sulphur composition in phosphogypsum is weight percentage 10.40%, atomic percentage 5.60%, whereas in marine gypsum the calcium (weight percentage 09.10%, atomic percentage 03.58%) and sulphur (weight percentage 06.28%, atomic percentage 03.09%) proportions dominate as like two other above-mentioned gypsums, the element which makes difference in the marine gypsum from others is sodium (Weight percentage 00.18%, atomic percentage 00.12%). This helps to confirm that marine gypsum is an economic and alternate source available for sodic soil reclamation.

Reprocessing and remining as grey extractivism: the example of cobalt from the Southeast Missouri Lead Belt

ABSTRACT Since 2019, USSM has been developing reprocessing and re-mining of a former lead operation and Superfund site to supply cobalt from Southeast Missouri. This article links recent efforts of reprocessing and remining to grey extractivism and the reproduction of historical mining in often degraded pre-existing sites even as they form part of so-called green extractivism. We find that long-term socio-economic and environmental dynamics define a ‘cautious optimism’ that clashes with a traditionally cleaving industry. The company has so far failed to adopt a clear communication strategy, while the economic benefits are described in overly positive terms by community members hoping for a restart. Environmental issues remain at the fore and echo past abuses that the company, under regulators’ supervision, aims to address. We conclude that reshoring critical minerals production with reprocessing and remining will require new processes of residual governance to avoid some of the impacts of legacies of extractivism.

Export And Economic Growth in Tanzania: Co-Integration and Causality Analysis

Purpose: This study examines the co-integration and causal relationship between exports and economic growth in Tanzania using time series data from 1998 to 2018. Design/Methodology/Approach: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was employed to measure economic growth, while exports of all products (from agricultural, industrial, and mineral products) were extracted from country trade statistics and employed as the independent variables. Data analysis was done after some tests, such as stationary tests, co-integration, regression analysis, and Granger causality. The stationary test result suggested using unrestricted vector autoregressive (VAR) analysis, followed by the Granger causality test. Findings: It revealed that those exports significantly influence Tanzania’s economic growth, which implies that an increase in exports provides the market for domestically produced goods and services and thus promotes more production and economic growth. The study further confirms that economic growth does not significantly influence exports from the country. However, it was further revealed that the causality between export and economic growth is not bi-directional. Research Limitation: Historical data may not reflect current economic conditions. Hence, there were restricted degrees of freedom when adopting complex modelling. Practical Implication: Promoting more exports will encourage domestic producers to increase production, eventually fuel economic growth. Social Implication: The study recommends that policymakers develop strategies for increasing the diversity of exported products and local production capacity. Originality/Value: The novelty lies in integrating Granger causality testing with cointegration analysis for Tanzania's trade context. These novelty aspects contribute to methodological advancement and practical understanding of Tanzania's economic dynamics, providing valuable insights for policy formulation and future research.

Efficiency analysis of geological exploration, mineral production, and land restoration in China's provinces under natural change

China is one of the world's largest producers of mineral resources and possesses abundant mineral reserves, and its mining industry thus plays a crucial role in the country's economic development. However, most studies overlook the importance of geological exploration activities preceding mineral production and the impact of land restoration on said production under external environmental factors. Therefore, this research utilizes the meta recycle undesirable dynamic three-stage directional distance function (DDF) under exogenous model to investigate geological exploration stage efficiency, mineral production stage efficiency, and land restoration stage efficiency in different regions of China. The research findings are as follows. (a) The overall efficiency in the east region surpasses that of the other regions. (b) The central region exhibits the lowest efficiency in the geological exploration stage and mineral production stage. (c) Land restoration stage efficiency in all regions needs improvement due to the impact of precipitation.

Preparation and performance evaluation of an efficient microbial dust suppressant for dust control in disturbed areas of blast piles in open-pit coal mines.

Open-pit coal mining creates large rock piles as a result of removing overlying strata. When disturbed by loading operations and wind, these rock piles release considerable dust, leading to significant environmental pollution. This study aims to develop an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for dust control in disturbed areas of open-pit coal mines, using Sporosarcina pasteurii as a microbial dust suppressant to explore its potential application and development. Laboratory experiments were conducted to simulate the growth characteristics of Sporosarcina pasteurii in the microenvironment of blast pile dust. The effectiveness of the microbial dust suppressant was evaluated under conditions of impact disturbance and rainfall erosion through wind and rain erosion tests. Results showed that under optimal conditions, the wind erosion resistance of treated samples improved significantly, with an increase of 98.24%, 86.99%, 64.08%, and 40.98% after 1, 2, 3, and 4 impact disturbances, respectively. Additionally, rain erosion resistance improved by 75.55% after 35min of simulated rainfall. The growth conditions of Sporosarcina pasteurii in blast pile dust leachate were similar to those in sterile water, demonstrating robust growth and consistent urease activity of 7.78mmolL⁻1min⁻1 after 24h. The mineralization product was calcite-type CaCO3 with uneven particle sizes. This work confirms the feasibility of microbial dust suppressants for managing dust in disturbed areas of open-pit coal mine blast piles, offering a promising approach for dust control in such environments.

Silver "Thieves," Tin Barons, and Conquistadors: Small-Scale Mineral Production in Southern Bolivia by Mary Van Buren (review)

Silver "Thieves," Tin Barons, and Conquistadors: Small-Scale Mineral Production in Southern Bolivia by Mary Van Buren (review)

Modeling regional private income and its embedded carbon emissions: sources, flows and inequalities.

Composing regional total income jointly with government income, private income represents levels of development and affluence from the household perspective. Considering the need for fair carbon emission reduction responsibility distributions among regions with divergent income levels, private income-embedded emission (PIEE) and the inter-regional inequalities remain to be explored. Combining input-output analysis and the Gini coefficient, this study traces the sources and disposals of regional private income in China, as well as their embedded carbon emission flow, and quantifies the distribution and inequality of PIEE across industrial sectors and provincial regions. Results indicate that the sectors of power and heat, smelting and pressing of metals, and manufacture of non-metallic mineral products contribute the most to PIEE. Hebei and Inner Mongolia have larger PIEE, while emissions embedded in private income disposals are primarily driven by consumption of products from agriculture, light industry, and services. Regions clustering at the beginning (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin) of the C-Lorenz curve of PIEE account for 19.3% of private income, while 8.2% in PIEE, with the percentages for those clustering at the end (Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang) as 10.0% and 28.5%. The findings provide insights into strategizing emission reduction along the entire value flow and coordinating carbon emissions, income and emission reduction responsibility.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Forecasting and Scenario Analysis in China's Non-Metallic Mineral Products Industry

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Forecasting and Scenario Analysis in China's Non-Metallic Mineral Products Industry

Silver “Thieves,” Tin Barons, and Conquistadors: Small-Scale Mineral Production in Southern Bolivia

Silver “Thieves,” Tin Barons, and Conquistadors: Small-Scale Mineral Production in Southern Bolivia

Analysis of the Budget for the Sales Target of Aqua and Le Mineral Products

The structure of the bottled drinking water (AMDK) industry in Indonesia has undergone significant development over the past few decades. Amidst intense competition, Aqua and Le Minerale have emerged as two major brands dominating the AMDK market. This article aims to analyze the sales target budgets of these two brands through a competitive analysis approach. The research employs a quantitative descriptive method, utilizing sales budget reports from both brands as primary data samples. The analysis evaluates market positioning, marketing strategies, variables influencing consumer preferences, and the impact of pricing policies implemented by each company. The findings reveal that Le Minerale has successfully built a strong brand image through superior product quality and innovative marketing efforts, despite Aqua maintaining its position as the market leader. This study provides strategic insights for AMDK industry players to enhance their competitiveness and performance in an increasingly competitive market landscape.

SEISMICITY of KAZAKHSTAN and ADJACENT TERRITORIES in 2020

In 2020, the seismic monitoring in Kazakhstan was conducted by two organizations: State En terprise “Seismological Experience-Methodical Expedition” of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Edu cation and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Republican State Enterprise «Institute of Geophysical Research of the Republican State Enterprise “National Nuclear Centre” of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The paper presents detailed information on seismic observation networks. The joint catalogue based on the data of two organizations was compiled. It includes 503 earthquakes with energy classes KR=6.6 12.1. The strongest earthquake within the considered territory occurred on June 6, 2020, KR =12.1, MPVA=5.6, MS=4.4. Its epicenter was located within Dzhungar Alatayu ridge, 36 km south-eastward of Taldykorgan town. The earthquake was felt in Taldykorgan with intensity 4 by MSK-64 scale. On so-called “Northern Tien Shan” territory, 429 earthquakes with energy classes more than 6.6 were recorded. The reoccurrence graphs were con structed, seismic mode parameters were calculated, focal mechanisms for earthquakes KR≥9 and parameters of strong earthquakes records for 17 earthquakes were described. In 2020, seismic networks recorded 4416 mining explosions on the territory of Kazakhstan. Some induced earthquakes at the regions of liquid and solid mineral production were recorded.