Cement, Energy and Environment

classify minor minerals and set environmental safeguards based on the scale of production. For example, while sand falls in the category of minor mineral, depending on which industry it is mined for, though the scale of production is much higher. The report points out that the total value of minor minerals comes to as much as 10 per cent of total mineral production. Minor or major As per existing rules, minerals like sand and limesheU are classified as 'minor' depending on their end use in a particular industry. So, while sand used for glass indusicy will not be 'minor' mineral, for other, less industrial, uses it can be classified as minor. However, these minerals, especiaUy silica sand and limestone, are quarried at scales which exceed that of industrial mines. The loophole is thus the classification of the production, and environmental safeguards and impacts on the water table are ignored. Noting that there are "significant adverse impacts on environment" by the m1mng of minor minerals, the MoEF has also recommended that the uniform sizes of leases over a regulated time period be given out so the proper environmental safeguards be made. The MoEF has now recommended that states give leases for five-hectare plots for a minimum period of five years. For riverbed quarrying, the environment ministry has asked for a cap on depth at three metres. Further, a recommendation has also been made for creating mine clusters where possible to keep stretches contiguous. Echoing the Central Empowered Committee's suggestion in the Aravalli case, the MoEF has asked for the creation of a corpus fund to rehabilitate mines-so far an idea expressed only for major minerals. Courtesy: The Indian Express, May 5, 2010, PB. MINING BILL UNPRODUCTIVE, SAYS FICCI New Delhi 25 July, Criticizing the government's mining Bill, FICCI has said that the proposed legislation would adversely impact investments in the sector. It also termed the government's scheme to provide shareholdings to tribals in mining projects as flawed. In a recent letter to Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee FICCI Secretary General Mr. Amit Mitra said that the proposed act would "adversely affect the industry". ''the latest draft of the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act 2010 proposes measures that will adversely affect the industry and its viability and thus deter the flow of investments into the sector." Mr. Mitra said. On the scheme of giving 26 per cent equity or annuity to locals and tribals affected by the mining project, the industry body said that the proposal was "complex" and "difficult" to implement. Elaborating on the issue, it said that persons with vested interests might buy the shareholdings of tribals/local people and eventually gain control over the company. Courtesy: The Statesman, Mumbai 26th July 2010. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION UTILIZATION OF SOLID WASTE OF SODA ASH PLANT AS A MINERAL ADDITIVE IN CEMENT Nadiye GUR, Yusuf AKTA~, Abdu lkadir CIVA~ ~i~ecam soda Industry, Mersin, Turkey Recep BiRGOL Kal-Tek Concrete Consulting, Istanbul, Turkey Abstract The amount of solid waste of Mersin Soda plant, producing about 1 million tonnes of soda ash per year, is about 220, 000 tonne/year on dry Basis. This non-hazardous waste is already disposed in accordance with the related directives. The purpose of the current study is to investigate utilization of solid waste in possible industrial applications. It is determined that using solid waste as a mineral additive in some of the cements produced in Mersin– Adana region, slightly reduces consistency of mortar and shortens setting time. However consistency and setting time of the samples including solid waste can be increased to the levels of the reference sample by using 0.05 % of retarding admixture. It is observed that compressive strength of samples with 5% waste is similar to the reference sample. As a result, it has been found that 5 per cent solid waste can be used in the cement as a minor constitute. 61