Why the Stock Market Keeps Surging Despite Rising Rates, High Oil and A.I. Spending Fears

Investors in the stock market are navigating a difficult backdrop that includes a prolonged conflict in Iran, rising oil prices and a sell-off in government bonds that threatens to push borrowing costs higher across the economy. Despite all of this, they remain remarkably calm. The S&P 500 has climbed nearly 13 percent this year, and many analysts still believe the market could finish even stronger by year’s end.

A major reason for this optimism is a strong corporate earnings season combined with continued enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. These forces have helped investors look past concerns about inflation and the impact of higher interest rates. Still, the rally may face challenges as the market moves into September, a month that has historically been difficult for stocks. Rising interest rates and growing worries about the enormous spending required for A.I. data centers also pose risks.

The excitement around A.I. has been a powerful driver of the market for more than a year, and it continues to deliver. Exceptional financial results from major tech companies like Nvidia have pushed stocks higher by showing that demand for A.I. remains strong. Investors have become more selective, paying close attention to how much large technology companies—often called hyperscalers—are spending on A.I. infrastructure. Even so, many still believe that the heavy investment in computing power will eventually pay off. The Nasdaq, which is heavily weighted toward technology companies, is up about 14 percent this year.

Market optimism extends beyond A.I. Corporate earnings across many industries have exceeded expectations, often by a wide margin. By the end of August, roughly 88 percent of S&P 500 companies that had reported quarterly results beat forecasts for earnings per share. Even those that fell short generally missed by only small amounts. Because the S&P 500 is weighted by market value, its performance is heavily influenced by a handful of large technology companies. But even when each company is given equal weight, the index has performed well. The equal‑weighted S&P 500 is up more than 13 percent this year, slightly outperforming the standard version.

Several factors explain this broad strength. High oil prices have boosted profits for energy companies. There has also been a lift from tariff refunds. After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a series of tariffs on imported goods in February, the Trump administration was required to return tens of billions of dollars to American companies. These refunds provided a major boost in the second quarter. Kohl’s received about $100 million, and companies like Lowe’s and Smucker’s also benefited significantly.

A.I. has played a role in lifting earnings as well. Many companies are beginning to integrate A.I. into their operations, expanding the impact beyond the largest tech firms. Analysts at Barclays estimated that nearly half of all companies discussed A.I. in meaningful detail during their second‑quarter earnings calls, and about 30 percent talked about it in ways directly tied to revenue, cost savings or efficiency improvements.

Even with all this momentum, rising interest rates could threaten the rally. Rates on government bonds have been climbing, and if they continue to rise, they could weigh on stocks. Higher‑yielding bonds offer attractive returns with less risk, which can make stocks look less appealing. This is especially true for companies whose profits are expected to grow far into the future. As bond yields rise, borrowing becomes more expensive for companies that rely on debt to expand.

Right now, the 10‑year Treasury note sits at 4.78 percent. Some analysts warn that a sustained move above 5 percent could begin to pressure corporate earnings and weaken the stock market. Investors have also become more sensitive to anything that disrupts the A.I. narrative. When Google reported strong earnings in July, its stock still dipped because its spending forecast was higher than expected.

Higher Treasury yields add another layer of concern. The government is raising rates to attract buyers for its debt despite large federal deficits. But this could force A.I. companies to offer higher rates on their own bonds to keep investors interested, making it more expensive for them to finance growth. Some analysts warn that if deficits remain high, government borrowing could crowd out corporate borrowing, limiting investment in A.I. altogether.

Other challenges lie ahead. The benefits from tariff refunds will fade, leaving some companies—especially those dependent on consumer spending—facing a more uncertain environment. Walmart and Kohl’s have noted that their customers are feeling the strain of higher gas prices, though both companies still raised their earnings outlooks for the rest of the year.

Must‑Have Gold Prospecting Tools for Beginners: Trowel, Classifying Screens, Pinpointer, and Magnetic Separator

 Updated on August 24, 2023

John has prospected for gold in Arizona 10 years. His experience taught him to deal with the terrain, heat, and gold fever. He makes tools.

Gold Prospecting Tools

As is the case with anything, you can really go basic when you start out gold prospecting by using the minimum number of tools. For that matter, all you really need is a pan! However, there are four tools that will help the prospector save time—and time savings ensues more work and a superior gold yield. Here are a few tool suggestions.

This is my personal magnetic separator.

1. Magnetic Separators

As the panning process unfolds, there is usually a point where nothing is left but black sand. The black sand is likely magnetite—a magnetic mineral that occurs in almost all igneous and metamorphic rocks. The black sand found could be magnetic if dry. Wet black sand forms a muck that will result in pulling up gold, too, when a magnet is applied. Dry black sand can be used with a magnet for separating magnetite from the gold, the gold being left behind.

 My Magnetic Separator

I like to use a 16-pound magnet separator with a quick release. The surface diameter is 3 1/2". With the pull, you can release the black sand.

The process involves getting the magnet close to the panned black sand but not submerging it directly—that gets muck on the separator surface, which can hold gold. You get close and then drop it in another pan of water, looking for any gold. You repeat the process until you can see no gold, and then you release the magnetite in a disposal plate. This description is insufficient for a complete understanding. See the following video for a great tutorial on separating gold from black sand.

Here's one final thought. I have heard it said from club members that you can separate gold from black sand using a tarp and letting it dry out in the Arizona sun. Apparently, you hover over it with the magnet, not touching it, and the magnetite will be lifted, leaving the gold behind. I can imagine this happening if you have good-sized flakes, but it seems as though fine gold would still go up and get trapped in the magnetite on the surface of the magnet. I have never tried this—it's all hearsay to me, but it might be fun for an experiment.

 

Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.— George Herbert

 

My old but trusty Garret Pro-Pointer | Source

2. Gold Pinpointers

A great accessory for the metal detector enthusiast is the pinpointer. It is a secondary recovery tool. First, you use your metal detector to locate a target. Once the target is located, you turn to the pinpointer. Running the pinpointer in the revealed location will quickly isolate the target for recovery.

Why use this? It saves time and energy. Anyone who has waved a metal detector can attest to the fatigue it can cause over a longer period of time. It can also wear out a tired shoulder. Trying to get your ring situated perfectly over the target for retrieval can take time. When the pin-pointer goes off, your treasure is right there! I like it because I can take a break from my long metal detector when I get on my hands and knees to wand the ground. It is great in loose dirt and sand. The tip is reinforced, so you really don't need to worry about breaking it.

My Propointer is the first Garret Propointer. The Garret Propointer II is even better. It comes with a belt carrying case. I have owned mine for many years, and it has never failed me. It's running like it's brand new.

These classifiers range from 60 mesh down to 10 mesh and have black buckets for retrieval. These are my personal classifiers. My set has more solid tubs, but I bought them at a gold show in Mesa, Arizona. | Source

3. Gold Classifier

You can call a gold classifier a gold sieve or screen, but regardless of the name, they go with a pan. You can classify directly into your pan or save the panned material for later—I often bring material home and pan it in my backyard, where I have a covered porch.

The classifier helps to separate stones and debris that you don't really want to pan when looking for placer.

One half-inch mesh is about 4 holes per square inch. A 1/4-inch mesh has about 16 holes per square inch—1/8 inch contains about 64 holes per square inch, and so on. 1/100 inch is the smallest mesh that is commonly used for microscopic gold recovery and ultra fine gold dust and flakes.

I don't know who made my classifiers, although I have made several screens on my own that straddle a 5-gallon plastic bucket, as illustrated in previous articles.

I could describe how to use the classifier, but the video below is so much more superb that I refer you to it.

By the way. I have heard newbies to recreational gold prospecting refer to classification as clarifying. Whether it is a legitimate verbal for classifying, I know not. But I thought I would add this to your prospecting wealth of knowledge. However, it takes nothing away from butter!

My personal trowel; I never leave home without it. 

TRUSTY TROWEL

Every good prospector needs a hearty trowel. In Arizona arroyos, you can sweep away two inches of sand and hit cobbles. My preference is for trowels with Dalyn Enterprises' bulb trowels. Why? Because they are made of sturdy steel—as in thick! In my area of middle Arizona down to Tucson, you can throw a trowel into the ground and wind up shaking your arm like they do in the cartoons. So, you must have struck caliche or cobbles.

Sooooo ... it is really nice to have something that can also double for a pry bar. Don't even think about those plastic trowels you can get at the dollar store. The first thing you hit will shatter it.

In this article, we covered some of my favorite tools for prospecting. They include, but are not limited to, the magnetic separator, the pin-pointer, classifiers, and last but not least, the trusty trowel. There are more—I keep all of these in my backpack, locked in my truck, and ready for my next adventure. I strongly advise you to do likewise.And by the way. I firmly suggest you not keep gold at your home. I don't. Safety deposit boxes are relatively cheap, considering the alternative. May all your pans be full!

© 2021 John R Wilsdon

Urban Mining: What Is It?

 Updated on December 19, 2024

John has recycled metals most of his life and is fascinated by waste that has value. Recycling made him aware of its necessity—and worth.

Recycling and Better Asphalt Replacement

This is an example of deteriorating asphalt. In the 70's as the crude oil shortages spread across America, think tanks began to consider recycling oil-containing asphalt. | Source

Swedes Are Conservative

Have you ever been driving down a highway and approached an open area on the side of the road where there is a large mound of broken concrete? Snaggled rebar reaches to the sky and you may even see wire mesh emanating at other angles. When I see that I say to myself, "What a waste!" Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to reuse all of that material?

Well, in the case of concrete and rebar, it is all being reused in Switzerland. The Swiss are committed to using the metals and the concrete from all torn down buildings. In fact, they have been able to crush the concrete and reuse it to make roadway bedding. Some crushed concrete can be used as aggregate for new concrete. The rebar is all collected by cranes with large electromagnets. They have been so successful that they can replenish their new construction needs for bedding and rebar by doing this.

Encouraging Urban Mining

I'm really interested in how you create a whole new economy of recycling. It's literally the 'underground economy.' All this stuff that on the surface creates growth and profit, ends up with waste, junk, and CO2. So how do you make it economic to bring new players into the ball game?

Peter Senge

An Old Road May Become New Roadbed

Lime from limestone is mixed with aggregate and silica (sand) and water forming concrete. You may have noticed that the concrete you've poured yourself requires spraying with water for a period of time to slow down the curing time, which results in better strength and fewer cracks. This process is known as hydration. Once concrete is used, the cement cannot be extracted because of the chemical change that it undergoes. Cement is a material that must be mined for all new uses.

But concrete that has been broken and discarded from roads and bridges can be crushed to specific sizes (depending on the structural requirements) and used for underlayment of roadways. In addition, crushers have been developed that effectively crunch up the concrete and allow the steel rebar to fall away. That rebar can then be sent to a steel mill to be melted down and turned into new rebar.

Why Do It? For the Economy and Environment

Anytime you can avoid using new materials, you are conserving energy, and many times saving money. Mining requires a great deal of fuel resulting in CO2 pollution. The faster mining proceeds, the faster the land can be scarred. Some people believe that slowing that process down gives us time to discover alternatives to carbon fuels. And as we know, fuel is expensive. Many times crushed concrete can be used on site or closer to a project rather than having to transport the virgin material to a building area.

Mixing the New With the Old

If crushed concrete is being used as an aggregate in new concrete, some newly-mined aggregate is added to the mix.

In my own community, old concrete has been cobbled together to stabilize the banks of arroyos. I have even seen the concrete fashioned like a mosaic and mortared in place.

Large sections of broken concrete can make very good reinforcement of embankments. | Source

Asphalt Is Not A Dirty Word

With nearly 4.1 million miles of paved roads and roadways, and 94% surfaced with asphalt, this material, if recycled, has a significant impact on our economy. RAP, or reclaimed asphalt pavement, can be a cost-saving influence for contractors. Lab studies discovered that typical RAP contains about 4-6% of asphalt content. That eliminates the percentage of virgin asphalt required. A second cost-savings is from using less asphalt cement. RAP can also be crushed and ground and added to asphalt. RAP then becomes a binder. This reduces the amount of asphalt cement mix binder required. State guidelines generally dictate percentage of RAP used in pavement. Here are some estimates based on state surveys.

1. 10-50 percent mixes are accepted in most states depending on the type of pavement being laid.
2. Technologies have been and are being developed to use 90% to 100% RAP.
3. A 20 percent or less mix of RAP in hot mix does not change the grade of the asphalt.
4. WMA (Warm Mix Asphalt) can contain up to 30% RAP.
5. 20% - 25% RAP is added to Cold Asphalt Recycling,
6. It has been discovered that 25% to 35% RAP in hot mix asphalt can result in comparable stiffness to virgin asphalt. The difference in stiffness his correlated to how fine the material additives are in the mix.

According to the latest survey data, during the 2016 construction season more than 76.9 million tons of RAP and nearly 1.4 million tons of recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) were put to use in new pavements in the United States, saving taxpayers more than $2.1 billion. - from Pavement Recyclers

Interesting Facts

• The binder in asphalt for paving is 70% of the cost of the mix. RAP can be used as a binder.
• Of 1800 tons of landfill recycled asphalt, 1700 tons is crushed rock.
• Of the 1800 tons of landfill recycled asphalt, 29,120 gallons of oil wasn't refined or delivered.
• Of the 1800 tons of landfill recycled asphalt, 70 tons of greenhouse gas was not expelled into the atmosphere.
• New asphalt contains 10 -30% RAP.
• In 2016, more than 76.9 million tons of RAP and nearly 1.4 million tons of recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) were put to use in new pavements in the United States, saving taxpayers more than $2.1 billion.
• At the job site, hot mix asphalt is between 300 and 350 degrees F. Rolling temps are between 220 and 290 degrees F.
• Warm mix asphalt is between 200 and 250 degrees F.
• Cold mix is appropriate if it doesn't drop below 150 degrees F. It is the most economical asphalt to use, mainly for cracks and potholes.
• In California, where used tires are shredded and added to asphalt, a mix called rubberized asphalt is used for resurfacing roads. It is claimed to be more durable.
• In 2017, there was a 36% increase in the use of RAP over 2009.
• Blast furnace slag, steel slag, and cellulose fibers are also mixed with asphalt for binders.

Demand That Recycled Materials Be Used

Did you know that asphalt pavement is America's most recycled material? Each year roughly 100 million tons of asphalt pavement material is reclaimed. Of that 100 million tons, about 95-percent of that is reused in roads and highways, saving taxpayers money by reducing the cost of roads. - Jacob Mrugacz

Constructive Advice

You may have seen vehicles that mix RAP with asphalt and then lay it down behind them on the roadway. The mix is dropped on the roadway and compacted in one drive-through pass. The asphalt is in the form of asphalt emulsion (or foamed asphalt) and it's referred to as cold mix asphalt.

Hot mix asphalt uses RAP as an aggregate, not unlike rock content in cement. Here the chunks are mixed with hot asphalt and used as a binder lowering the cost of material.

What Might Be the Savings Using Recycled Asphalt Pavement?

The use of reclaimed asphalt saves taxpayers money ! “Estimates show that recycling of asphalt pavements saves the American taxpayer more than $2.5 billion per year. It also saves thousands of acre-feet of landfill space each year.”

What Does Virgin Asphalt Require?

To replace the Recycled Asphalt Pavement above would require a lot of pristine material including:

1. 1870 pounds of quarried rock per ton
2. 16 gallons of oil per ton
3. 75 pounds of greenhouse gas per ton for plant power

What About the Future?

AsphaltRecycling.com estimates the savings range from $30 to $80 a ton by taking advantage of reclaimed asphalt.

Technologies will be developed to increase warm mix asphalt (WMA). By being able to reduce the temperatures of the mix, energy can be saved when applying the asphalt to the road. Most importantly, it lengthens the paving season and allows for greater compaction.

Smart robots are in the conceptual stage and are anticipated to separate materials in old buildings without pulverization. They will eliminate the dust created from current demolition models and will separate materials into piles and perform inventory functions. These robots will work from the top of a building down to the bottom.

Recycling in the future stands on three prongs. We will more and more reduce, recycle, and reuse. With growing world population, the concept of limited resources has come quickly to the forefront. Turning something whose value has waned into something new might involve no new consumption, or very little. It is a powerful tool in helping the planet. Recycling materials saves amazing amounts of time, energy, and money. It has been estimated that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours.

This savings will increase as we continue to try to change the way we think.

• Golden Legends Tales of Buried Treasure
  Here lies a treasury of stories about gold and other precious stuff. Take a break and check it out.

Sources

cxtec. (2019). What Is Urban Mining: An Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.cxtec.com/resources/blog/what-is-urban-mining-introduction/

Wikipedia. (13 October 2019), Recycling. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling

greenspec. (2019). Concrete: Cement Substitutes. Retrieved from http://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/concrete-cement-substitutes/

KENCO. (n.d.). Concrete Pulverizer. Retrieved from https://kenco.com/products/concrete-pulverizer/

Vinod Kumar Singh. (November 22, 2016). Can cement be recycled or not?https://www.quora.com/Can-cement-be-recycled-or-not. Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Can-cement-be-recycled-or-not

Pavement Recyclers. (n.d.). What Is Recycled Pavement & How Does It Help the Environment? Retrieved from https://pavementrecyclers.com/what-is-recycled-asphalt/

Pavement Recyclers. (n.d.) What Is Asphalt Recycling? Retrieved from https://pavementrecyclers.com/what-is-asphalt-recycling/

Jacob Mrugacz. (April 17, 2019). Recycled Asphalt: Learn The Benefits And Process Of Recycling Asphalt. Retrieved from https://www.wolfpaving.com/blog/recycled-asphalt-learn-the-benefits-and-process-of-recycling-pavement

National Asphalt Pavement Association. (2009 - 2010). Asphalt Pavement Mix Production Survey. Retrieved from http://www.asphaltpavement.org/images/stories/is-138_rap_ras_wma_survey_2009_2010.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. (August 3, 2016). User Guidelines for Waste and Byproduct Materials in Pavement Construction. Retrieved from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/97148/rap132.cfm

Equipment World's Better Roads. (July 19, 2018). Survey: 39% of asphalt pavement produced energy-saving warm mix - nearly 79M tons of recycled materials used. Retrieved from https://www.equipmentworld.com/survey-39-of-asphalt-pavement-produced-with-energy-saving-warm-mix-nearly-79m-tons-of-recycled-materials-used/

U.S. National Library of Medicine Institutes of Health. (January 9, 2015). Utilization of Recycled Asphalt Concrete with Warm Mix Asphalt and Cost Benefit Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289063/

Research, Development, and Technology Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center. (April 2011). Retrieved from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/11021/11021.pdf

Alluvial Plains Explained: How Gold Forms, Moves, and Concentrates in River Systems

 Updated on December 15, 2024                                                           *

I've been gold prospecting for 13 years, mainly in the Bradshaw Mountains in Yavapai County, Arizona, where I found over 8 grams of placer.

Piedmont or alluvial deposit, eluvial, or alluvium 

Practice Affects Probability

"The consequences of an act affect the probability of its occurring again." —B. F. Skinner

It is one thing to know high probability areas for finding placer gold near a stream. It is quite another thing to locate property that is a good contender for holding gold. Finding a property that might contain gold is the subject of this article. And, just as there are places to look on a claim where the nature of placer gold is likely to dictate where it "falls out" or settles, there are some fundamental rules for selecting an unclaimed area.

Finding gold this way is much harder than searching on a claim (where gold has already been found), but the rewards can be huge.

One of the first things to look at is geology. Since most areas containing placer gold are downstream from a lode (a hard rock source), you probably will want to look somewhere not far from mountains. If there is a range where some gold has previously been found, that is even better. As rain and melted snow run over rock formations, bits of gold break loose, and these flakes wash downstream. Since gold is very heavy (19 times heavier than water), the force of the water determines where the gold settles.

As the force decreases, flakes start to fall out. The larger flakes fall out first. The lighter flakes continue to be carried downstream until the water slows sufficiently for the gold to settle to the bottom of the waterway. So, one of the first things to look for is a piedmont.

A piedmont is a foothill region. In gold prospecting, the term designates an area leading away from a mountain to its base. It is created by material washing out of the mountains. This material deposits itself in a distinct pattern. Heavier material is at the top. Then follow heavier pebbles (where gold nuggets can be found), then smaller pebbles and gold flakes. The original word from its classical roots means "at the foot of the mountain". Another term for this type of region is an alluvial deposit. You more than likely have seen them in the past.

An alluvial plain in the foreground. Note the alluvium in the mountains at the top of the photo.

If there is a lode (hard mine deposit) above, there will be placer below. In reality, most areas downstream from a discovered load have been claimed. But if you discover placer gold in an area containing a virgin gold lode, you will find placer flakes. Remember, gold outcroppings occur in multiple fingers. Where there is one, there may be many close by.

The next thing you might want to do is to hike up the mountainside and see if you cannot find the lode. Of course, there could be an outcropping of quartz with gold, or you may have mineral deposits that contain gold. Either way, exploring could be worth your while. While highly improbable, experts know that all of the gold on earth has not been discovered. Placer flake is the focus of this article.

Next, you might want to look for benches. Benches are hard rock cuttings formed by water running swiftly over a combination of hard and soft rock. It might take thousands of years to cut through hard rock, but if the swift water finds a layer of soft rock, the water will cut through it relatively quicker than the hard. Suppose you have a granite-hardness-type rock that suddenly becomes limestone. The limestone portion will be cut faster. As the water level drops down the cutting side, the hard rock (granite) is left behind. This gives a rock formation on a canyon wall that resembles a bench; yes, something you could sit on.

These "gold benches" can have cracks and residue on the seat and back of the bench. By vacuuming and prying open cracks, gold that has previously gotten stuck can be sucked out. Material on the seat of the bench can be collected and panned. Many a prospector has discovered gold in this manner. I frequently use a whisk broom.

Benches

Gold can be found as very small particles in rock. Also, in particular, a by-product of copper mining, gold is recovered from the extraction process along with other valuable metals. It is often said that the gold, silver, and platinum content, a result of the copper ore processing, provides mining companies with enough money for their whole operation—copper is frequently referred to as pure profit. Gold is often mixed in sulfide minerals. In addition, Fool’s Gold (pyrite) can contain gold. Quartz can often be mingled with veins or nugget size pieces of gold.

One of the most famous and oft sought signs of the possibility of gold is the sight of white quartz. This purer/richer form, perhaps more exciting, is found in veins. At the surface of these veins, the deposits tend to be richer. So, investigate the white quartz with a close eye; it is important.

Another thing to look out for is ancient waterways. As you may well know, water can travel along a course for many years, and then for some reason, it will divert. Perhaps large boulders fall into a stream or river bed and direct the water to the side. A new water passage is created. If this area is descending, the water may move down for even more distance until it begins to take its new course. Looking for old waterways (now dry) is based on geology. If you look at the top of a waterway and see to the sides layers of rock and pebbles, that means that the current waterway diverted from that. That area to the side is a good spot to prospect for placer and nuggets.

And now, a word about gold ore. Brown is often the color of gold. It can be iron-stained rock or huge white quartz deposits. Gold ore usually contains only small traces of gold. You extract the gold by crushing the ore to practically powder size, and then the gold is separated by panning or some large mechanized version of panning that allows for the processing of more material (shaking tables, etc.).

Sluice box for gold mining 

Gold Ores

Here is a list of 13 minerals that gold is associated with in nature:

1. Calaverite
2. Krennerite
3. Nagyagite
4. Petzite
5. Sylvanite
6. Bysmuthide maldonite
7. Antimonide aurostibite
8. Copper
9. Lead
10. Mercury
11. Auricupride
12. Novodneprite
13. Weishanite

• Golden Legends Tales of Buried Treasure
  This place features lots of stories about gold, silver, treasure, and in some cases, equipment for gold prospecting. Check it out.

The Gold Hasn't Been Exhausted

While discovering a virgin lode gets harder and harder (if not nearly impossible), quartz-bearing gold can still be found at old lode sites. You must be a fortunate prospector, but it happens. Remember, commercial operations end when it is no longer profitable. That does not mean when the gold is exhausted. Investigate areas near the site of former gold quartz ledges. Finding new areas of placer gold that have not been claimed is, in my opinion, "easier". Fine gold flakes can be found for many miles on waterways and their tributaries. Looking at satellite photos of the earth’s surface in the proximity of already-discovered gold country is very useful also for detecting prime gold-bearing candidates.

When I leave my local area in Eastern Arizona, I use Arizona Gold and Gem Maps to give me an idea of where to peruse in Arizona for that shiny yellow stuff. Interestingly as well, you get sites of gem locations—that can be a lot of fun. I just looked at fire opal in Safford, AZ, thanks to the guide.

Fire Opal

Recycled Steel and Ferrous Scrap: Pollution and Economic Cost Benefits

                            

                                      An incredible amount of steel comes from auto salvage yards.
                                                                                   

Updated on September 16, 2023

John has recycled metals most of his life and is fascinated by waste that has value. Recycling made him aware of its necessity—and worth.

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish?

As of December of 2018, evidence has been gathered showing that Chinese hot-dip galvanization of steel coils causes an increase of as much as 50% more greenhouse gas. This steel material is used in construction. Consider that galvanizing can occur with recycled or virgin steel.

This takes into account GHG for a large building's steel galvanizing only. When consideration is given to the total amount of pollution created from Chinese steel production, the numbers rise even more.

Contrasted to North American cold rolled steel, Chinese steel in the example above (a Minnesota office building) created the equivalent of 10,000 gallons of burnt gasoline. In general, Chinese steel pollutes on average three times the pollution of North American steel. But of course, Chinese steel is cheaper. When the total price of the purchase is taken into account, is it cheaper?

Iron and Steel Recycling Facts

• The United States discards enough iron and steel yearly to continuously supply all the automakers in the entire nation.
• Recycling steel saves 74% of the energy used to process virgin iron ore.
• Steel is the only material used in construction today that can be 100% recycled and re-used. It is truly sustainable.
• Even scrap waste from the smelting of steel is fed back into the system.
• Because steel is magnetic, it is one of the most easily separated recyclables.
• Virtually all manufactured steel items contain some recycled steel.
• In the 60's the United States started using recycled steel in rebar. Domestically produced rebar contains 97% recycled material. Sources vary from old cars, appliances, hot water heaters, and just about any manufactured steel object.
• Recycling one ton of steel conserves 2,500 lbs. of iron ore, 1,400 lbs. of coal, and 120 lbs. of limestone.
• On average, the United States processes enough ferrous scrap daily (read stuff composed of iron), by weight, to build 25 Eiffel Towers every day of the year.
• St. Louis's Gateway Arch used 900 tons of stainless steel in construction.
• The annual amount of U.S. recycled ferrous scrap weighs enough to build 900 Golden Gate Bridges.

Reused Versus Recycled Steel

It is possible to melt recycled steel and create totally new forms. The classic example is a toaster being sold to a metal scrapper and it in turn becomes a ceiling fan. There is plenty of unwanted steel for that. But reusing steel is a form of recycling also. A very common use for fashioning new creations without the melt is in the furniture business.

One furniture business uses bikes in their contemporary designs. Bike furniture uses handlebars, frames, and rims for their creation of chairs, bar stools and love seats. Other businesses focus on steel contraptions for cutting and splicing to create new designs for those with a penchant for a specific machine. A for instance would be airplane parts for home decor.

Another example is furniture made from pipe and fittings. This type of furniture has taken off in recent years because of the extreme variety of shapes and sizes that can be formed. Look on Amazon for pipe furniture designed by Yuanshikj for many different uses. They have created shelf units, free-standing and mountable, most of which can be made from recycled steel.

Even though wood and plastic are re-purposed, they are more difficult to use in a completely different form when ground or melted. This is one reason that recycled steel is a wonderful source of material for re-purposing and completely new item in form. As the world becomes more green aware, there is little doubt that steel will be used for more and more things, especially replacing some plastic uses.

Recycled Steel in Structures

The prefabrication of steel projects focuses construction costs away from the site. This eliminates site disturbance (dust, etc.) at the project site. Though aluminum is often used because of its reflectivity, steel also has a high reflectance index value and can cool the area underneath significantly.

Recycled steel is perfect for producing roofing materials. Parking spaces can be significantly cooled with steel roofing. Steel framing that is correctly installed can make a building very tight, contributing to less air loss and less energy consumption over the building's lifetime. Steel will not warp, responding to cold and heat much less. Recycled steel studs are also stronger than wood.

Recycled steel roofing | Source

Why Recycled Steel Is Not Sufficient for Domestic Security

In June of 2018, President Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. He cited the need for a strong domestic metals industry to ensure national security. We probably all know that materials for defense like tanks, airplanes, ships, ammunition, missiles, and more require a lot of steel.

But if the United States has so much steel to recycle, why the need for a strong domestic iron mining and steel-producing industry? The argument for protective tariffs goes something like this.

If the United States were engaged in a large, protracted war, not only would the furnaces for melting recycled steel all be operating, but the daily requirements for steel production would require the simultaneous mining and smelting of virgin iron ore to make the steel required for an adequate defense. In addition, the knowledge that the United States could produce its own iron for steel production would be reason to think twice about attacking.

Given the 9/11 attacks on the United States (the Pentagon), many military installation buildings need hardening. In the event of a national emergency, immediate steel deliveries will be required from the domestic steel industry. If dependent on foreign steel, these requirements cannot be guaranteed.

A currently proposed Nucor steel mill for making steel plates would take three years to build. We need healthy mills in operating conditions to guarantee our national defense. All furnaces at large and small steel mills and smelters need to be ready.

Superior Strength Steel From Recycle

Many of the steel types used in the United States were developed over the last 20 years. There is a growing demand for thinner and stronger steel which contributes to the success of lighter applications in the modern world. These versions of steel have been developed thanks to the latest technologies.

The quest for lighter stronger materials is a universal goal for the U.S. economy. It advances the objective of lower fuel expenditure. Since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 37% because of improvements in the composition of steel.

The economy of the United States gobbles up 120 million tons of finished steel every year. Recycled steel of all types and in all applications is a huge contributor to the productive capacity of our country.

Material that was once a blender standing idly in your kitchen may well be part of a space capsule hurtling through space.

The Future

Recycling steel makes sense in terms of the economy, reduced pollution, energy savings and national defense. It makes good sense to take advantage of our bounty of used steel.

Sources

Steel Recycling Institute (2018, Feb 8). Light-Weighting with Advanced High Strength Steel Produces Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions than Lightweighting with Aluminum. Retrieved February 26, 2019 from https://www.steelsustainability.org/Green Solutions Recycling (2015, No month). Recycling Facts. Retrieved February 27, from http://www.greensolutionsrecyclingllc.com/recycling-facts/Whirlwind Steel Buildings and Components Whirlwind Team (2016, February 10). Sustainability: Benefits of Building with Steel, Retrieved February 20, 2019 from (https://www.whirlwindsteel.com/blog/bid/407753/sustainability-benefits-of-building-with-steelFrane, David (2014, September 20). 12 Things You Probably Don't Know about Rebar, Retrieved February 20, 2019 from https://www.toolsofthetrade.net/power-tools/12-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-rebar_oDekalb Iron and Metal (2019, No Month). About Metal Recycling, Retrieved February 20, 2019 from https://www.dimcodekalb.com/page/19/about-metal-recylcingYoders, Jeff (2019, January 14). Newcor to Build $1.3B Steel Mill in Midwest, State Not Yet Picked, Retrieved February 21 from https://www.enr.com/articles/46206-nucor-will-build-new-steel-plate-mill-in-the-midwest-doesnt-know-which-state-yetIijima, Satoru (2017, May 10). Shaping the Future of the U.S. Steel Industry, Retrieved February 28, 2019 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/mitsubishiheavyindustries/2017/05/10/shaping-the-future-of-the-u-s-steel-industry/#4971f9986ced

© 2019 John R Wilsdon