The Tucson Mineral Show and the market for collector minerals: The potential for artisanal and small scale miners

Minerals that are sold to collectors are often produced by artisanal and small scale miners in many developing countries. The market for collector minerals is not well understood by most government agencies or NGOs but has a large impact on the artisanal and small miners that have the opportunity to produce these minerals because of the high prices that can be realized. This paper describes the collector mineral market that is held annually in Tucson, Arizona, that analyzes the competitive forces that affect the profitability of the mineral dealers at the show and describes potential methods for artisanal and small scale miners to participate successfully in the show. Most collector minerals produced by artisanal and small-scale miners are valued for their aesthetic qualities instead of mineral content. The 43 shows that operate during the first two weeks in February make up the largest gem and mineral show in the world, the Tucson Show. The Tucson Mineral Show is a subgroup of six shows that specialize primarily in collector minerals.There are several competitive forces at the Tucson Mineral Show that can affect the profit potential of dealers that participate in the show. These forces include potential entrants, suppliers, buyers, substitutes, and rivalry among existing competitors. New entrants face several barriers to entering the market place including the supply side economies of scale, demand side benefits of scale, and capital requirements. Because of these barriers, the cost of doing business and the way that promoters organize and manage the shows, it is difficult for artisanal and small scale miners to enter the show and compete with established dealers. However, with support from entities such as local governments, non-profit organizations, and international organizations the artisanal and small scale miners have the potential to have their minerals sold at the Tucson Shows for prices that would be greater than what can be achieved in the local market. Methods to help the artisanal and small scale miners compete include direct sales or consignments to retail dealers, tailgating, development of sales co-operatives, and the creation of an artisanal/small scale mineral show.     

形状在边坡稳定安全论证中的影响分析

将边坡结构简化成二维模型进行计算分析时,边坡形状对其简化结果产生影响,为此从边坡的平面形状和边坡高度2个方面着手,用三维数值模拟对边坡稳定性进行分析,计算结果表明:坡顶曲线半径对边坡稳定性影响较大。在进行边坡稳定性分析时,应首先根据坡顶曲线半径大小界定是否可以将边坡简化为二维模型。     

露天矿山转地下开采隔离层安全厚度及采动稳定性研究*

为了合理确定隔离层厚度和保障矿山安全生产,以某铜矿露天转地下联合开采为工程背景,采用理论计算和FLAC3D数值模拟相结合的方法,探讨地下矿体回采过程对隔离层位移场、应力场的影响。研究结果表明:隔离层安全厚度的理论值为11.43～31.18 m,现有厚度为57 m,满足规范要求;地下矿体-100 m及-150 m中段回采引起的隔离层沉降主要发生在第一分层,最大值为21.7 mm;最大主应力表现为竖向压应力,其变化范围为7~10 MPa,最小主应力只出现在第一分层,为拉应力,其值最大为0.18 MPa,远小于岩体抗压、抗拉强度,隔离层整体上未发生破坏性的变形。研究结果可为类似条件矿山露天转地下联合开采预留隔离层设计及稳定性分析提供参考。     

光固化3D打印废塑料来源、处置技术和环境影响

光固化技术因其在3D打印行业中具有打印精度高且技术成熟的优势,在工业应用和学术研究方面都受到国内外的广泛关注.随着光固化3D打印技术蓬勃发展,相应而来的废弃物（光固化3D打印废塑料）作为一种新型有机固废,其增长速度不可估量,对环境带来的影响难以预计.基于现有研究,对光固化3D打印废塑料来源、处置技术和环境影响的最新研究进展进行总结分析.结果表明,光固化3D打印废塑料为共价交联热固性塑料,具有较高的活化能,内部化学结构存在对光敏感的显色基团,其原料、形成过程和目前的处置方法均可能对环境或生物体等带来潜在危害.基于此,针对光固化3D打印废塑料未来处置方式的可能性,提出展望和建议,可为光固化3D打印产业清洁发展提供助力.     

First-trimester diagnosis of conjoined twins

Conjoined twins are a rare and complex complication of monozygotic twinning, which is associated with high perinatal mortality. Early prenatal diagnosis of conjoined twins allows better counselling of the parents regarding the management options, including continuation of pregnancy with post-natal surgery, termination of pregnancy or selective fetocide in case of a triplet pregnancy. With the introduction of high-resolution and transvaginal ultrasound imaging, accurate prenatal diagnosis of conjoined twins is possible early in pregnancy. We have reviewed the medical literature on the early prenatal diagnosis of suspected conjoined twins using a MEDLINE search. Although first-trimester diagnosis of conjoined twins is feasible, false-positive cases are common before 10 weeks because, earlier in gestation, fetal movements are limited and monoamniotic twins may appear conjoined. As most parents opt for immediate termination of pregnancy at confirmation of the diagnosis, there are limited data on the prenatal follow-up of conjoined twins. When the parents opt for conservative management, half of the fetuses die in utero and another 44% will die during the neonatal period. A detailed analysis of case reports where 3D imaging was used indicates that this modality does not improve on the diagnosis made by 2D ultrasound. Overall, very early prenatal diagnosis and first-trimester 3D imaging provide very little additional practical medical information compared to the 11–14 weeks' ultrasound examination. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

某边坡地震工况下的稳定性数值模拟分析

地震是引起边坡失稳的重要因素之一,文章以怒江上游干流左岸一边坡为例,利用Flac3D软件对其在地震工况下的稳定性进行了数值模拟分析。通过对比得出:在天然工况下,边坡塑性区域分布范围较小且零星,剪应变增量和位移场分布均合理分布,边坡处于稳定状态;在地震工况下,塑性区域形成贯通面,剪应力增量集中分布在基岩与变形带分界面,并且位移大幅增加,此时边坡处于失稳破坏状态。文章对揭示边坡在地震作用下失稳机制提供有益参考。     

忻州窑煤矿5931巷道卸压槽防冲模拟与试验研究

采用理论分析、数值模拟与现场试验相结合的方法,对忻州窑煤矿5931巷道卸压槽防冲效果进行研究.数学推导了巷道底板岩层轴向力,分析了巷道底鼓原因.根据煤岩体静载破坏理论,确定了巷道卸压槽防冲技术方案.并运用FLAC3D数值软件模拟布置卸压槽巷道围岩应力、变形状态,从模拟结果可以看出,卸压槽具有很好的防冲作用.最后,选取部分5931巷道开展卸压槽防冲试验,布槽巷道围岩变形量明显减小,与模拟结果较为一致,同时,声发射现象显著减弱,证实卸压槽有好的防冲效果.     

基于Ventsim系统的通风井巷断面优化研究

进行通风井巷断面优化须同时考虑巷道断面的经济最优和安全可靠.经济最优是井巷优化的基建费用、维护费用和通风费用之和最小.安全可靠是井巷优化断面尺寸能同时满足通风风速和行人运输的要求.先运用Ventsim三维通风动态仿真系统建立矿井通风系统三维模型,进行通风系统风网数据解算和风流动态模拟,并在此基础上,运用Ventsim系统对需优化断面进行经济断面选型;然后,对经济断面进行通风安全性和行人运输安全性验证,确定巷道优化断面;最后,将此方法应用于板溪锑矿回风斜井和明斜井的优化中,结果表明,用这种方法进行通风井巷断面优化有实际工程意义.     

Numerical and reduced-scale experimental investigation of blast wave shape in underground transportation infrastructure

When an explosion occurs in a tunnel, the study of the blast wave quickly becomes complicated, owing to the multiple propagation patterns of the blast wave (incident wave, regular and Mach reflections) and to the geometrical conditions. Considering this problem, two patterns can be revealed. Near the explosive, the well-known free-field pressure wave can be observed. After multiple reflections on the tunnel's walls, this overpressure behaves like a one-dimensional (1D) wave. One aim of this paper is to determine the position of this transition spherical-to-planar wave propagation in a tunnel using both numerical and reduced-scale experiments, and thereby validate the dedicated law established in a previous work.For this purpose, a detonation of TNT in a tunnel with a cross-section of up to 55 m² is considered. Results show good agreement between the numerical simulations and experiments. The transition zone between the three-dimensional (3D) and the 1D wave is well detected. An application to a simplified subway station is also investigated which shows that significant planar waves can be transmitted to the neighboring stations via the junction tunnels.     

大安山矿轴10下槽煤层回风巷道让压支护模拟与试验

大安山矿已经进入深部开采阶段,高应力、大变形巷道支护问题日益突显.为维护矿井深埋巷道稳定,引进高强让压锚杆支护技术控制深埋巷道大变形.根据轴10下槽煤层回风巷道实际情况,运用FLAC3D软件数值模拟高强锚杆和高强让压锚杆支护条件下围岩响应情况,并在现场展开让压支护技术试验.对比分析模拟与试验结果表明,数值仿真与现场实际较为一致,高强让压锚杆支护技术能够显著改善深埋巷道应力状态,有效控制深埋巷道大变形,保证矿井安全生产.