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This study focuses on economic, governmental, social, and environmental factors and their impact on the sustainable development of mineral resources in sub-Saharan Africa. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and data from 40 countries from 2010 to 2022, the research examines the hypothesized links between these factors and sustainable development. The results reveal a positive and statistically significant relationship between economic factors and sustainable development, underlining the crucial role of economic growth in achieving sustainable development goals. Furthermore, effective governance and policy implementation are strongly associated with better sustainable development, underscoring the importance of robust government action. This study also highlights the importance of social factors, demonstrating that increased community involvement and participation contribute positively to sustainable development. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the research reveals a positive relationship between environmental factors and sustainable development, challenging existing ideas and suggesting the need for a more nuanced understanding of the interaction between environmental practices and sustainability. This study concludes with concrete recommendations, including prioritizing economic growth, improving governance and policy effectiveness, promoting social inclusion, and reassessing environmental conservation strategies. These findings provide valuable information for policymakers, corporations, and communities in sub-Saharan Africa, thus contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of sustainable development in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central China Normal University is the property of Huazhong Normal University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article traces a path through Bruno Latour's reflections on politics to propose a constitutional reading, which makes ontological and normative lines of investigation intersect. It starts with a discussion of a central theme in Latour's work, that of war and, more generally, opposition and conflicts, and connects it with questions of representation, delegation and decision-making. The preoccupation with land and territories found in Latour's latest work is an invitation to extend his notion of constitution and turn it into a situated matter of critical inquiry. The paper builds on debates and controversies surrounding mineral resources to show the analytical and critical value of constitutional analysis, and the way it can illuminate the ontological and normative issues associated with contemporary problematizations of land and territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qiushuwan Cu-Mo deposit, situated in the East Qinling molybdenum belt, is a notable mining site renowned for its considerable quantities of medium-sized molybdenum. The goal of this study is to improve comprehension and identify additional mineral resources by conducting a thorough examination of the mine using the spread spectrum-induced polarization (SSIP) technique. Gathering SSIP data, conducting geological investigations, and examining the electrical characteristics of rock and mineral samples along Profile-80 led to significant discoveries. The investigation identified two significant ore bodies with high conductivity: C2, linked to granite porphyry and molybdenum veins, and C4, associated with a skarn deposit containing a concentrated amount of copper ore. This study used resistivity models created from SSIP data to find out how conductivity changed in different parts of the research area. Additional drill verifications validated these findings, indicating the presence of potential mineral resources. The petrographic analysis of core samples showed that minerals like pyrite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, epidote, calcite, and garnet were present. Notably, the samples frequently contained both pyrite and molybdenite together. Sample 04-2 contained substantial quantities of molybdenite and pyrite; Sample 05-1 had occasional pyrite; and Sample 07-4 included both pyrite and chalcopyrite. These findings offer useful insights for evaluating the magnitude and economic feasibility of the mineral deposits; however, additional investigation is required to completely comprehend the scope of the resources. The integration of borehole data and the alignment of geological sections with inversion models confirmed the validity of the conclusions. The core samples that were retrieved show a lot of different minerals, including valuable ores and minerals that have been changed. Pyrite and molybdenite are always found together. These findings establish a solid basis for further investigation and the sustainable management of resources. This study contributes to the understanding of the Qiushuwan Cu-Mo deposit and advances exploration techniques using the spread spectrum-induced polarization (SSIP) method. It provides useful information for geologists, mining professionals, and stakeholders involved in resource usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolitical actions in the world of the supply of mineral raw materials have, first, a physical part, that is, the territory and its quality, the peculiarities of its geological history (fundamentally geochemical), and the ease of access to it. The conditions of the property and the control of the production also count in a decisive way, as well as social awareness. This work describes these conditions and recognizes them in eight cases of fundamental raw materials. The conclusion indicates that despite the concentration being more widespread than that which occurs with fossil fuels, no persistent geopolitical actions have occurred thus far that have appreciably endangered the supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating levels of environmental degradation along with escalating conflicts and incidents of trade disputes among regional powers can exert a detrimental influence on the prospects for achieving sustainable development (SUD). Prior empirical works have tended to overlook the contributions of trade globalization and external conflicts to the SUD. Furthermore, prevailing studies on SUD often rely on various environmental metrics, economic growth measures, or adjusted net savings as proxies, which fall short in measuring the multifaceted essence of the SUD concept. Thus, this research work assesses the heterogeneous effects of trade globalization, external conflicts, and financial development on a comprehensive SUD index based on environmental, economic, and social factors from 1992 to 2019 in the twenty highest CO2 emitters. The results derived from the application of the method of moment quantile regressions (MM-QR) reveal that trade globalization exerts a negative impact on SUD but its negative effect shows a diminishing trend when moving from the 10th to 90th quantile. Financial development likewise impedes SUD, with the degree of hindrance diminishing as quantiles ascend from lower to upper percentiles. External conflicts hinder SUD only at higher quantiles with the negative effect demonstrating an increasing trend. Furthermore, mineral resources and fossil energy pose detrimental effects on SUD, and these adverse effects exhibit a mounting trajectory as one moves from lower to upper quantiles. Finally, the policy implications of these novel outcomes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify potential mineral deposits beneath the Southern Benue Trough of Nigeria based on apparent density mapping technique of estimating lateral rock densities from modelled gravity data. In this study, we apply the inverse density deconvolution filter to a short-wavelength gravity component in order to estimate the rock densities for mineral exploration applications and tectonic studies at the Southern Benue Trough in Nigeria. The estimated rock densities vary between 2.50 and 2.74 g/cm3, with minimum density values assigned to volcano-sedimentary deposits along the Cameroon Volcanic Line and maximum density values in the eastern and southern parts associated with mafic igneous rocks. Our gravity and density maps reveal the geometry of dominant geological structures within the study area. The density map highlights carbonate-hosted metallic elements with varying intercalations. Some of these identified mineralized zones coincide with locations of past and present producing mines. Intermediate and mafic igneous rocks as well as highly compacted and volcano-sedimentary rocks are mapped as rock-forming minerals for a mineral exploration. Hence, the obtained model of mineral-bearing rocks mainly demonstrates mechanisms of tectonic events, patterns of deformation regimes, and mineral prospectivity map of the study area.

Metal mineral resources are critical materials for the world economic development. In a situation of weak supply of terrestrial rare metals, many countries are expanding the direction of resource extraction from a land-based approach to a land-sea approach, with an increased emphasis on marine resource extraction. Aiming at the problem of efficient exploration of deep-sea resources, it is crucial to investigate the equipment and technology used in the deep-sea mining (DSM). First, the history of scientific technologies and equipment for DSM is systematically discussed, and the technical characteristics of submarine-drag bucket mining system, continuous line bucket mining system, shuttle vessel mining system, and pipe lift mining system are analyzed, the development and current status of the three types of deep-sea vehicles, transport equipment, and mining vessel are summarized. Subsequently, on the basis of current research and development trends, the research developments on the technologies for DSM equipment are synthesized in three areas of mining, transportation, and support platforms. The progress and achievements of four major mining technologies have been reviewed, i.e., harvesting, traction-drive, tracking-planning, and plume evolution assessment. Research developments in four transport technologies are summarized, including pneumatic lifting technology, hydraulic lifting technology, transition parts assurance technology, and mechanical behavior technology. Research direction and progress of two support platform technologies are discussed, involving the launch and recovery technology and heave compensation technology. Finally, the key scientific and technical issues are analyzed and the studies are carried out to meet the environment and safety challenges in the future. It is proposed that four key technologies need to have a breakthrough, which consist of green travel and collection technology, ultra-deep safe mine lifting technology, global synergistic safeguard technology, and digital environmental assessment technology, given the current state of development in the three areas of economy, environment, equipment and technology, as well as the scientific goals of deep-sea mining technology, which is to shift from equipment controllability to safe and green mining. These initiatives provide a theoretical support for the research and construction of the DSM equipment manufacturing system.

Geological mapping is a fundamental tool in the exploration and development of mineral resources. From regional to local scales, it is used in mining projects to identify the mineral resource, to model the deposit, to guide drilling, to plan mineral extraction, in mine design, and in the evaluation of risks and environmental impacts. In other words, it is present throughout the life cycle of the mining project. To understand the relationships that exist between the data obtained from various disciplines associated with geology, such as geophysics, geochemistry, petrography, structural geology, etc., it is appropriate that these be treated as a layers’ system. The importance of the use of this methodology is presented by means of bibliographic research. In particular, the Anaconda system, whose standardized procedures have allowed to obtain good results in the exploration or exploitation of minerals in Yerington-USA, La Costanaza-Spain, Ferrobamba-Peru, Guanajuato-Mexico, Imbabura-Ecuador, Atacama-Chile.

The development of mineral resources is currently controversial due to the significant influence of global climatic and environmental trends. This is particularly relevant to the Arctic due to the fragility of its ecosystems and the major impact of its climate on the global climate. At the same time, the Arctic region is strategically important for Russia due to the presence of many minerals and the Northern Sea Route, which ensures national goals and interests. Balancing sustainable development and national interests necessitates a special approach to mineral resource development in the Arctic. Ensuring the sustainable development of the mineral resource base is a complex process that involves companies, the state, and regions. The article analyzes existing approaches to assessing the contribution of companies to the sustainable development of the Arctic region and underscores the role of the ESG concept. As a result of the research, a model of interaction among key actors has been developed to ensure the sustainable development of the mineral resource base in the Russian Arctic, highlighting the key areas of responsibility for each actor. Based on this model, an approach to the sustainable development of the mineral resource base in the Arctic has been formulated, combining both the ESG concept and the active collaboration of the three actors in promoting rational resource use, including the replenishment of mineral reserves. A checklist for assessing the contribution of mining companies to the sustainable development of the mineral resource base is proposed, encompassing ESG rankings and components such as contributions to mineral exploration, field development, rational resource use, and national security. The developed approach has been tested on key mining companies in the Arctic region.

Making full use of information technology to support geological work is a frontier field of geoscientific research. With the launch and development of the new round of prospecting breakthrough strategy, big data information technology is of great significance for carrying out geological prospecting work and constructing geological information databases. The paper discusses the role and advantages of big data in geological prospecting, and summarizes the research methods of data system construction. The construction of big data prospecting database system will provide scientific basis for further exploration. The new round of prospecting breakthrough strategic action is empowered by modern information technology such as big data and cloud computing, which provides a new idea for intelligent construction of prospecting database system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fly ash microspheres, also called cenospheres, have many valuable properties that allow them to be widely used. Some of its most important properties are its mechanical and thermal strength as well as its chemical stability. These features constitute an important commercial parameter. Refining processes aim to select the highest quality product from raw materials that meets the expectations of recipients. Generally, preparing a final product involves selecting the appropriate sequence and parameters of the grain separation process. However, the key to the optimal selection of these parameters is knowledge of the specificity of the processed raw material. Microspheres are materials that are created spontaneously, uncontrolled, and without the possibility of intentionally influencing their properties. Therefore, due to the potential directions of microsphere use, it is justified to study the relationship between density, grain size, and mechanical strength. Understanding these relationships in microspheres from various sources is particularly important at the stage of planning refining processes. This paper presents the results of research on microspheres from two different sources. The tested raw materials (microspheres) are subjected to densiometric and grain analysis. Also, mechanical strength was determined for the separated density fractions and grain classes. The test results did not show significant correlations between the tested features of the microspheres. In the case of both raw materials, the highest density was observed in the smallest grain classes, and the highest mechanical strength was determined for microspheres with grain sizes in the range of 75–100 µm. For this grain size range, the value of mechanical strength is 26 for raw Material 1 and 38 for raw Material 2. The shares of this grain fraction in the microsphere stream are 11.2% and 16%, respectively. An important difference that may significantly affect the efficiency of the refining process is the method of distribution of the primary falling parts, which affects the mechanical strength of the tested raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria is often described as a land flowing with milk and honey in reflection of the rich endowment of natural and mineral resources embedded in the country. Sadly, few of its people have benefited from these abundant resources as a large percentage of its population remains poor, particularly in rural areas. Hence, this present study assessed the awareness and utilisation of the natural and mineral resources in 24 selected southwest rural communities. The study adopts the mixed method to elicit responses from rural and urban respondents in four of Nigeria's southwest states. Findings from the study revealed a high level of awareness of available resources in rural communities but gross underutilisation of the resources. The study concludes that the available resources in the southwest rural communities if tapped into, could transform the rural economy and ameliorate the level of underdevelopment in those areas. The study recommends that the government at all levels needs to recognise the rural areas as the fulcrum of national economic development and should be given utmost priority regarding infrastructural provisions and adequate funding. Plain language summary: The purpose of the study is to examine the level of awareness and utilisation of natural and mineral resources for the development of rural economy. The study adopts the mixed method to elicit responses from rural and urban respondents in four of Nigeria's southwest states. Using in-depth interview guide and questionnaire as research instruments. The study concludes that the available resources in the southwest rural communities if tapped into, could transform the rural economy and ameliorate the level of underdevelopment in those areas. The study has implication for policy by encouraging government and relevant stakeholders to focus more on the rural economy rather than the current urban bias toward them. The study is limited in its coverage as it those not cover the entire communities in Southwest Nigeria. This could affect the generalisability of its findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dealing with risk and addressing risk consequences constitute indispensable and specific elements of every business activity. The aim of this paper has been to assess the level of risk connected with the process of exploitation of hard coal deposits used for the production of coke in Poland, that is why a methodology has been developed which takes into account the impact of significant risk factors resulting from both geological and mining conditions upon unit cost of coal mining. This methodology constitutes a comprehensive approach to sustainable management of hard coal resources. The key source of information pertaining to exploitation risk factors is the digital geological model of hard coal deposit which has been developed. It comprises a structural model as well as a quality model of the basic quality parameters of coal. Structural models and coal quality models have been developed on the basis of litho-stratigraphic profiles from geological exploratory boreholes and underground observations (boreholes drilled from underground workings and their profiling). The structural grid model also contains information on tectonic disturbances (faults) or sedimentation disturbances (intercalations, wash-outs, and the like). The digital model was used as the basis for devising time schedules of development and preparatory works, as well as coal extraction proper. Historical results of mining and economic data from 81 longwalls mined in the years 2016–2022 have been used for the purpose of analysis of the impact of risk factors on unit operating costs. The analysis comprised a total of 23 criteria which influence the costs of mining. From that group, 10 risk factors have been selected by means of statistical analysis using segmented regression, these factors have been utilized to make an assessment of the forecast concerning risk factor level for zones of the deposit meant for mining until the year 2035. The risk factors taken into account were those which are due to natural hazards, geological structure of the deposit (coal seam) and technical limitations. Risk factor (RF) indicator has been developed, for its construction the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) has been used. The value of RF, which expresses the aggregated form of variability concerning individual factors pertaining to geology and mining, has been used to determine the adjusted own risk assessment when estimating the economic efficiency of the coking coal deposit for 8 exploitation zones with the use of discounted cash flow method. The assessed average value of RF for the entire deposit amounted to 0.29. The lowest level of RF was noted in case of zone W (RF = 0.17), whereas the highest value of risk occurs in zone PN (RF = 0.64). The values of RF were used to calculate the rate of discount as consolidated measure of own risk, when assessing investment projects in mining. For zone W with the lowest risk of mining the discount rate amounts to 8.34%, whereas in case of zone PN which has the highest risk level, it amounts to 15.02%. Assessing the level of mining risk provides the possibility to optimize the cost of mining, and may be utilized for making decisions concerning the sequence and time of mining from particular zones of the deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable management of resources is part of the strategic objectives of the European economic policy for the transition from a linear to a circular economy. One of its aspects, at the national level, is the protection of deposits of underground wealth and mineral waters on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria from depletion and improper exploitation. The purpose of the article is to present the main requirements for the users of this type of natural resources when granting concessions by the state, in order to determine whether there are mechanisms for achieving sustainability in their management. By studying the current legislation and analyzing data from the National Concession Register, the most frequently used practices for sustainable management of these valuable resources used for economic purposes are presented: establishment of environmental requirements; limiting the rights to extract and exploit the deposits to predetermined limits and volumes, for a certain period of time; requirements for preparation of work plans, reports and reporting documentation; delivery of the concession object in a condition suitable for subsequent operation; requirements for reclamation, enhanced administrative control, which covers the entire project cycle of realization of investments in the extraction of this type of resources, etc. As a result of the study, the article formulates recommendations for expanding the sustainability requirements and strengthening the control in their application. This will ensure a wider time horizon for their economic exploitation and will contribute to achieving one of the EU’s fundamental goals: to ensure suitable conditions for economic growth for future generations without resource dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives thought to the exploitation of Niger's natural resources by France, the European Union (EU), and the United States (US), among other countries. The objective of this paper is to deconstruct the exploitation of Niger's uranium, gold, and coal, among other natural resources, and the surge in terrorism. This paper adopts qualitative secondary research as its methodology and resource curse theory as its theoretical framework. The gap that the paper bridges is that most research about the exploitation of Niger's natural resources and the rise in terrorism ignores the involvement of France among other Western countries. Findings that develop from this paper reveal that France has exploited Niger's natural resources since colonisation. Similarly, the EU and the US, among other countries, have been accomplices in the exploitation of Niger's natural resources. Additionally, Western countries, namely France, the EU, and the US, including Britain and Russia, have been involved in supporting administrations or terrorists that advance their interests in Niger, among other issues. Further results show that successive administrations in Niger and those that took control through the coup in July 2023 enjoy the support of the major global powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a computer model, we have estimated the future additional demand for minerals for the production of wind turbines, solar panels, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles necessary to implement the IEA 2DS scenario for the transition to low-carbon energy. Demand for some critical metals and industrial minerals has been compared to their available economic reserves and resources. The supply of critical mineral materials for some energy transition technologies may pose a new challenge to the sustainable development of the mineral base of the world economy and become a deterrent to the use of renewable energy sources in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of mineral resources in the Arctic region presents a strategically significant yet challenging endeavor, necessitating a delicate balance between the growing need for resources and pressing climatic and geopolitical concerns. Mineral resource development projects entail high capital intensity and substantial investment risks, with Arctic projects being particularly complex. While sustainable financing mechanisms for projects fostering sustainable development have been largely addressed in many countries through specialized taxonomies, projects within the mineral resource sector require a distinct financing approach. Such a taxonomy should facilitate the establishment of sustainable financing mechanisms for mineral resource projects in the Arctic zone, incentivizing companies to pursue Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and mitigate potential social and environmental risks. This article examines the key aspects of sustainable financing for mining-related business projects amidst current trends, substantiating the prerequisites for establishing a taxonomy of Arctic mineral resource projects. Among the most important prerequisites are the contradiction between the SD concept and the development of mineral resources, specific characteristics of Arctic mining projects, and current financing restrictions. An approach to project financing is developed, and an option for classifying Arctic mineral resource projects for the subsequent taxonomy is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether mineral and natural resources (NR) are a blessing or a curse for economic growth (ECON_G) is still a debatable issue among scholars and policymakers. Therefore, the primary goal of the present study is to investigate the relationship between mineral resources (MR), NR, and ECON_G to re‐assess the “Resource Curse Theory.” For this purpose, a panel of six top resource‐rich developing economies (China, Brazil, Russia, Iran, the Republic of the Congo, and Saudi‐Arabia) over the 1995 to 2021 period is analyzed using dynamic ordinary least square, fully modifies ordinary least square and method of moments quantile regression approaches. The basic findings of the above‐mentioned techniques reveal the significantly positive impact of both NR and MR on ECON_G in the selected economies. The estimation outputs of the method of moments quantile regression also reveal the significant positive contribution of these resources in ECON_G at all quantiles (0.10–0.90). Thus, the study finds that the Resource Bless Hypothesis is valid as both NR and MR support the absence of the Resource Curse Hypothesis in these countries. Furthermore, the findings of the Granger Causality test reveal that bidirectional causal association is present between NR and ECON_G and MR and ECON_G. The study recommends that policymakers and governments in the resource‐rich countries should promote the development of the mining sector and sustainable resource extraction by properly monitoring the resource sector. More importantly, implementing resource governance initiatives are needed to be prioritized for transforming resources as a blessing for the studied countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joint application of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was considered to determine the contents of sixteen rare earths elements (REE) in the corresponding mineral resources. K series of the majority of REEs was excited by the bremsstrahlung of the X-ray tube operating at accelerating voltage 70 kV, the modified version of a portable X-ray spectrometer is equipped with. A range of ore samples collected from three REE deposits of the Republic of Kazakhstan essentially differing in their elemental composition was investigated. A way of EDXRF and INAA optimum integration to analyze REE resources was proposed taking account of the advantages and drawbacks of both methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Mining Magazine is the property of China Mining Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

How to manage the mining activities in nature reserves is a common issue faced by countries with mining industries. The planning of protected areas has long existed in these countries, and many policy adjustments have been made to meet the need to balance the protected areas and the mining areas, which provides experience for China to further differentiated management of mining rights in nature reserves. Taking the United States, Australia, Canada, Finland and other countries as examples, this paper summarizes the management modes of mining activities in nature reserves in different mining stages, such as mining right authorization, mining operation and mining right withdrawal. The paper concludes the common characteristics from four aspects: national reserve planning, legal system, organization construction and management mechanism. At the same time, combined with the contradiction between the ecological red line and mining activities in China, suggestions are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of consensus on how many and which are the Brazilian gold provinces and districts, and what are their limits or configurations. As an effort of the Geological Survey of Brazil to standardize this subject, we present a compilation of the Brazilian gold-bearing metallogenic/mineral provinces and districts, including those containing polymetallic gold-bearing deposits, and a digital file (shape file) with the design of their respective limits. Because many areas have classic definitions, and even though some of them do not meet the appropriate requirement for a strict definition, their classic names are maintained. However, we strongly suggest that the use of the term metallogenic (province, district), in a broader geotectonic sense, should be preferable in relation to mineral (province, district), which is more generic.

This is an article in the field of mining engineering. The mineral resources are an important material basis for economic and social development. Figure out the background and development and utilization of mineral resources has a great significance for scientifically formulate strategic planning and policies, and keep the safe baseline mineral resources. The coal and non-metallic building materials are major mineral resources of Ningxia, which have the characteristics of large quantity and high quality. The Metal mineral resources with the characteristics of small scale and poor quality are mainly distributed in Weining Beishan and Xiangshan areas. The advantageous mineral resources of Ningxia include coal, plaster, limestone, quentzite ore, magnesium ore, rock salt, sandstone and soil ore. In recent years, the development and utilization of mineral resources in Ningxia show the characteristics from diversification to simplification, from extensive to intensive, and from large-scale to high-quality. The development and utilization of mineral resources in Ningxia need to start from many aspects, such as coordinate the development and utilization and give full play to the regional advantages of mineral resources, build an industrial chain for the development and utilization of advantageous mineral resources and promote the whole process utilization of various products in the process of mineral resources development, promote the strategic objectives of precise positioning, high-quality and optimal use of mineral resources, system construction, multi-level utilization, consideration of storage and production and long-term utilization. Try to transform mineral resources reserves into momentum of economic and social development in the greatest extent.

The increase in world population and the demand for technologies have exponentially increased the consumption of mineral resources, putting their availability for future generations at risk. The objective of this study is to know the state of academic production on resource scarcity and evaluate its consequences on exploitation, sustainability and technological development. A systematized bibliographic review was developed using the Scopus, WoS and SciELO databases. 57 documents were analyzed that cover topics such as the environmental impact of extraction, reuse strategies, criticality evaluations and regulatory policies for mining activity. It is concluded that the main factors of resource scarcity are related to the lack of regulations, the growing demand for new technologies and discrepancy in criticality estimation methods. There is a need to look for extraction alternatives and promote material recovery strategies.

The extractive industry, through the specific activities it involves, has a significant geotechnical and ecological impact on the environment, with dominance at the local level, near the mining units through the storage of mining residues resulting from the extraction processes. The different parts of the mine: mining premises, mine waste dumps, industrial buildings, social buildings, roads, platforms can have end uses such as: reproductions in the agricultural and forestry circuit, creation of waste deposits, recreational areas, industrial parks, retention basins. The rocks that are stored in the dump are made up of an inhomogeneous material from a petrographic and granulometric point of view. The waste resulting from the preparations is represented by a mixture of clays, shale clays, gritty clays, coal shale, coal fragments. This paper presents the research of the rocks from the tailings dumps in the west part of Jiu Valley.

The geological data of the mineral resource potential evaluation results (MRPERs) are diverse and extremely large; efficiently retrieving data remains a challenging problem. In this work, a new way of using the Hadoop platform is proposed. The Hadoop distributed file system is used to store the massive data and construct the data storage model of geological and mineral resources. Using a distributed Hadoop database (HBase) that supports the fast query of a single record, it manages its metadata and retrieves the data of MRPERs quickly. At the same time, a multi-level index directory is designed to support the non-main key query on the HBase. This overcomes the shortcoming that the HBase only supports the simple index based on the main key and realizes the intelligent, efficient retrieval of MRPERs. The validity and feasibility of the proposed method are further verified by experiments using the MRPER data in the Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences.

First classification systems of mineral raw material reserves and resources appeared in the beginning of the 20th century, which coincided with the mining development in the UK, Germany and the USA. Modern classifications of mineral raw materials and energy resources, their terminology, definitions and concepts have been developed and improved over the period of more than 40 years. Separate development of the most commonly used classifications has led to the emergence of various definitions and determinations of characteristics of the same or similar categories of mineral reserves and resources according to geological and technical-economic characteristics. Methodological approaches of “operational harmonization” (universal classifier) as a toolkit for resource management and investment analysis of deposits (subsoil areas) of solid (metallic and non-metallic) minerals have been suggested in the article including subsoil areas assessed according to the classifications of 1960 and 1981 and not involved in subsoil use. The performed analysis of the meaning of the main categories (classes, groups) of various classification systems makes it possible to identify and characterize features (criteria) that have a sufficient level of comparison and harmonization. It was established that the main differences of classification systems are related to the purpose and scope of their application, which is reflected in the number of categories and their definitions, and the requirements for the availability of permit documentation of various levels (approved project, land, ecology, etc.). A complex project of subsoil use has been classified, where primary and associated minerals and components, which are characterized by different degrees of knowledge, have been identified. In terms of this iron ore project, full consideration of all classification features of both separate component resources and the project as a whole has been recorded only when applying the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources.

The Qiushuwan Cu-Mo deposit, situated in the East Qinling molybdenum belt, is a notable mining site renowned for its considerable quantities of medium-sized molybdenum. The goal of this study is to improve comprehension and identify additional mineral resources by conducting a thorough examination of the mine using the spread spectrum-induced polarization (SSIP) technique. Gathering SSIP data, conducting geological investigations, and examining the electrical characteristics of rock and mineral samples along Profile-80 led to significant discoveries. The investigation identified two significant ore bodies with high conductivity: C2, linked to granite porphyry and molybdenum veins, and C4, associated with a skarn deposit containing a concentrated amount of copper ore. This study used resistivity models created from SSIP data to find out how conductivity changed in different parts of the research area. Additional drill verifications validated these findings, indicating the presence of potential mineral resources. The petrographic analysis of core samples showed that minerals like pyrite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, epidote, calcite, and garnet were present. Notably, the samples frequently contained both pyrite and molybdenite together. Sample 04-2 contained substantial quantities of molybdenite and pyrite; Sample 05-1 had occasional pyrite; and Sample 07-4 included both pyrite and chalcopyrite. These findings offer useful insights for evaluating the magnitude and economic feasibility of the mineral deposits; however, additional investigation is required to completely comprehend the scope of the resources. The integration of borehole data and the alignment of geological sections with inversion models confirmed the validity of the conclusions. The core samples that were retrieved show a lot of different minerals, including valuable ores and minerals that have been changed. Pyrite and molybdenite are always found together. These findings establish a solid basis for further investigation and the sustainable management of resources. This study contributes to the understanding of the Qiushuwan Cu-Mo deposit and advances exploration techniques using the spread spectrum-induced polarization (SSIP) method. It provides useful information for geologists, mining professionals, and stakeholders involved in resource usage.

This article has been prepared with the intention of informing the Spanish-speaking public about the rapprochement process between the International Commission on Mineral Resources and Reserves (CRIRSCO in English) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE in English) in the Called meetings held between April 2224, 2024, in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. Both organizations formed ad hoc work teams and presented the bridge document between both Mineral Resources classification systems: BRIDGE DOC_CRIRSCO-UNFC_BD_ECE_ENERGY_GE.3_2024_5_ENG.pdf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The sustainability of mineral resources and, in particular, their abundance is a topic of growing interest. Nevertheless, the abundance of mineral raw materials is an extremely complex notion as it not only encompasses geological considerations but also environmental, technical, economic, and social constraints. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, no tools are currently available to allow a comprehensive evaluation of mineral raw material abundance. This research paper, therefore, aims to present an innovative and unique methodology to evaluate the abundance of non-energy mineral resources and determine a mineral abundance index (MAI). Based on a multicriteria analysis, MAI considers the natural abundance of a mineral raw material in the Earth's crust and its availability on the market and integrates the influence of factors that could constrain or promote future market changes. This new index ranging from 0 (very scarce) to 100 (very abundant) aims to qualify the abundance of mineral resources in a simple and rapid manner based on published and reliable data. This new methodology could be a powerful decision-making support tool for any downstream industrials and end-users making use of mineral raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the transition to a low carbon economy, minerals are crucial. The demand for the minerals required to create and install green energy technology, such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy storage, is rising along with it. In particular, the countries that hold these mineral reserves should be thought of as thriving economically from the rising demand for essential mineral resources (such as cobalt, lithium, and others). This study uses import demand function analysis to look at how the major mineral importing countries' mineral import demand changed in response to the clean energy transitions between 2000 and 2021 for selected 14 countries. In the study, the cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) method was used. Findings show that long-term renewable energy production has a largely favorable impact on mineral import demand. Additionally, CO2 emissions have a long-term negative impact on mineral import demands, but energy intensity and exchange rate are favorable for mineral imports. The findings have significant ramifications for using the mineral trade to speed up the transition to sustainable energy around the world. Therefore, the study's key proposed policy is to emphasize the value of mineral resources in clean energy while maximizing their use in the transition to carbon-free energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological modeling is an essential step in mineral resource assessment. Geologists typically use deterministic methods to create interpreted models, which ignore the uncertainty in the geological domain layout. This study explores a hierarchical approach for simulating a categorical variable (lithological domain) and a continuous variable (iron grade) in a deposit located in Cameroon, enhancing confidence and accounting for geological uncertainty in resource evaluation. To achieve this, lithological domains are simulated using a non-stationary variant of the plurigaussian model, followed by the simulation of iron grade while accounting for its spatial correlation within and across domains. Cross-validation is used to validate the model, and the simulated block models are processed to assess in-situ and recoverable resources and their uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First classification systems of mineral raw material reserves and resources appeared in the beginning of the 20th century, which coincided with the mining development in the UK, Germany and the USA. Modern classifications of mineral raw materials and energy resources, their terminology, definitions and concepts have been developed and improved over the period of more than 40 years. Separate development of the most commonly used classifications has led to the emergence of various definitions and determinations of characteristics of the same or similar categories of mineral reserves and resources according to geological and technical-economic characteristics. Methodological approaches of "operational harmonization" (universal classifier) as a toolkit for resource management and investment analysis of deposits (subsoil areas) of solid (metallic and non-metallic) minerals have been suggested in the article including subsoil areas assessed according to the classifications of 1960 and 1981 and not involved in subsoil use. The performed analysis of the meaning of the main categories (classes, groups) of various classification systems makes it possible to identify and characterize features (criteria) that have a sufficient level of comparison and harmonization. It was established that the main differences of classification systems are related to the purpose and scope of their application, which is reflected in the number of categories and their definitions, and the requirements for the availability of permit documentation of various levels (approved project, land, ecology, etc.). A complex project of subsoil use has been classified, where primary and associated minerals and components, which are characterized by different degrees of knowledge, have been identified. In terms of this iron ore project, full consideration of all classification features of both separate component resources and the project as a whole has been recorded only when applying the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vulnerability of mineral resources supply is constantly increasing due to geopolitical and other factors. Mineral resources are important raw materials and the propagation of supply risks will lead to significant impacts on the economic system. Assessing the supply risks of mineral resources, and predicting the propagation processes, paths, and impacts of supply risks are important research topics that have attracted widespread attention from scholars both in China and internationally. This article summarized the progress of research on the assessment of supply risks and the propagation of supply risks from the international/national levels to the enterprise/product levels and from the single link to the industry chain and supply chain. The assessment of supply risks and the propagation of supply risks are important components of supply risk formation mechanism. This article laid out formation mechanism for different types of supply risks, such as trade risk and environmental risk, and proposed a framework of supply risk prevention mechanism from four perspectives: supply, technology, environment and price. On this basis, we proposed a research framework for supply risks, which consists of five parts: quantification of supply risks, measurement of supply risks, formation of supply shocks, dynamic simulation of supply shock propagation, and formulation of policy recommendations. We further discussed the urgent issues that need to be addressed. Finally, we proposed three frontiers and challenges in the field of supply risk research: “how to further enhance the sustainable supply capacity of mineral resources”, “how to improve the resilience of the mineral industrial chain”, and “how to measure the macroeconomic losses caused by shocks on enterprise-level supply chain networks”.

Fly ash microspheres, also called cenospheres, have many valuable properties that allow them to be widely used. Some of its most important properties are its mechanical and thermal strength as well as its chemical stability. These features constitute an important commercial parameter. Refining processes aim to select the highest quality product from raw materials that meets the expectations of recipients. Generally, preparing a final product involves selecting the appropriate sequence and parameters of the grain separation process. However, the key to the optimal selection of these parameters is knowledge of the specificity of the processed raw material. Microspheres are materials that are created spontaneously, uncontrolled, and without the possibility of intentionally influencing their properties. Therefore, due to the potential directions of microsphere use, it is justified to study the relationship between density, grain size, and mechanical strength. Understanding these relationships in microspheres from various sources is particularly important at the stage of planning refining processes. This paper presents the results of research on microspheres from two different sources. The tested raw materials (microspheres) are subjected to densiometric and grain analysis. Also, mechanical strength was determined for the separated density fractions and grain classes. The test results did not show significant correlations between the tested features of the microspheres. In the case of both raw materials, the highest density was observed in the smallest grain classes, and the highest mechanical strength was determined for microspheres with grain sizes in the range of 75–100 µm. For this grain size range, the value of mechanical strength is 26 for raw Material 1 and 38 for raw Material 2. The shares of this grain fraction in the microsphere stream are 11.2% and 16%, respectively. An important difference that may significantly affect the efficiency of the refining process is the method of distribution of the primary falling parts, which affects the mechanical strength of the tested raw materials.

The territory of the present-day People’s Republic of China is rich in mineral and energy resources which stimulate the growth of the extractive industry in the country. China is currently the world leader in the production of 31 commodities (mineral products): molybdenum, tungsten, iron, aluminum, lead, zinc, gold, coal, gypsum, bentonite, and many others. This stimulates the development of the appropriate infrastructure and training of specialists in the mining industry, the development of international links for investment and the exchange of best production practices. The purpose of this work was to study the history of exploration and extraction of natural resources, establish a domestic strategy for the development of the mining and metallurgical sector, and review leading Chinese mining and metallurgical companies. The paper reviewed key domestic processes in China which would affect the domestic and global mining and metallurgical industry. An assessment of natural resource deposits throughout the whole territory of the country was carried out with their brief description, highlighting the prime prospects, and presenting commodity reserves. The paper presents the main challenges for the mining and metallurgical industry to be met in the 14th Five-Year Plan. The development of the industry up to 2025 implies the expansion of extractive capacities with an overall reduction in dependence on imports, enhancing exploration programs, and the reduction of harmful emissions from operating enterprises, etc. Special attention is paid to publicly traded mining and metallurgical companies in China. The leaders in each sector are presented, and their brief economic indicators are given.

Historians of science increasingly turn to ocean spaces, especially fromthe mid-twentieth century, when oceanography adopted new strategic and economic significance during and after World War II. Yet, the overdetermination of oceanography's historiography by histories of conflict obscures the role that empire--its continuities and its ends--played in the transformation of ocean science and politics at the same time. This essay builds on recent work seeking to recover the role of empire's endurance and its long shadows in the construction of mid-twentieth-century ocean science, politics, and law. Focusing on deepsea sediments, I parse the work of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876) naturalist-cum-Challenger Office director John Murray alongside that of American economic geologist John Mero, who in the mid-twentieth century articulated all seabeds as storehouses of vast mineral wealth. Murray's sedimentological taxonomies and representations as well as his collected data on global oozes, nodules included, formed much of the basis for Mero's work. And, both Murray and Mero leveraged sediments to argue for proprietary positions premised on priority-in-time for resource discovery claims, and exclusive access based upon scientific knowledge and technical ability, bothmasked by tropes of equal access and opportunity. These data and practices helped Northern scientists build and maintain control over knowledge of the seabed and the value of its resources, as postcolonial and Cold War impetuses rearranged political and economic order at sea. Historicizing abyssal oozes illuminates the character of contemporary conflicts over the future of the international seabed, asking, who determines how the seabed will be valued? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To establish the rationale for the informational infrastructure necessary for effectively managing drilling and blasting operations in open-pit mining of rock deposits. To define the distribution function of natural rock blocks within the mass they comprise. To ensure timely access to data regarding the strength, fracturing characteristics of geological formations in their initial state, as well as the particle size distribution of mined materials obtained post-explosion. Methodology. Statistical modeling techniques were employed to analyze the natural blockiness of rock masses. The approach involved utilizing the principle of measuring the dimensions of individual rock fragments through a transmitting television tube and differentiating the obtained results using electronic pulse circuits. Electronic circuits capable of implementing statistical dependencies derived for drilling machines and loading excavators were introduced. Findings. Electronic devices have been proposed for real-time determination of the dimensions of natural rock blocks along their visible surfaces, as well as for assessing the strength, fracturing characteristics of rocks within the mass, and the particle size distribution of the mined material obtained during drilling and blasting operations. Originality. The study has established the distribution function of natural rock fragments within a mass, serving as a prototype for the distribution function of visible rock fragments located on the sidewall of a slope. The theoretical developments of the proposed electronic devices are protected by patents. Practical value. The presented tools for obtaining real-time, objective information about the natural blockiness, strength, and fracturing characteristics of rock formations in their initial state (before blasting), as well as relationship of these indicators with the particle size distribution of mined material obtained through blasting. These a tangible opportunity to implement optimal management of the entire blasting process, which will enable the enhancement of the technical and economic performance of open-pit mining [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]