Beyond a tonnage perspective for the assessment of mineral reources. Focus on Latin America and the Caribbean

Los minerales son esenciales para mantener el estilo de vida de la sociedad moderna. En los tiempos actuales se emplean casi todos los elementos de la tabla periódica en la fabricación de dispositivos y aparatos eléctricos y electrónicos.Mientras el consumo de los minerales va en aumento, también se produce un rápido aumento la pérdida de capital mineral en los países y regiones donde se producen. Al mismo tiempo, los depósitos geológicos con altas leyes de mina han sido ya explotados, y el consumo energético para la producción de metales se ha incrementado.La preocupación sobre la importancia y el agotamiento de los recursos minerales desde hace mucho tiempo ha llamado la atención de los investigadores. Se han establecido algunas formas para valorar los recursos minerales con sus respectivas ventajas y desventajas. En el presente trabajo, en función de la revisión bibliográfica estos métodos han sido clasificados en tres categorías: por el peso, por el precio comercial y según metodologías fundamentadas en principios energéticos. El método más común de evaluar los recursos minerales ha sido probablemente según el precio. El mismo que no revela el valor de los mismos, además los precios son volátiles debido a que se encuentran sujetos a varios factores como por ejemplo, oferta-demanda, aspectos geopolíticos y especulación, entre otros. Aunque la valoración de los minerales según su peso, ha tenido un amplio desarrollo y han permitido realizar estimaciones importantes, especialmente mediante metodologías de Análisis de Flujo de Materiales (MFA por sus siglas en Inglés) y su variante EW-MFA. Entre las desventajas de estos métodos se encuentran que según esta perspectiva una tonelada de hierro es igual a una tonelada de oro, sin embargo no se toma en cuenta la escasez geológica del oro, ni el mayor requerimiento energético para su procesamiento.Una alternativa para una evaluación más adecuada de los recursos de los minerales se fundamenta en leyes energéticas. Particularmente se destacan las metodologías fundamentadas en la Segunda Ley de la Termodinámica, Exergía, que toman en cuenta no solo la cantidad, sino también la calidad de los recursos. Con base en aquello, la una división de Exergoecología plantea la evaluación de los recursos no solo en cuenta tomando en cuenta la exergía química, sino también la exergía de los recursos minerales respecto a su concentración. En tal sentido se ha establecido el concepto del costo exergético de reposición (ERC por sus siglas en Inglés). El mismo que estima la energía necesaria para concentrar los minerales desde un estado de dispersión, denominado Thanatia. La metodología de cálculo para el ERC para distintos metales, se fundamenta en análisis estadístico de información del consumo de energía para el procesamiento de metales en función de la ley de mina y extrapolaciones. Aunque los valores reportados de ERC han sido importantes para estimar la pérdida de capital mineral, estos fallan, por su método de cálculo en una estimación más precisa de los recursos minerales. En tal sentido, se hace necesario una nueva metodología de cálculo de ERC tomando en cuenta criterios de procesamiento de minerales y sus tecnologías actuales. Por tanto, en la presente tesis doctoral se establece una metodología estimar valores más precisos de los ERC en función del análisis de los procesos minero-metalúrgicos para la concentración de minerales. Esto mediante de modelos computacionales realizados a partir de un reconocido paquete informático HSC.En función de disponibilidad de información y de los requerimientos de metales para nuevas tecnologías se han escogido tres metales claves producidos en América Latina y El Caribe. Estos metales son el hierro, cobre y oro. Para estos tres metales se determinan los nuevos valores de ERC a partir de HSC y se realiza una comparación con los valores anteriores. Aunque a nivel cualitativo la importancia de los metales es la misma respecto a los valores anteriores y nuevos de ERC, su diferencia es en órdenes de magnitud. También se enfatiza en la búsqueda de mecanismos sostenibles para la producción de metales, así como en el reciclaje. Finalmente, se revela la importancia de continuar con la elaboración de más modelos en HSC para estimar valores más precisos de ERC para el resto de minerales.Minerals are essential to maintain the lifestyle of modern society. Currently, almost all the elements of the periodic table are used in the manufacture of electrical and electronic devices While the consumption of minerals is increasing, there is also a rapid increase in the loss of mineral capital of the countries and regions where they metals are produced. At the same time, geological deposits with higher ore-grades have already been already exhausted, and the energy consumption for metal production has also increased. The concern about the importance and depletion of non-fuel mineral resources have long attracted the attention of researchers, who have established some methodologies for the assessment of mineral resources. These methodologies have their respective advantages and disadvantages. In the present work, based on the literature review, these methods have been classified into three categories: by weight, by wholesale price and methodologies based on energy principles. The most common method for valuing non-fuel mineral resources has probably been according to price. This method does not reveal the real value of minerals, in addition prices are volatile because they are subject to several factors such as supply and demand, geopolitical aspects and speculation, among others. Although the assessment of non-fuel minerals according to their weight, has had a comprehensive development and have allowed realizing important estimations, primarily through methodologies of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and its variant EW-MFA. Among the disadvantages of these methods are that according to this perspective a ton of iron is equal to one ton of gold. However, the geological shortage of gold or the higher energy requirement for processing is not taken into account. An alternative for an adequate evaluation of mineral resources is based on energy laws. Particularly noteworthy are the methodologies based on the Second Law of Thermodynamics, Exergy. The latter takes into account not only the quantity but also the quality of the resources. Based on that, a division of Exergoecology proposes the evaluation of non-fuel minerals not only taking into account the chemical exergy, but also the exergy of mineral resources concerning their concentration. In this regard, the concept of exergy replacement cost (ERC) has been established. ERC estimates the energy needed to concentrate minerals from a state of dispersion, coined as Thanatia. The calculation methodology for the ERC for different metals has been based on a statistical analysis of energy consumption information for metal processing and extrapolations. Although the reported values of ERC have been influential in estimating the loss of mineral wealth, they fail, because of their method of calculation in a more accurate estimation of valuing mineral resources. In this regard, a new methodology for calculating ERC is necessary, which takes into account mineral processing criteria and current technologies. Therefore, in the present doctoral thesis, a method is established to estimate more precise values of the ERC in the function of the analysis of the mining-metallurgical processes for the concentration of minerals. This has been done through computer models made from a well-known computer software HSC. Based on the availability of information and the requirements of metals for new technologies, three key metals produced in Latin America and the Caribbean have been selected. These metals are iron, copper, and gold. For these three metals, the new ERC values are determined from HSC and a comparison is made with the previous values. Although at a qualitative level the importance of metals is the same concerning the last and new values of ERC, their difference is in orders of magnitude. Emphasis is also placed on the search for sustainable mechanisms for the production of metals, as well as recycling. Finally, it is revealed the importance of continuing with the elaboration of more models in HSC to estimate more precise values of ERC for the rest of the minerals.<br /

Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology

Sustainable Developmen

The Impacts of Small-Scale Gold Mining on Food Security in Ghana

Small-scale gold mining has expanded in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world including Peru and the Philippines, over the last two decades. Numerous factors, including rising gold prices, agricultural poverty, and administrative difficulties, have been cited as explanations for the rapid growth. The rapid growth of small-scale gold mining has a plethora of implications for agriculture, particularly smallholder farming. This is because the primary resource (land) on which mining, and agriculture are based is scarce, and mineral deposits frequently coincide with land suitable for agriculture. Additionally, mining and agriculture both consume large amounts of water and are labour intensive. Thus, a direct link between the expansion of small-scale gold mining and its impact on smallholder agriculture has been established in various countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, though opinions vary on whether the relationship is complementary or competitive. Additionally, the impacts of these connections on food security have received relatively little attention, and they are heavily underrepresented in the literatures on small-scale mining and food security. This thesis closes this knowledge gap by shedding light on the impact of small-scale gold mining on food security and contributing to the debate over the relationship between small-scale gold mining and smallholder farming. I argue, using a mixed method case study in Ghana, that mining has a negative impact on food security and that women and children bear a disproportionate share of the burden. Additionally, I demonstrated how competitive and conflict-ridden the relationship between small-scale mining and smallholder farming is. This study was guided by a novel synthesis of the capability approach and a political ecology perspective. I begin by examining how structural and economic reforms have influenced mining and agricultural activities in Ghana over time, as well as the consequences of these reforms, with a particular emphasis on the often-overlooked ecological footprints. Second, I quantify and predict the pattern of land use and land cover change that would occur under various scenarios, as well as the factors that would cause these changes. Thirdly, I examine the factors affecting miners and smallholder farmers' access to critical resources (land, water, and labour), as well as the key actors in the mining and smallholder farming subsectors, as well as their power hierarchy and relationship. Finally, I examine the relationships between mining and smallholder farming and the state of individual food security (availability, access, utilisation, and stability). The key findings are as follows: first, that the promotion of export-oriented commodities such as gold and cash crops such as cocoa and oil palm at the expense of peasant farmers' food crops is associated with severe ecological impacts that remain shielded in the absence of required environmental legislation until they exacerbate. There are also flashpoints of conflict between mining and smallholder farming, which has been aggravated by recent reforms and lays the groundwork for future conflicts. Second, four distinct periods of land use and land cover dynamics for mining footprints were identified using a combination of social science and geospatial methods: periods of none to limited increase, gradual to accelerated increase, sharp increase, and gradual decrease in mining footprints. These land use and land cover dynamics were found to be associated with three major ecological impacts of mining: land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution. Over a 34-year period, a total of 27,333 ha (36% of forest cover) was lost, along with severe land degradation and water pollution. If mining activities continue at their current pace, the study predicts increased ecological impacts. Third, the previously coexisting mining and smallholder farming subsectors are now fiercely competing for access to critical resources (land, labour, and water), a situation shaped by unequal power relations between the two subsectors' key actors. Finally, small-scale gold mining significantly contributes to food insecurity and, as a result, to the poor health and well-being of many people, particularly women and children. Half of the study participants experienced moderate food insecurity, while 13% experienced severe food insecurity. Additionally, 79% of women of reproductive age (15 to 49) were unable to meet the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) requirements, a measure of micronutrient adequacy and, thus, food quality. Furthermore, local challenges with food availability, as well as associated challenges with food access and utilisation, erode food stability over time, forcing more people to adopt alternative coping strategies. The findings of this study provide novel empirical evidence on the impacts of small-scale gold mining on food security and highlight the importance of integrating mixed and geospatial methods. Additionally, the findings demonstrate the value of combining political ecology and capability approaches in natural resource governance and food security research

Globalistics and globalization studies big history and global history

This yearbook is the fourth in the series with the title Globalistics and Globalization Studies. The subtitle of the present volume is Global History & Big History. The point is that today our global world really demands global knowledge. Thus, there are a few actively developing multidisciplinary approaches and integral disciplines among which one can name Global Studies, Global History and Big History. They all provide a connection between the past, present, and future. Big History with its vast and extremely heterogeneous field of research encompasses all the forms of existence and all timescales and brings together constantly updated information from the scientific disciplines and the humanities. Global History is transnational or world history which examines history from a global perspective, making a wide use of comparative history and of the history of multiple cultures and nations. Global Studies express the view of systemic and epistemological unity of global processes. Thus, one may argue that Global Studies and Globalistics can well be combined with Global History and Big History and such a multidisciplinary approach can open wide horizons for the modern university education as it helps to form a global view of various processes

SIS 2017. Statistics and Data Science: new challenges, new generations

The 2017 SIS Conference aims to highlight the crucial role of the Statistics in Data Science. In this new domain of ‘meaning’ extracted from the data, the increasing amount of produced and available data in databases, nowadays, has brought new challenges. That involves different fields of statistics, machine learning, information and computer science, optimization, pattern recognition. These afford together a considerable contribute in the analysis of ‘Big data’, open data, relational and complex data, structured and no-structured. The interest is to collect the contributes which provide from the different domains of Statistics, in the high dimensional data quality validation, sampling extraction, dimensional reduction, pattern selection, data modelling, testing hypotheses and confirming conclusions drawn from the data

Globalistics and Globalization Studies: Big History & Global History. Yearbook

This yearbook is the fourth in the series with the title Globalistics and Globalization Studies. The subtitle of the present volume is Global History & Big History. The point is that today our global world really demands global knowledge. Thus, there are a few actively developingmultidisciplinary approaches and integral disciplines among which one can name Global Studies,Global History and Big History. They all provide a connection between the past, present, andfuture. Big History with its vast and extremely heterogeneous field of research encompasses allthe forms of existence and all timescales and brings together constantly updated information fromthe scientific disciplines and the humanities. Global History is transnational or world historywhich examines history from a global perspective, making a wide use of comparative history andof the history of multiple cultures and nations. Global Studies express the view of systemicand epistemological unity of global processes. Thus, one may argue that Global Studies and Globalistics can well be combined with Global History and Big History and such a multidisciplinary approach can open wide horizons for the modern university education as it helps to form a global view of various processes

Complexity in Economic and Social Systems

There is no term that better describes the essential features of human society than complexity. On various levels, from the decision-making processes of individuals, through to the interactions between individuals leading to the spontaneous formation of groups and social hierarchies, up to the collective, herding processes that reshape whole societies, all these features share the property of irreducibility, i.e., they require a holistic, multi-level approach formed by researchers from different disciplines. This Special Issue aims to collect research studies that, by exploiting the latest advances in physics, economics, complex networks, and data science, make a step towards understanding these economic and social systems. The majority of submissions are devoted to financial market analysis and modeling, including the stock and cryptocurrency markets in the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic risk quantification and control, wealth condensation, the innovation-related performance of companies, and more. Looking more at societies, there are papers that deal with regional development, land speculation, and the-fake news-fighting strategies, the issues which are of central interest in contemporary society. On top of this, one of the contributions proposes a new, improved complexity measure

ILCA glossary of livestock and related terms. English-French

This handy glossary (giving French equivalents of alphabetically listed English terms but not vice versa), was compiled by staff at the ILCA French Copy Unit in Addis Ababa over a period of more than 10 years, and is sure to become a most useful aid for translators, interpreters and scientists working in the various fields of animal agriculture (including feed crop production). The pocket-sized volume contains around 3500 entries and 9000 sub-entries, comprising an extremely wide variety of traditional and modern terms, ranging from 'culvert', 'outreach' and 'artificial insemination gun' to 'flea', 'downloading', 'rotating savings' and 'credit association'. Frequent revisions of the glossary are promised and comments and suggestions for future editions are invited, although no mention is made of plans for a French-English edition