Assessing Behavior Similarity of Mineral Raw Material Prices through a Feature-Based Clustering Approach

Mineral raw materials prices have been shown to be affected by macroeconomic factors such as aggregate demand and commodity-specific factors (e.g., supply shocks). In addition, it has been shown that certain mineral raw material prices co-move, meaning that they behave similarly during expansion and contraction phases of the international business cycles. In order to assess the behavior similarity of the prices of different mineral raw materials, we propose a method that utilizes extracted features of time series price data and unsupervised learning techniques to create clusters of price movements having similar long-term behavior.

PALEOZOIC QUARTZITE OF THE SMRČEVICE IN THE CENTRAL BOSNIA

The paper presents results of detailed geological research of quartzite in the wider area of Smrčevice, southeastern of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje. Based on the defined boundaries of surface distribution and research results, geological reserves of about 12 million tons have been determined in the wider area of Smrcevica. The quartzite reserves that have been so far determined in this area are at a low level of geological research. The paper contains an overview of the geological characteristics of the area, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of quartzite, and the mineral raw material potential of quartzite in the Smrčevice area according to the PERC standard. The results of the conducted research indicate that the general geological and technical-exploitation factors are relatively favorable and indicate a possible profitable exploitation of the deposit. Taking into account the significant raw material potential, and the possibility of expanding the existing raw material base, this area has special importance for the perspective development of quartzite exploitation and its use in the production of ferrosilicon and silico-metals.

INFLUENCE OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LIMESTONE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINING WORKS IN QUARRY

There are only a few limestone mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina that provide the mineral raw material for industrial production. As a result, the experience in planning and designing such quarries is lesser than in designing the quarries for construction. Limestone from "Vijenac" deposit is an industrial mineral raw material, which is used for the production of soda (light, heavy and bicarbonate), cement, nitrogen fertilizer named "KAN", and is also used in construction and road construction. The use of limestone as a mineral raw material in industrial production requires more attention to the chemical composition of limestone than to the physical-mechanical characteristics. The paper presents a solution to this problem by creating a block of models of exploitation reserves of limestone, which enables foresight of the chemical composition of limestone, both in each floor partially and during the period of exploitation. The block model was created on the basis of the updated state of works, the projected contour of limestone surface mine and the exploration works' database. The block model uses the following: CaCO3, CaO, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, bulk density, category of reserves and the purpose of the mineral raw material, i.e. for industry or construction. The block model analysis has determined that the northern part of the mine, from the floor E-612.5 to E-525 meters a.s.l., does not meet industrial requirements in terms of chemical composition of limestone. Therefore, limestone from this part of the surface mine will be used for construction purposes. These quantities of limestone are about 2.6x106 m3. Limestone from the southern part of the surface mine meets the industry requirements. Its quantities are about 8.47x106 m3.

FEATURES OF PROCESSING OF GEMS AND ORGANOGENIC FORMATIONS FOR JEWELLERY AND ART PRODUCTS

The article deals with the features of the use of gems and organogenic formations subjected to various degrees of processing in various jewellery and art products. Using examples of baroque pearls, drusas, gems, cut gems and carved gems, it is shown that the properties and sizes of gems determine compositional solutions for their use in jewellery. It is shown in various jewellery-artistic wares, that depending on the type of mineral raw material or organogenic formations (pearls, shells) a different depth and methods of its treatment are used. Primary systematisation of raw material is conducted on the degree of his treatment. It is shown that inserts with unique properties always occupy a place in the centre of the decoration composition, and the different depth of their processing allows one identifying and emphasising their uniqueness. Examples of historical and modern jewelleries are made with different unique insertions.

Digitization of subsoil use technologies

Introduction. Economy digitalization trends show that industries involved in mineral extraction and processing will sooner or later have to face the challenges of introducing new management technologies. Expected innovations deal with large amounts of data both in terms of object initial state characteristics and in tracking changes in its parameters at all stages of raw material transformation into a marketable product. Research methodology includes assessing factors determining industry digitalization, as well as studying production area readiness for new management technologies introduction. The difficulty is that mineral raw material extraction and processing is represented by a set of technologies. Exploration, deposit 78 "Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedenii. Gornyi zhurnal". No. 2. 2021 ISSN 0536-1028 description, reserves assessment, processing technologies, utilization and storage of tailings, dumps, reclamation, etc. – all these processes belong to different branches of science and are not always linked into a single technological cycle. Results. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the structure and sources of information flows required to form a unified digital model of mineral processing. It is shown that the data unit responsible for the “ore processing procedures databases” is the least ready to be embedded in a single digital model. Conclusions. Despite the many problems associated with the use of digital technologies, there are no fundamental obstacles to mineral raw material processing simulation models creation, including deposit identification, rock mass formation and all stages of obtaining a commercial product.

ASSESSMENT OF INFLUENCE OF PALEOGEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS ON THE FORMATION OF MINERAL RAW MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CERAMIC PRODUCTS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF OPISHNYANSKE DEPOSIT OF CLAY ROCKS)

The main properties and features of clay rocks, which are the basic raw materials for the manufacture of ceramic products are outlined. The main morphogenetic, physicochemical and geochronological characteristics of clay rocks of the Opishnyanske deposits (Poltava region) are covered, the natural conditions of this mineral raw material formation in the late Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene are reconstructed, the role of paleogeographic conditions in their formation and accumulation is estimated. Perspective locations of their place position are marked out basing on paleogeographical data.

Systematization of the Mineral Raw Material Waste Recycling Process

The paper considers a system for optimizing the recycling process of mineral raw material waste in terms of the target function, which takes into account economic, technological, and environmental criteria. We have suggested a structural model of the production process of mineral raw material recycling using cost flows. Based on the analysis of this model, we concluded on the need to develop new methods for assessing and choosing the parameters of the equipment used, including specific performance criteria to assess the degree of sophistication of the systems under study.