The non-fuel mineral position of the USA

In 1978 the USA used non-fuel processed mineral materials valued at over $200 billion (10⁹). Non-fuel mineral imports caused a trade imbalance of $8 billion. Imports supplied more than half of US supplies of 20 important minerals. The US stockpile of strategic materials is valued at over $11 billion. While world reserves of most minerals are now deemed adequate until 2000, demand for high temperature and special property materials requires careful monitoring and anticipation of disruptions in vulnerable sources.     

Australia's uranium

Australia's uranium comprises about 18% of the Western World's reasonably assured reserves. Mining, milling and export have been proceeding since the federal government's decision in August 1977. The timetable for development of several other projects involves matters such as environmental issues, approval by the aboriginal people and mining practice policies. The author discusses the background to present uranium mining in Australia and examines the industry's likely international significance.     

Phosmet residues in an orchard and adjacent recreational area

Two cover sprays of phosmet were applied to an orchard adjoining a camping area and a bird sanctuary with a resident goose population. Insecticide residues were monitored on orchard leaves, orchard ground cover, ground cover in the camp-site and along the adjacent lakeshore. Despite attempts to minimize drift, significant spray residues were found outside the target area. Residues on ground cover and leaves were reduced by sprinkler irrigation subsequent to spray application.     

Lead and other metals distribution in local cooking salt from the Fofi salt- spring in Akwana, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique has been used to determine the concentrations of lead(Pb) and other heavy metals in local cooking salts (LCS) from Akwana village, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. The comparison of the distribution of these metals in LCS, 'fake' salt (FS) and the usual common salts (CS) are given. Lead was found to be enriched in LCS by factor exceeding 200 times compared to the other salts. The origin of Pb contamination in the LCS is examined and its effects on the inhabitants of the village are considered.     

An atmospheric—terrestrial heavy metal transport model. I. model theory

A general model TOHM was developed to predict the terrestrial fate of zinc, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury emitted by the operation of a coal-fired electric generating facility. The general model consisted of interfacing submodels describing atmospheric dispersion, precipitation, soil chemistry, and soil erosion. The models were developed from input data from a semi-arid region of the southwest United States, and except for the climatic and topographic constraints, are not site specific. TOHM was found to predict no substantial increase in indigenous levels of zinc, chromium and lead in the impact (deposition) area. However, both mercury and cadmium were predicted to be emitted and eroded to the environmental sink (receiving lake) in concentrations exceeding that naturally present in the system. TOHM is currently unvalidated, though comparison of soil erosion predictions with erosion quantities measured in the impact area gives good agreement.     

The functional significance of infanticide in a population of California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

Naturally-occurring infanticide was observed in a population of California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi). In four seasons, 40 infanticides were observed. All victims were post-emergent pups. Of 37 killings in which the killer was sexed 36 were by females. All infanticidal females were mothers at the time they killed, but in no case was a mother seen to kill or harm her own young. The victim was cannibalized in 22 cases and taken immediately into the killer’s burrow in 16 others. In no case did killers gain access to the victimized mother’s burrow or territory and female pups were not killed preferentially over males. In light of evolutionary explanations, infanticide in this population may best fit the resource exploitation hypothesis, in which killers commit infanticide to gain a nutritional benefit. Resource competition is a possible auxiliary explanation, since any time a female kills unrelated young she is eliminating possible competitors to her own offspring. This behavior could confer a fitness advantage on killers or it could be an adaptively neutral, alternative feeding strategy. More data are necessary to distinguish between these hypotheses. Received: 26 January 1995/Accepted after revision: 9 September 1995