A review of the PGM industry,deposit models and exploration practices: Implications for Australia's PGM potential

Australia is prospective for platinum group metal (PGM) mineralisation (in particular primary magmatic reef, primary magmatic by-product, late magmatic and hydrothermal, and alluvial placer type) but its known PGM endowment is negligible compared to that of South Africa, Russia, the USA and Canada. Most Australian PGM projects are operated by mid-cap or junior companies and form part of larger, more diverse project portfolios held by these explorers. Most projects were ‘hot’ while market conditions were favourable. However, as other metals became ‘fashionable’ and market conditions for PGM changed, so did the focus of these companies. Pure PGM companies are rare in Australia. The search for and development of PGM-only deposits in Australia are high risk business activities. No new primary PGM deposits have been discovered since the mid to late 1980s and none of the significant deposits that were discovered or evaluated in the 1980s have been mined. This review suggests that at least several A$10 million but more likely several A$100 million were sunk into PGM exploration and development projects but none advanced to the mining stage. The viability of Australian PGM projects is very sensitive to (1) metal prices, (2) the US$/A$ exchange rate, and (3) large capital expenditure requirements relative to the small size of Australian PGM-only deposits. Most PGM-only projects were initiated at times of high PGM prices. However, advanced exploration, feasibility studies and project development always lagged behind the price booms. South Africa, Russia and Canada contain approximately 98% of the known global PGM reserves. This situation has a very negative effect on the Australian PGM industry as the well-endowed nations continue to receive the lion's share of exploration spend and new projects.     

Statistical considerations of progressive value and risk in mineral exploration

Financial markets recognise maximisation of expected value (E), in an essentially risk-neutral context, as the main corporate financial objective of private enterprise. This may be valid for large, integrated mining companies. Yet, most junior and middle-size exploration companies behave in a risk-averse fashion when making decisions about progressively more expensive exploration programs. From their perspective, a potential increase in expected value from either an increase in target value or related probability of discovery, or both, may not be a sufficient incentive to embark in an exploration programme if the resultant increase in expected value is accompanied by a significant increase in possible maximum loss. Risk-averse explorers may be unwilling to bear larger, albeit less probable losses, when the cost of successive exploration programmes is taken into account. The paper provides a practical methodology for such explorers to optimise the decision whether to progress to the next stage of exploration or to farm out a risky project. It uses a decision-tree model incorporating the effectiveness of the proposed exploration programme, the explorer's risk tolerance and related utility values and the probability distribution of the possible value of the exploration target.     

Effects of uncertainty and variability on population declines and IUCN Red List classifications

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria is a quantitative framework for classifying species according to extinction risk. Population models may be used to estimate extinction risk or population declines. Uncertainty and variability arise in threat classifications through measurement and process error in empirical data and uncertainty in the models used to estimate extinction risk and population declines. Furthermore, species traits are known to affect extinction risk. We investigated the effects of measurement and process error, model type, population growth rate, and age at first reproduction on the reliability of risk classifications based on projected population declines on IUCN Red List classifications. We used an age‐structured population model to simulate true population trajectories with different growth rates, reproductive ages and levels of variation, and subjected them to measurement error. We evaluated the ability of scalar and matrix models parameterized with these simulated time series to accurately capture the IUCN Red List classification generated with true population declines. Under all levels of measurement error tested and low process error, classifications were reasonably accurate; scalar and matrix models yielded roughly the same rate of misclassifications, but the distribution of errors differed; matrix models led to greater overestimation of extinction risk than underestimations; process error tended to contribute to misclassifications to a greater extent than measurement error; and more misclassifications occurred for fast, rather than slow, life histories. These results indicate that classifications of highly threatened taxa (i.e., taxa with low growth rates) under criterion A are more likely to be reliable than for less threatened taxa when assessed with population models. Greater scrutiny needs to be placed on data used to parameterize population models for species with high growth rates, particularly when available evidence indicates a potential transition to higher risk categories.     

Participatory monitoring to connect local and global priorities for forest restoration

New global initiatives to restore forest landscapes present an unparalleled opportunity to reverse deforestation and forest degradation. Participatory monitoring could play a crucial role in providing accountability, generating local buy in, and catalyzing learning in monitoring systems that need scalability and adaptability to a range of local sites. We synthesized current knowledge from literature searches and interviews to provide lessons for the development of a scalable, multisite participatory monitoring system. Studies show that local people can collect accurate data on forest change, drivers of change, threats to reforestation, and biophysical and socioeconomic impacts that remote sensing cannot. They can do this at one‐third the cost of professionals. Successful participatory monitoring systems collect information on a few simple indicators, respond to local priorities, provide appropriate incentives for participation, and catalyze learning and decision making based on frequent analyses and multilevel interactions with other stakeholders. Participatory monitoring could provide a framework for linking global, national, and local needs, aspirations, and capacities for forest restoration.     

基于CAN总线的新型煤矿粉尘浓度检测系统的研究

为了实现对粉尘的实时在线检测和粉尘超限报警,以及实现煤矿粉尘浓度检测系统的高性能运行,本文设计了一种基于CAN总线的新型煤矿粉尘浓度检测系统.本文首先对粉尘浓度检测系统的整体设计方案进行了描述,然后对系统的传感器及调理转换电路、声光报警电路和CAN通信电路等硬件电路进行了设计,对粉尘检测系统的软件进行了详细的设计分析.最后给出了实验结果,并通过实验结果证明了该系统能长时间实时监测粉尘浓度,并通过CAN总线接口可以实现系统的远距离、高可靠性通信功能和远程监控功能.本系统具有测量准确、速度快、可靠性高和能及时报警等特点.     

30CrMnSiA钢有机涂层电化学研究

目的研究30Cr Mn Si A钢零部件表面在只涂有1层H06-076底漆状态下的抗腐蚀能力。方法在试验过程中采用加速环境谱,利用电化学阻抗谱(EIS)方法研究30Cr Mn Si A钢试样表面在只涂有1层H06-076底漆状态下的腐蚀情况。结果涂有1层H06-076底漆的30Cr Mn Si A试样只经历了1个周期的加速环境谱就发生了腐蚀。电化学阻抗谱(EIS)方法测得的涂层失效与宏观观察到的基体金属腐蚀吻合较好。电化学阻抗谱(EIS)方法测得的10 Hz处相位角的变化规律与0.1Hz处阻抗模值的变化规律一致。结论 30Cr Mn Si A在只涂1层H06-076底漆的情况下其抗腐蚀性能很差,在外场大气环境中使用极易发生腐蚀。利用电化学阻抗谱(EIS)方法可有效表征有机涂层涂覆下的金属腐蚀行为并评估涂层的保护性能。     

石墨烯在装备技术相关领域的应用研究(二)

基于石墨烯的材料和器件正在传统和新兴领域广泛应用,简要综述了石墨烯基材料在电化学储能、装备抗腐蚀和吸波领域的研究进展,介绍了基于不同物理机制和观点的研究热点。指出高质量单层或少层、分散良好的石墨烯材料的制备尚未有工业化的方法,且大量的应用是基于石墨烯为模板的衍生物是石墨烯大规模工业化应用仍然为数不多的原因。提出高效地对石墨烯的表面、化学键进行功能化,同时保留石墨烯本体完美碳骨架的技术难题。最后提出研究石墨烯与其他功能材料的复合机理和微观机制,解决复合界面问题,开发绿色、高效、低成本的复合工艺,将促进石墨烯的应用。     

新疆G30线速度管理和控制技术研究

速度管理和控制技术是高速公路交通运输中重要的措施和手段,合理的速度管理和控制技术可以提高高速公路的运营管理水平并确保其运营安全.本文针对新疆G30线高速公路的地域、线形、运行特点,探讨了各种速度管理和控制技术在该路段的实施效果,并提出了合理的速度管理和控制措施,以为该高速公路设计和改造升级的速度控制提供借鉴和依据.     

熟化对PAC样品聚合形态及絮凝效果的影响

对微量加碱法合成的聚合氯化铝(PAC)液体产品进行程序升温熟化,核磁共振分析结果证明,可生成新的聚合形态--Al30.对 Al-Ferron 络合比色法的动力学常数的分析结果表明,熟化能使 Alb1减少且聚合度降低,而使 Alb2增多且聚合度增大;熟化有利于Al30的形成,从而提高PAC的絮凝效果.絮凝效果受熟化时间和温度的影响,95℃下熟化8 h的样品絮凝效果最佳.     

Corporate social responsibility in the mining industry: Perspectives from stakeholder groups in Argentina

Since the liberalisation of its investment regime in the 1990s, Argentina has seen a rise in foreign direct investment into large-scale exploration and exploitation of mineral resources. However, many social groups (local communities, grassroots movement and the church) often strongly oppose new mining projects on the grounds of environmental, ethical and economic concerns. In a situation marked by widespread conflict, mining companies continue operating and develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which are often promoted as a means of contributing to the sustainability and development of the nation. The paper develops a framework to highlight how the principles of stakeholder theory could be used as conceptual and practical guidance for conflict-resolution oriented CSR policies. The framework is further used to analyse two case studies of conflictive mining projects in Argentina. The paper explores how key stakeholders perceive contribution of CSR to welfare and the socio-economic development of mining communities and sustainable development of the nation. It demonstrates that institutional and social stakeholder networks often strongly oppose the idea of voluntary self-regulation implied by CSR in situations characterised by weak governance. Even though the CSR of companies could be improved in areas of corporate communication, transparency, stakeholder engagement and dialogue, it is not seen as a panacea for the social conflicts in the sector.