高圧下における鉄鉱石の熱炭素還元反応の促進

Tohoku University葛西栄輝課

Resource development, plant location, and government influence : a spatial analysis of the Australian metalliferous mineral industries

This thesis examines the development of selected metalliferous minerals in Australia and the evolution of spatial patterns of mining and processing industries. It is submitted that powers of geographical analysis are increased by considering resource development and plant location in an integrated framework, and that such a structure can be developed from classical least-cost location theory (which, in its present form, is deficient in its notions of resources). The thesis begins by considering this theory and suggests simple (informal) models to represent 'resource creation' as a spatial process. The resource creation process begins with the collection of information (exploration) and the development of mines, and culminates in the supply of metal, in usable forms such as steel and aluminium ingot, to user-industries. The remainder of this study identifies and measures the parameters of this process and argues that the evolving spatial pattern of metal resources and attendant processing industries cannot be adequately explained without knowledge of institutional factors such as vertical-integration and, particularly, the spatial influence of government policy. The empirical part of the thesis measures the main parameters of the processes for the five most important metalliferous minerals in Australia. Detailed analysis is made of demand parameters, regional production costs, transport costs, and the influence of isolation (reflected in levels of infrastructural investment by mineral companies). The aluminium industry is used as a case-study, but comparative data are drawn from the iron and steel, copper, lead, and zinc industries. The study is constructed in terms of the classical theory, and optimal patterns of location are generated for the aluminium industry using linear programming. Costs of resource development are specifically included in the models. The patterns are used as 'bench-marks' against which to test the actual patterns. The importance of critical production factors in mining and processing is stressed, and much of the deviation between actual and theoretical patterns results from institutional factors, including government policies. For the other industries, least-cost location theory (as modified) appears to have reasonable explanatory power. The study concludes with a consideration of government policies in Australia as a variable in the resource creation process, concentrating on their influence on location. Commonwealth and State governments, operating under different Constitutional constraints, have different primary goals in mineral policies, and some examples of conflict are given. Commonwealth spatial influence is restricted, and examples show that much of it is incidental or accidental. The State governments play an important role in resource creation through mining leases (in which obligations are often imposed on companies) and royalties, but exercise more spatial influence if they can manipulate the regional costs identified in the empirical part of the thesis. Despite a wide range of government influences on resource creation, much policy has had little spatial impact on patterns of mining and processing in Australia; the most pervasive influence seems to operate not directly but through other parameters. This is the most difficult institutional influence to measure, however, and calls for an improved conceptual framework before the resource creation process can be completely understood

Pilbara iron ore agreements processing obligations and outcomes

The Western Australian government entered into agreements for the development of Pilbara iron ore. These saw access provided to iron ore in return for processing. The obligations were specified in terms of what, how much and when processing would take place. Both sides expected that they would be met, if economic. Ore beneficiation, pellets, metallised agglomerates and steel processing were expected, depending on the agreement. The processing obligations from the 1963 to 1974 agreements have all been met; some to time, some early and some late. They were met as set or as agreed alternatives. Metallised agglomerates and steelmaking were always found to be uneconomic. Alternatives were accepted in their place. The implementation process was considered using an Ambiguity-Conflict model. The process was an example of political implementation. This was where the agreement parties entered into negotiations when an obligation became due and could not be met. That process allowed for the agreed re-setting of the obligation (type and/or timing). If that re-set obligation was not met, the process would be repeated until an agreed outcome was achieved that would be accepted by the state as discharging the obligation. The effectiveness of the obligations outcomes was judged against criteria set at the time of their initial negotiation. If the effectiveness test was whether the obligations were met to type and time, then the outcomes would fail. But it is argued that the political implementation process meant this was an unreasonably high test. As the outcomes over time reflected negotiated outcomes, the obligations could be seen to have been effective. The meeting of the obligations was tested against a policy success framework. The outcomes had less than complete success, but were not failures. However, the inability of the agreements to deliver steelmaking meant that political support for their use has been lost. It is unlikely that they will be used again

An economic model of the iron ore trade

Iron ore is among the biggest, non-energy extractive industry in the world in terms of value, and the biggest in terms of the volumes of cargo it channels in international trade. Two key characteristics of the iron ore market are central to its study: firstly, there is only a small number of buyers and sellers; and secondly, there is a great degree of interdependence among buyers and sellers and both groups are aware of this interdependence. For buyers, security of supplies is crucial. For sellers, long-term commitment from importers is essential in order to maintain the long-run viability of mining projects. Since the 1960s, long-term contracts have been, and still are, the main vehicle used in international iron ore trade. Under the light of the above peculiarities of the iron market, a non-competitive analytical framework is adopted. This thesis proposes an alternative profit maximising behaviour different to the solutions offered by oligopoly and bilateral monopoly theorists. In this case, the importer enters negotiations with complete knowledge of his own minimum acceptable price, a possible idea of his partner's maximum acceptable price and also an idea (which can be held with varying degrees of certainty) of what alternative suppliers may be able to offer. This will restrict the range of prices over which negotiations take place and will mitigate the bargaining power of the seller. A buyer is likely to act in a similar manner, knowing that the seller has alternative export outlets, but he can also use other bargaining tools to achieve a better deal. A quite common tool is the promise of long term commitment through the signing of contracts, acquisition of equity stakes in mines or provision of financing facilities. The behaviour of the trading partners in such an oligopoly/oligopsony (or bilateral oligopoly) environment is also studied empirically with a relatively simple and tried econometric technique, borrowed from consumption and investment theory and applied for the first time for all top iron ore importers, who collectively have accounted for approximately 90% of world trade in the last 35 years. The model performs well in most cases and reveals: firstly, different results from previous research in the case of Japan; and secondly - and most importantly - substantial differences in the way Far East and West European importers behave

A comparative study of organisational structure changes in higher education institutions libraries between UK and Taiwan

Over the past two decades (1980s and 1990s), changes in environmental factors demanded that higher education institutions should be managed more efficiently. It is necessary for library administrators to evaluate their organisational structures in order to meet their customers' rising expectation and parent institutions' vision, mission, and strategy for future development. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent oflibrary reorganisation within the UK and Taiwan universities, and the principal differences and similarities on organisational structure changes between 1985 and 2001. This study was a population study. This study was composed of two surveys (the initial survey and the follow-up survey) in the two countries. Quantitative data was gathered though a questionnaire. The researcher investigated general aspects of library reorganisation, then focused specific on eight research problems and conducted comparison between the UK and Taiwan. Thirteen hypotheses centered on the issues concerning organisational structure changes were tested. Of the thirteen hypotheses, some were supported by the study and others were not. Comparisons were made among organisational charts during this IS-year period. The main findings are: (1) The extent of library reorganisation for the two countries was high over the IS-year period (1985-2001). However, there had been an overall decline during the follow-up survey period. If the non-respondents represented a biassed set (they all had not conducted organisational structure change), then the extent of change in the two countries was actually not so high. The plans of organisational change will continue with 30% respondents from UK and 24% from Taiwan in the follow-up survey were considering the possibility. (2) There was no significant relationship between the extent of the library reorganisation and the selected background of libraries studied. (3) Of the environmental factors responsible for organisational structure changes, Service reasons and management reasons played the top two major roles. Economic and technological influences on organisational change declined over the survey time. 'Changes in higher Education', 'the development of digitized collection/digital library', 'change in human expectations', and 'changes in scholarly publishing/communication' became the important reasons for changes in the follow-up survey period. (4) Most of the libraries conducted internally reorganisation rather than externally. The top two methods adopted in internal reorganisation were: 'creating new functions/departments/units', and 'combination of functions'. Convergence activities were only reported by several responding libraries, the results showed that the extent of convergence activities seemed increased with time. The major reasons for the convergence were: shared vision; to pursue a more effective administration; to cooperate in supporting teaching, research, and learning; overlapping missions and strategies; exchanges of specialization between organisations; more economic administration; to cooperate in development of digital resources and digital collection; sharing of staff, facilities, and equipment. (5) After reorganisation, most university libraries in the UK adopted hierarchical structure and based on a combined functional/subject-based pattern. Team-based structure was the second favorite. Almost all respondents' libraries in Taiwan preferred a hierarchical structure and based on a functional pattern, however, 'teamwork' concept was adopted by some libraries. (6) The new organisations mostly emphasized user services, integration of the management of varied resources in libraries, and technological support. (7) The management levels of libraries in the UK tended to be flatter after reorganisation. However, most of the libraries in Taiwan retained the same management level after reorganisation. (8) The title of library managers within UK universities became more versatile after reorganisation. However, most of the library managers in Taiwan retained the same title even after reorganisation. (9) The considered important challenges of organisational change were: 'the parent institutional climate'; 'managerial support within and outside the library'; 'the climate of the libraries'; 'the staff strengths and weaknesses'; 'staff attitudes towards change'; 'the attitude of library directors'. (10) The results of library reorganisation have been mostly positive, and have provided lessons in organisational change from which other libraries may benefit

Department of the Interior. United States Geological Survey. J. W. Powell Director. Mineral resources of the United States

48-1Mineral Resources of the U.S. [2252] Minerals located in Indian Territory.1883-5

Department of the Interior. United States Geological Survey. J. W. Powell Director. Mineral resources of the United States

Mineral Resources of the U.S. [2252] Minerals located in Indian Territory

鉄鉱石資源の自由度拡大に資する焼結原料予備処理プロセスに関する研究

Tohoku University葛西栄輝課