Construction waste recycling is the separation and recycling of recoverable waste materials generated during construction and remodeling. Some materials can be recycled directly into the same product for re-use. Others can be reconstituted into other usable products. Unfortunately, recycling that requires reprocessing is not usually economically feasible unless a facility using recycled resources is located near the material source. The most important step for recycling of construction waste is on-site separation. Initially, this will take some extra effort and training of construction personnel. Once separation habits are established, on-site separation can be done at little or no additional cost.

Xu Shaoshi, head of the Ministry of Land and Resources, yesterday said the key requirement of the strategic outline of prospecting mines from 2011 to 2020 is to provide information on potential mining sites and to give private investors low-risk access to the industry.

Xu said the key requirement of the outline is to provide information on potential mining sites for the public good and to give private investors low-risk access to the industry.

The government will not compete with enterprises for profits in mining, and mining operations can be run by private enterprises under the outline.

It is hoped that the policy will provide a boost to China’s domestic mining industry, and that the country’s reliance on imported mineral resources can be lessened.

In 2011, mineral resources took up over 30 percent of China’s foreign trade — a dependance that puts the country at increasing economic and political risk, it is thought.

Zhang Shaochun, deputy minister of the Ministry of Finance, said the central government has been enhancing research of the country’s land and resources, and injected 11.5 billion yuan into prospecting mines for 2010 and 2011.

Xu said the government will build a platform based on market mechanisms to attract private investment in mining rights, labor services, technical services and capital so as to make a breakthrough in finding mines.

China is expected to pump 120 billion yuan (about 19.05 billion U.S. dollars) into geologic prospecting in 2012, with only 12.5 billion yuan coming from government at all levels.

Xu said the country’s fixed investments in 2012 feature private capital in the real economy, and that the MLR is to create a better situation for private capital and guard its benefits.

Location: Pavilions of Crocus Expo

Since its foundation in 2000, the CTT has rapidly developed into the most important trade fair for construction equipment and technology in Russia and the CIS. Its concept offers international machinery and equipment manufacturers the opportunity of entering the markets of Russia and the CIS and of surrounding regions.

YOU WILL MEET AT CTT 2012 experts and decision makers from the following sectors:
• Construction & building companies
• Road & bridge construction companies
• Building material industry
• Construction machinery manufacturers
• Construction machinery trade & service providers
• Consulting Engineers
• Design institutes
• Ministries, associations, universities

Our company JOYAL will have an honor to introduce our products and serves to YOU at CTT 2012, we hope to be your one of the most reliable choices.

Our exhibition space number: HALL 5 E10

In this exhibition, on behalf of the leading manufacturer in this field, Shanghai JOYAL, will share successful and professional engineering solution, and present our equipment with the advanced technology and notion in the construction and mining industry. Welcome to pay a visit to our booth.

Our booth information:
Booth No. 5A-C043
Exhibition period: 16th to 21st April 2012
Address: Paris Nord, Villepinte exhibition center – France
Tel: +86-21-68763311
Fax: +86-21-68763366
Contact person: NemoCai
E-mail: joyal@crusherinc.com
nemo@crusherinc.com

January’s lacklustre performance compares to a 11% rebound in November and a 5.8% gain last month. October last year iron ore prices experienced a mini-crash with spot declining from a record high of $180 to a low of $116/tonne. Benchmark 62% iron ore averaged a record $168 during 2011.

Businessweek reports China, increased annual steel output at the slowest rate in three years in 2011:

“World growth is going to be a bit subdued, and very anemic in Europe, so there’s not going to be any push for stronger iron ore prices,” said Michael Heffernan, a Melbourne- based client adviser at Austock Securities Ltd. “You’re not going to see iron ore prices skyrocket.”

Reuters reports London-based researcher Fairfax is forecasting 62% grade ore to average $125 per tonne in 2012 and $120 in 2013.

“We expect iron ore prices to be finely balanced in 2012 against a weaker demand outlook. Prices are unlikely to collapse as Chinese demand remains strong and supply is likely to disappoint this year.”

The Wall Street Journal quotes commodity analysts, Peter Archbold of Fitch saying Australia’s iron ore producers are not worried by the slowdown in China:

“Margins available on iron ore, even after taking account of expected price falls, would be higher than most other commodities in their portfolios–exceptions would be petroleum, copper and possibly bauxite..,” Mr. Archbold said in an interview released by Fitch. “Therefore, when the companies are comparing project returns internally, iron ore expansion is an easy decision to approve relative to other commodities including aluminum, lead or zinc.”

India has been reducing iron ore exports to China, providing support for the price. India’s largest iron ore producer told Business Standard domestic prices of iron ore have remained steady, despite the drop in international prices from September highs. The country has a shortage of ore because of bans on mining in different states over environmental concerns, fraud scandals and illegal mining practices.

Sean Reilly said: “Using the UAE as an example of the situation in the Gulf over 10.5 million tonnes of waste is being generated by construction, of which 70% is estimated to be concrete. The need for high-capacity, effective mobile crushers has arrived.

“The utilisation of high-capacity mobile crushing plants by contracting organisations will create cost savings and increase profitability.”

The Western Retek crushers represent the latest technology in efficient aggregate size reduction and recycling with the added bonus of having modular construction, common chassis, and tracked undercarriages.

Reilly added: “We are already receiving significant levels of interest and will finalise contracts to supply the first few machines to key clients in the next few days.

“A number of the clients we are supplying machines to have specific operational requirements, that can be satisfied due to the modular design and specification of these machines.”

The range offers suitable size and specification for many applications and a capacity range from 200 tonnes per hour up to 600 tonnes per hour. There are three types of crushers: Jaw, Impactor and Cone. All can be specified in the role of either rimary or secondary crusher and work efficiently in both virgin rock and recycling applications.

There are two parts to this new feature.

The first is called Financials.  Besides the name of the listed mining company, are what are titled Investment Details.  Here you will find a link to their official website.   You will also find the stock exchange on which the company is listed; the currency they deal in; current share price; volume; percent change of share price; and 52-week highs and lows.

A second page is called Commodity Exposure.  Here are listed the region in which they mine and the commodities they mine.  Thus if you are a gold bug and read MineWeb and their endless stream of predictions that the price of gold will rise, here you can find the companies in which to invest in the hope they will make you rich mining gold.   I was surprised by how few mine uranium–I cannot but believe that is more valuable than gold.  For with uranium you can make energy; whereas gold merely sits idle in a vault making you believe you can buy carrots & guns with the bars in the event of an economic melt-down.

The list of companies is not the entire universe of mining companies.  That is why you will find only one company mining coal, another useful product, in my simple view of things.  There is room to expand the companies list; at least include more coal mining companies.

There is no indication of why some companies are listed and some are not.  I am informed that only ”featured” companies are listed; and a featured/listed company apparently pays InfoMine to be featured/listed.  I am not sure if that makes them a better investment than an unfeatured/unlisted company.  You decide on the basis of your opinion about the merits of company profits going to featuring/listing as compared to dividends.

The companies are not listed alphabetically.  So you can have fun stumbling your way down the list to come across surprises you had not previously heard of.  Then more fun is to click on the link to enjoy the company description.  Some florid writing to be found.

Considering how difficult it is to keep abreast of mining investment opportunities, this new feature is to be welcomed.  I recommend giving it a try.  If you have suggestions to improve it, email them to me and I will forward them on  to the folk who are compiling it.

The demand for mobile and semimobile modular crushing and screening equipment in Africa has grown as a result of the rapid increase in demand for aggregate and the resulting increase in plant production capabilities.

“African targets are currently being exceeded, contributing to 90% of export sales and 40% of overall sales. There is a lot going on in Africa, especially with the infrastructure needed around mines owing to the commodities boom,” explains Scherf.

Joyal will commission its largest ever Pilot Modular crushing and screening plant at Zambian limestone aggregate producer Zamm Imports, when the company’s African sales manager reports his optimism for the Zambian market. “Zambia is growing its infrastructure at an ever-increasing rate, expanding road and rail networks and constructing power stations, all of which are geared to exploit its mineral wealth,”.

Demand growth in these markets can be attributed to an increase in investment from Asia, as well as the company’s strategy of high visibility in Africa.

“Chinese foreign investment has given new life to Africa and is responsible for so much secondary infrastructure building. Although there is concern that they are taking away local or regional work opportunities, my experience has shown me that it is actually increasing opportunities. Every country that is struggling in the world today is trying to find work in Africa, and that is what is creating this boom,” .

“Owing to where we are located in Southern Africa, and our support structures, Chinese companies are willing to purchase regionally. Further, African countries are insisting on better-quality infrastructure from Chinese investment, which results in their buying our modular and mobile equipment.”.

Further, financing issues have not hampered product exports and equipment installations as the majority of Pilot Crushtec’s Africa-based clients pay cash upfront, with no bank financing.

However, supplying into Africa does present challenges for the company, but its on-the-ground approach and emphasis on a quick turnaround have been successful for the company in the African market. “Getting the equipment to site is challenging because of transport and other logistical issues in Africa but, once equipment has arrived, our technicians take no longer than two weeks on site to commission the plant. It takes longer for our systems to reach a site than it does for the systems to be operationalised once they are there.”

Though Riverstone Resources added ounces to its Karma gold project in an updated resource, investors pummelled its stock, which as of presstime had fallen 10 percent to C$0.65 on strong trading volumes.

Riverstone Resources said the increase amounted to a 42 percent increase in global resources to 54.1 million tonnes @ 1.02 g/t gold in indicated resources and 37.4 million tonnes at 0.8 g/t Au in inferred resources.

Jeffrey Wright, an analyst with Global Hunter Securities who covers Riverstone Resources, was upbeat about the resource update that added gold ounces and upgraded inferred resources within a number of the Karma project’s deposits in Burkina Faso.

“We take note of the increase at the Goulagou II deposit now containing over 680,000 ounces of gold in the indicated category with a grade of 1.35 g/tonne,” Wright noted in a statement emailed to Mineweb. “Also of importance is the Kao deposit hosting over 800,000 ounces of gold in the indicated and inferred categories with an average grade right below 1 g/tonne.”

He added, “In my opinion the announcement shows good progression at the project.”

As for what was driving the drop in Riverstone Resources’ shareprice, Wright related it to possible disappointment in the size of the updated resource.  “I think the modest sell off in Riverstone today is result of some party having an expectation of either a larger overall number or higher grade intercepts.”

But Wright argued:  “we believe the increase in the resource demonstrates steady progress at the Karma project.” Wright said that Global Hunter Securities does not hold a position in Riverstone Resources.

Riverstone Resources President Dwayne Melrose could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Angular crushed stone is the key material for macadam road construction which depends on the interlocking of the individual stones’ angular faces for its strength. Crushed natural stone is also used similarly without a binder for riprap, railroad track ballast, and filter stone. It may also be used with a binder in a composite material such as concrete, tarmac, or asphalt concrete.

Crushed stone is one of the most accessible natural resources, and is a major basic raw material used by construction, agriculture, and other industries. Despite the low value of its basic products, the crushed stone industry is a major contributor to and an indicator of the economic well-being of a nation. The demand for crushed stone is determined mostly by the level of construction activity, and, therefore, the demand for construction materials.

Stone resources of the world are very large. High-purity limestone and dolomite suitable for specialty uses are limited in many geographic areas. Crushed stone substitutes for roadbuilding include sand and gravel, and slag. Substitutes for crushed stone used as construction aggregates include sand and gravel, iron and steel slag, sintered or expanded clay or shale, and perlite or vermiculite.

Crushed stone is a high-volume, low-value commodity. The industry is highly competitive and is characterized by many operations serving local or regional markets. Production costs are determined mainly by the cost of labor, equipment, energy, and water, in addition to the costs of compliance with environmental and safety regulations. These costs vary depending on geographic location, the nature of the deposit, and the number and type of products produced. Despite having one of the lowest average by weight values of all mineral commodities. Increased productivity achieved through increased use of automation and more efficient equipment was mainly responsible for maintaining the prices at this level.

Transportation is a major factor in the delivered price of crushed stone. The cost of moving crushed stone from the plant to the market often equals or exceeds the sale price of the product at the plant. Because of the high cost of transportation and the large quantities of bulk material that have to be shipped, crushed stone is usually marketed locally. The high cost of transportation is responsible for the wide dispersion of quarries, usually located near highly populated areas. However, increasing land values combined with local environmental concerns are moving crushed stone quarries farther from the end-use locations, increasing the price of delivered material. Economies of scale, which might be realized if fewer, larger operations served larger marketing areas, would probably not offset the increased transportation costs.

Construction aggregate, or simply “aggregate”, is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined material in the world. Aggregates are a component of composite materials such as concrete and asphalt concrete; the aggregate serves as reinforcement to add strength to the overall composite material. Due to the relatively high hydraulic conductivity value as compared to most soils, aggregates are widely used in drainage applications such as foundation and French drains, septic drain fields, retaining wall drains, and road side edge drains. Aggregates are also used as base material under foundations, roads, and railroads. In other words, aggregates are used as a stable foundation or road/rail base with predictable, uniform properties (e.g. to help prevent differential settling under the road or building), or as a low-cost extender that binds with more expensive cement or asphalt to form concrete.

There is an exhaustive listing of specifications for various construction aggregate products, which, by their individual design, are suitable for specific construction purposes. These products include specific types of coarse and fine aggregate designed for such uses as additives to asphalt and concrete mixes, as well as other construction uses. State transportation departments further refine aggregate material specifications in order to tailor aggregate use to the needs and available supply in their particular locations.

Sources for these basic materials can be grouped into three main areas: Mining of mineral aggregate deposits, including sand, gravel, and stone; use of waste slag from the manufacture of iron and steel; and recycling of concrete, which is itself chiefly manufactured from mineral aggregates. In addition, there are some (minor) materials that are used as specialty lightweight aggregates: clay, pumice, perlite, and vermiculite.

Recycled aggregate is defined as aggregate resulting from the processing of inorganic material previously used in construction. To ensure the aggregate is inert, it is manufactured from material tested and characterised under European Waste Codes.

Any predictions for 2012 are premised on interpretation of the past and hope stemming from the present.  So let me try to set out my predictions for this coming year in mining.  We will look back at the end of the year and judge.  For now take what I write with a grain of salt, add your own pepper, and act according to your best judgement.

The easiest prediction to make regarding 2012 mining is that we will continue to be bombarded by facile articles telling us of the shortage of people to work in the mining industry.  My advise is to avoid these articles or at least ignore them.  There are plenty of people of skill out there just waiting for a chance to get into the mining industry.  At the very least, old men like me will continue to be available. At the best, all those whose industries will continue to decline are ready and willing if given the chance.

The next easiest prediction is that we will continue to be bombarded by articles about the price of gold.  It will go up; it will go down; it will remain steady.  Indian demand will fall as the price goes too high; substitutes will be used; governments will confiscate the stuff to settle debts; rich executives will buy in bulk and hoard it on their private vaults.   My prediction is that gold will hover where it is until the U.S. Presidential elections are over, and then fall once it is clear who will attempt to run the country for the next four years.

The price of oil and hence the value of our oil sands stock will stay around $100 a barrel, until it is clear whether or not we are going to bomb Iran for closing a strategic waterway.  I cannot believe that anybody will be foolish enough to let that happen, so I bet on oil at $110 by the end of the year.

There will be more spectacular mining accidents.  That is inevitable.  Let us hope they do not involve the massive failure of one of those large tailings impoundments being built in South America.  For that would put a damper on all mining.  Maybe ICMM should send a delegation to those large facilities to help keep the mining industry viable.

More governments will want to tax more and expropriate mining assets.  If the economy booms, the governments will get greedy for a bigger share.  If the economy tanks, the governments will see mining as a way to raise money.  Maybe the United Nations should set up a committee to preserve mining assets in vacillating countries.

Take-over bids will abound as will the continued penetration of the Chinese into world mining and mines.  Vale, Rio Tinto, and BHP will continue in the news as they lock out workers, promise miracles at Pebble and Potash, and seek to negotiate deals for diamonds.

The things we cannot predict that will affect mining include the name of the new Canadian NDP leader, the Iowa Republican presidential pick (I rather hope it is Ron Paul with whom one can agree fifty percent of the time and despair the rest), the Australian political and economic drift, and the fate of the Euro.  I suspect U.S. house prices will continue to fall and the economy to drift.  I cannot see how unemployment is going to be decreased to any substantial extent.  I fear the Chinese property bubble will burst.  And Iran will continue to make the atomic bomb.  Nothing in North Korea will happen that will affect mining.  Cuba may change, but nickel will still flow from it mines and prop up a basically crazy situation.

Conference will come and go and sanctimonious pronounce will be made in dull keynote speeches.  I suspect we will continue to see an increasing drift to easier availability of papers on the web, although I fear for those sites that charge for old papers.  There are always equivalents available at no cost.

The ancient Assyrians called the rock alabaster, and used it for sculpturing. Five thousand years ago the Egyptians learned to make plaster from gypsum and lined the walls of their palaces, and their tombs with it (some of this earliest gypsum plaster has been found inside the great Pyramids). It was the ancient Greeks who named this mineral “Gypsos,” from which we have derived the name Gypsum. There is another form of gypsum which is clear and transparent, in layers like mica. This was used, many centuries before glass was invented, as windows in the old temples. The Greeks named it after their Moon Goddess, “Selene”, and today we still call it “Selenite.”

Over the centuries, gypsum has found many uses.  It is used to control hardening in Portland Cement.  Car windows are made of plate glass which is held in a bed of gypsum during the polishing process. Small metal gears are cast in gypsum molds by a process that was largely perfected during World War II. In medicine, a dentist uses a gypsum dental plaster mold in which to cast a bridge and doctor uses gypsum to build splints for broken limbs from a gauze impregnated with orthopedic plaster.  Even Benjamin Franklin used ground raw gypsum as a soil conditioner, called land plaster, on his farm.

One of gypsum’s greatest features is that it is relatively fireproof.  Chemically, gypsum rock is calcium sulfate with two molecules of water which is released when exposed to intense heat. When a wall or ceiling coated with gypsum lath or plaster is exposed fire, the heat soon exceeds the boiling temperature of water – 212 F. However, at that temperature the water in the gypsum starts to vaporize and becomes steam. This absorbs the surrounding heat energy and keeps the drywall no hotter than 212 F.  Until all the crystallized water has been driven off, the gypsum will protect the wooden framework of the structure, or whatever flammable materials the gypsum may be covering.

Of course this protection lasts for only a limited time, depending upon the thickness of the gypsum, which is being destroyed as the fire continues. However, the fire-retarding action of the gypsum may cause the fire to burn out with minimal damage to the building or provide time for firefighters or people in the building.

National Gypsum mines and quarries gypsum rock, crushes and grinds it, and calcines it to remove chemically bound water.  It adds starch and other additives and water to form a stucco slurry. The stucco is sandwiched between two sheets of paper and hardens, forming gypsum board.  Since water content is critical to its ability to retard fires, quality control is critical in terms of measuring water content and even kiln temperatures.

Ironically, it may be another mined mineral, coal, which may be the future source of gypsum.  The newest gypsum plants use solid waste byproduct gypsum produced when coal-fired power plants scrub their emissions to remove sulfur dioxide. The byproduct of this operation is calcium sulfate.

1, regular stop open door window in the sand machine impact observe internal wear, the center into the feed tube, cone hats, impeller, under flow line board, circumferential guard board, wear-resisting piece of wear degree, after wearing should change in time or repair, replacement of wear-resisting should be replaced, ensure wear-resisting piece of similar in weight. It is strictly prohibited to crusher work process open door window observation internal workings, lest produce risk. Find impeller body wear change in time looking for manufacturer of repair. Pay special attention to, without the manufacturer, without permission is strictly prohibited homemade agreed to impeller.

2, drive triangle tape taut force size should be adjusted properly, in order to ensure that the triangle strength evenly, double tape motor drive, both sides should be grouped matching triangle tape, and its every leader degrees as agreement. Should adjust make two motor current difference value is not more than 15 years.

3, the sand machine adopts car grease super or # 3, fat, lithium every work 400 hours grease, join the amount of work 2000 hours of bearing spindle assembly open for cleaning, general working 7200 hours, replace new bearing.

4, spindle assembly for the top bearing swimming, bearing is lower fixed end with the hand, the assembly to throw the pulley should be flexible rotation. On the sand, for the operation of the machine equipment belong to the equipment, should pay special attention to the safety in production. Relevant personnel should be far away from equipment, if need to tinker on should stop in after. Problems suggest you please professional maintenance personnel, without permission is strictly prohibited to solve manufacturer who remove core components.

This announcement from the World Bank was made during the ongoing conference of African ministers responsible for mineral resources development, the discussion of the Africa Mining Vision and the endorsement of an action plan for implementation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Reports indicate that, in 2010 alone, the top 40 mining companies in Africa have made net profits of USD 110 billion and have a net asset base in excess of USD 1 trillion.

While addressing the conference, Mr. Jean Noel Francois, the acting director in the Department of Trade and Industry at the African Union (AU) Commission, stated that, while the mineral resources in Africa are currently fuelling growth and development in many of the world’s industrialized and emerging economies, the continent itself remains poor, underdeveloped and dependent upon donor assistance for support in their respective national budgets.

According to the World Bank, the purpose of this USD 290 million investment is to help strengthen the mineral governance systems in a continent that possesses an abundance of mineral resources, but still remains impoverished.

During a presentation at the ongoing conference, Dr. Brigitte Bocoum of the Bank’s Sustainable Oil, Gas and Mining Division said that, “African countries with minerals are characterized by poor governance [and] these projects would strengthen capacity in mineral policies and governance.”

In addition to the Tanzania mining sector, other countries that are expected to benefit from the ongoing World Bank project include Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda.

Currently, the goal of the World Bank investment project in these seven countries is to work on building capacity at the government level and at an institutional level in addition to strengthening the overall regulatory systems of the mining sectors in each of the seven focal countries.

Six of the world’s largest mining and steel companies, including Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, have plans to develop substantial mines in various West African countries, a couple of which contain some of the world’s richest untapped deposits of iron ore. The region has long been on the radar of mining investors but project development has been hindered by political risk and financing constraints.

According to a tally by Macquarie Bank, miners are currently working on around 20 iron ore projects in seven West African countries – Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone – with a potential total annual production of approximately 400 million tonnes, roughly equal to the combined current output of both major Pilbara producers. The estimated capital costs to develop these projects are similarly large: Phase I development of Rio’s Simandou iron ore concession in Guinea will cost US$6 billion; a BHP Billiton project in Liberia US$3billion; and three projects involving multinational steel concern Arcelor Mittal US$4 billion-plus.

At the smaller end of the spectrum, Perth-based company, Sphere Minerals, is currently well advanced in developing its Guelb el Aouj project in partnership with Société  Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM), Mauritania’s state-owned iron ore producer. The project has a capital cost of at least US$1.65 billion and the mine could be producingin 2012. And in Cameroon Perth-based Sundance Resources is building its Mbalam mine at a cost of more than US$3 billion.

The appeal of West African iron ore is its high quality – high iron content and low impurities–particularly in Guinea, which should enable it to earn a premium on the international market. Macquarie reckons that the lowest-cost West African projects come in at around the 65th percentile of the iron ore cost curve on a delivered- China basis–attractive considering that ore fromVale’s Carajas system in Brazil and from the Pilbara (Rio and BHP) dominates below that.

Still, despite the region’s potential, development has been hindered by political risks, notably long-standing civil wars, unstable regimes and inhospitable investment climates. Even now that many of these conflicts have been resolved, most West African states remain risky investment destinations. Take Guinea, site of the richest untapped iron ore deposits: the two frontrunners in an upcoming presidential election have both said they will review mining contracts established by the current military junta. Rio is also at loggerheads with the junta for taking away half of its Simandou concession. Two other iron ore-rich countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone, are making fitful recoveries from devastating civil wars and are struggling to deliver even rudimentary services to their citizens let alone create the right policy mix for technically complex mining operations.

Project development has also been constrained by the need to build transport infrastructure from the ground up. Rio’s Simandou concession, for example, requires the construction of a 650 km rail line and associated port. A lack of deep water ports is a broader problem. For example, Port Buchanan in Liberia can only accommodate Panamax ore ships rather than larger over Panamax ships. This infrastructure deficit adds to both the capital cost of mine development and transport costs.

Because of political risk and infrastructure deficits, only some of the 20-plus projects on the drawing boards will progress to full production. Likely candidates to make the grade are those that can harness ‘cluster’ benefits, notably the sharing of infrastructure.

Companies may well need to bring in a cashed-up partner to provide start-up capital or infrastructure expertise. Two recent tie-ups with Chinese companies suggest potential for this kind of cooperation exists: China’s state-owned aluminium company Chinalco will pay Rio US$1.35 billion in return for 47% of its Simandou concession in Guinea; and AIM-listed explorer African Minerals has signed agreements with China Railways Materials Commercial Corp and Shandong Iron and Steel, to develop the Tonkolili iron ore deposit in Sierra Leone.

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated generally on December 25 as a religious and cultural holiday by billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world’s nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.

The precise day of Jesus’ birth, which historians place between 7 and 2 BC, is unknown. In the early-to-mid 4th century, the Western Christian Church first placed Christmas on December 25, a date later adopted also in the East. Theories advanced to explain that choice include that it falls exactly nine months after the Christian celebration of the conception of Jesus, or that it was selected to coincide with either the date of the Roman winter solstice or of some ancient pagan winter festival.

The original date of the celebration in Eastern Christianity was January 6, in connection with Epiphany, and that is still the date of the celebration for the Armenian Apostolic Church and in Armenia, where it is a public holiday. As of 2011, there is a difference of 13 days between the modern Gregorian calendar and the older Julian calendar. Those who continue to use the Julian calendar or its equivalents thus celebrate December 25 and January 6 on what for the majority of the world is January 7 and January 19. For this reason, Ethiopia, Russia and Ukraine celebrate Christmas, both as a Christian feast and as a public holiday, on what in the Gregorian calendar is January 7.

The popular celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian and secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, Christmas music and caroling, an exchange of Christmas cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations, including Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas and Kris Kringle among other names, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore. Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.

This article refers to Christmas in wikipedia