Image Resources' financial returns for its North Perth Basin mineral sands project just got a whole lot better with increases in the prices of titanium dioxide and zircon mineral sand products.
Tellingly, the increases would boost the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of the project to 47% at the current A$/US$, up from 43%. The net cash flows for life of the mine to $381 million, up from $259 million.
The capital for the project would be repaid from cash flows after just 13 months of operation, previously 18 months.
Capital costs are estimated at $84 million.
The project would produce some 1,393,000 tonnes of ilmenite, 85,000 tonnes of rutile, 193,000 tonnes of zircon and 93,000 tonnes of leucoxene over a twelve year mine life.
Image has commenced a Feasibility Study on the North Perth Basin project.
Environmental consultants are carrying out baseline studies and the environmental permitting of the Atlas deposit, the first of the deposits to be developed.
Bulk samples from the Atlas and Red Gully deposits are being collected in preparation for further metallurgical test work to be carried out during the first quarter 2012.
This test work is expected to demonstrate that metallurgical recoveries for these resources can be improved.
There has been an 80-85 per cent increase in rutile prices and 85-90 per cent projected increase in synthetic rutile prices next year. While zircon prices are expected to flatten early next year after strong increases the last few years.
The pigments are used in paints and other building materials and then on-sold to China and other developing countries.
While new supply is coming on stream, the new suppliers will simply help satisfy the demand growth out of China.
The key markets for zircon, a product used in ceramics and tiles, are generally outside of the regions affected by the current sovereign debt issues. zircon in particular, the ceramic-centric cultures, the tile-centric cultures tend to be Latin American, Asian, Islamic and the Middle East.
With very strong demand for minerals sands products the outlook for Image's North Perth Basin mineral sands project is very solid based on projected financial returns.
If Iluka is anything to go by, Image presents a real opportunity for investors with booming mineral sands prices and demand for rutile and zircon.
Iluka is up more than 470 per cent since the lows of July 2009 and is up more than 86 per cent since January. In comparison, the ASX 200 index is down about 13 per cent this year.
While Iluka is an industry leader, it was not always the case and in 2009 was down and almost out. For keen investors, there is an opportunity to potentially catch a wave with Image riding high demand for minerals sands products as it moves closer to development of its Perth Basin mineral sands project.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Residents rue loss of green bed outside homes
The municipal corporation, which uprooted small lawns and gardens that people had developed outside their houses in Kitchlu Nagar, has rubbed residents the wrong way. They complain that the authorities have removed the small green patches in the name of widening roads but have done nothing about the electricity poles that are in the middle of roads and come in the way of smooth traffic flow.
MC officials had started extending roads in various blocks of the area around one month ago and started laying interlocking tiles that destroyed the gardens that residents had developed over the years. Residents say the officials should have removed the electricity poles first.
Superintending engineer of electricity wing, MC, S P Singh said, "We are removing poles creating hurdles in smooth flow of traffic and poles in Kitchlu Nagar would also be removed as soon as possible.''
However, residents whose years of hardwork has been covered with tiles are not pacified by the assurance. Homemaker Veena Aggarwal, a resident of B-block said, "Each household had developed small kitchen gardens where they were growing onions and seasonal vegetables but MC officials uprooted all of it in the name of widening the road. I somehow managed to convince them to spare a jamun tree outside my house. But if the electricity poles are not removed there would be no use of extending the roads because vehicles will not be able to pass.''
Though businessman D P S Chadha of C block appreciated the effort to make roads broad because of the number of vehicles, he rued that the officials could have planned things better. "The poles would create problems in smooth flow of traffic. If small gardens were creating problems then these big poles are doing the same,'' he said.
Tuzy Puri, who is also a resident of the area, said, "It is the carelessness of civic authorities that they don't plan before implementing things in residential areas. The poles should have had been removed first.''
MC officials had started extending roads in various blocks of the area around one month ago and started laying interlocking tiles that destroyed the gardens that residents had developed over the years. Residents say the officials should have removed the electricity poles first.
Superintending engineer of electricity wing, MC, S P Singh said, "We are removing poles creating hurdles in smooth flow of traffic and poles in Kitchlu Nagar would also be removed as soon as possible.''
However, residents whose years of hardwork has been covered with tiles are not pacified by the assurance. Homemaker Veena Aggarwal, a resident of B-block said, "Each household had developed small kitchen gardens where they were growing onions and seasonal vegetables but MC officials uprooted all of it in the name of widening the road. I somehow managed to convince them to spare a jamun tree outside my house. But if the electricity poles are not removed there would be no use of extending the roads because vehicles will not be able to pass.''
Though businessman D P S Chadha of C block appreciated the effort to make roads broad because of the number of vehicles, he rued that the officials could have planned things better. "The poles would create problems in smooth flow of traffic. If small gardens were creating problems then these big poles are doing the same,'' he said.
Tuzy Puri, who is also a resident of the area, said, "It is the carelessness of civic authorities that they don't plan before implementing things in residential areas. The poles should have had been removed first.''
Monday, December 26, 2011
A view of Italy
Today we wrap up our discussion on balconies with a little construction strategy.
First, your balcony will consist of a cantilever-style structure, which, like the nose on your face, will simply protrude from the exterior wall.
Supporting a balcony via pillars or fibreglass columns from below would certainly be an easier strategy to follow, construction wise, and would certainly suit a home where the balcony was placed over the front entrance, however, pillar support is not quite the style we're shooting for.
Will our balcony not need some type of support system? Of course, if you're in the blueprint stage of your future new home, your architect will be able to modify the floor system so that the engineered joists extend past the exterior wall the desired number of feet, or that the joists be designed to accept some form of steel framework.
When adding a balcony to an existing home, whereby the use of columns underneath is not possible, or just not desired, then the manner of installation will have to be examined by a contractor and further okayed by an engineer, in order for you to get a permit.
A cantilever-style balcony isn't like any other deck, since the outer perimeter will seemingly be defying gravity. Realizing that nothing defies gravity, at least not for long, a support structure (as unintrusive as possible) will need to be installed underneath the balcony platform. This support structure should, no doubt, be made of steel, to ensure a long lasting, maintenance free quality.
If the steel's angled support structure isn't in line with the style or decor of the home, the beams could be easily covered with foam mouldings. These mouldings would, in turn, be coated with a stucco-type product that would duplicate the texture of stone or concrete.
Or, you could conceal the supports in true Italian fashion with the always classic statue of Zeus or Atlas, whereby the statue's form, usually starting at the waistline, protrudes from the wall.
The stylish effect of your platform resting on Atlas' shoulder, with arms raised in support, would be impressive indeed.
Now, if the likes of Zeus, Atlas, or any of the Greek or Roman gods, don't hold any great historical or ancestral significance to you, but you still like the statue idea, perhaps the likes of Big Joe Mufferaw, or Canadian strongman Louis Cyr, or Cornwall's legendary football great Moe Racine, would provide that statuesque, yet closer to home, desired effect.
The challenge, of course, would lie in finding a sculptor, a profession that really lost its market about 500 years ago.
Balcony framework?
I like the steel frame, poured concrete floor best.
Steel is forever, and so is the concrete, especially if it's coated with a porcelain or slate tile.
Railing systems?
Again, consider the maintenance free, everlasting quality of steel, aluminum or cast iron spindles.
What about glass?
Glass looks great, but may not suit your traditional or formal stone type home, and would definitely clash with your Moe Racine, dueling statue support system. However, for a contemporary home, glass panels are perfect.
First step to balcony success?
Contact your contractor and explain your vision. If this initial visit is positive, meet with your engineer, since the project will require some structural expertise.
If all goes as planned, you're well on your way to a very special home feature indeed.
First, your balcony will consist of a cantilever-style structure, which, like the nose on your face, will simply protrude from the exterior wall.
Supporting a balcony via pillars or fibreglass columns from below would certainly be an easier strategy to follow, construction wise, and would certainly suit a home where the balcony was placed over the front entrance, however, pillar support is not quite the style we're shooting for.
Will our balcony not need some type of support system? Of course, if you're in the blueprint stage of your future new home, your architect will be able to modify the floor system so that the engineered joists extend past the exterior wall the desired number of feet, or that the joists be designed to accept some form of steel framework.
When adding a balcony to an existing home, whereby the use of columns underneath is not possible, or just not desired, then the manner of installation will have to be examined by a contractor and further okayed by an engineer, in order for you to get a permit.
A cantilever-style balcony isn't like any other deck, since the outer perimeter will seemingly be defying gravity. Realizing that nothing defies gravity, at least not for long, a support structure (as unintrusive as possible) will need to be installed underneath the balcony platform. This support structure should, no doubt, be made of steel, to ensure a long lasting, maintenance free quality.
If the steel's angled support structure isn't in line with the style or decor of the home, the beams could be easily covered with foam mouldings. These mouldings would, in turn, be coated with a stucco-type product that would duplicate the texture of stone or concrete.
Or, you could conceal the supports in true Italian fashion with the always classic statue of Zeus or Atlas, whereby the statue's form, usually starting at the waistline, protrudes from the wall.
The stylish effect of your platform resting on Atlas' shoulder, with arms raised in support, would be impressive indeed.
Now, if the likes of Zeus, Atlas, or any of the Greek or Roman gods, don't hold any great historical or ancestral significance to you, but you still like the statue idea, perhaps the likes of Big Joe Mufferaw, or Canadian strongman Louis Cyr, or Cornwall's legendary football great Moe Racine, would provide that statuesque, yet closer to home, desired effect.
The challenge, of course, would lie in finding a sculptor, a profession that really lost its market about 500 years ago.
Balcony framework?
I like the steel frame, poured concrete floor best.
Steel is forever, and so is the concrete, especially if it's coated with a porcelain or slate tile.
Railing systems?
Again, consider the maintenance free, everlasting quality of steel, aluminum or cast iron spindles.
What about glass?
Glass looks great, but may not suit your traditional or formal stone type home, and would definitely clash with your Moe Racine, dueling statue support system. However, for a contemporary home, glass panels are perfect.
First step to balcony success?
Contact your contractor and explain your vision. If this initial visit is positive, meet with your engineer, since the project will require some structural expertise.
If all goes as planned, you're well on your way to a very special home feature indeed.
Friday, December 23, 2011
First steps for Marine after the blast
The Marine lies on his side in the military hospital, his wheelchair parked nearby, waiting to be cast for his first pair of legs. The prosthetist dips strips of fabric coated in plaster into a bucket of warm water, then smooths them over thin pants covering Sgt. Collin Raaz’s battle-scarred thighs.
Almost four months earlier, on June 15th, the 25-year-old scout sniper lost both legs above the knee after an insurgent bomb explosion in Afghanistan.
For partial leg amputations like his, prosthetists and technicians at San Diego Naval Medical Center take molds of the residual limbs and use them to make plastic sockets that fit over the thighs.
Brian Zalewski, Raaz’s prosthetist, prefers to cast the sockets using his hands instead of a three-dimensional computer scanner. Bomb blasts cause uneven amputations bulging with scar tissue in places and sunken with voids of flesh in others. Sometimes bone grows out of control, floating in soft tissues where it can press sharply against the prosthetic socket.
“Because of all the debris from the blast, the limbs can be full of pieces of metal or fragments of bone. A lot of times they don’t come to the surface right away,” Zalewski says. “When we get our hands on them, we can feel the mass.”
Prosthetic staffers custom shape each socket. They make windows to relieve pressure on obtrusions and ensure the overall fit distributes weight evenly across the limb.
When the plaster sets, Zalewski pops the mold off. It makes a sucking sound — a good sign for a snug fit. About a week later, in early October, Zalewski carries two short prosthetic legs out of the lab and shows them to Raaz.
The thigh sockets are connected to straight pylons about 6 inches tall, ending in small square metal foot pads.
Raaz must work with the “stubbies” before getting full-height prosthetic legs. The wounds on his thighs need to toughen, his balance improve and his muscles harden, so he can walk for longer stretches.
Usually patients spend about a month in the short legs. Raaz wants to beat that average.
He pulls silicone gel liners over his thighs for cushion, tugs the sockets on and stands at the parallel bars, while his mother, Julie Raaz, takes a video with her iPad.
This is the first time he has stood upright since he was wounded.
It feels strange, but good. His balance is off, the hard sockets pinch a bit and his thigh muscles strain to bear his weight. “Hopefully I won’t faceplant,” he says.
Almost four months earlier, on June 15th, the 25-year-old scout sniper lost both legs above the knee after an insurgent bomb explosion in Afghanistan.
For partial leg amputations like his, prosthetists and technicians at San Diego Naval Medical Center take molds of the residual limbs and use them to make plastic sockets that fit over the thighs.
Brian Zalewski, Raaz’s prosthetist, prefers to cast the sockets using his hands instead of a three-dimensional computer scanner. Bomb blasts cause uneven amputations bulging with scar tissue in places and sunken with voids of flesh in others. Sometimes bone grows out of control, floating in soft tissues where it can press sharply against the prosthetic socket.
“Because of all the debris from the blast, the limbs can be full of pieces of metal or fragments of bone. A lot of times they don’t come to the surface right away,” Zalewski says. “When we get our hands on them, we can feel the mass.”
Prosthetic staffers custom shape each socket. They make windows to relieve pressure on obtrusions and ensure the overall fit distributes weight evenly across the limb.
When the plaster sets, Zalewski pops the mold off. It makes a sucking sound — a good sign for a snug fit. About a week later, in early October, Zalewski carries two short prosthetic legs out of the lab and shows them to Raaz.
The thigh sockets are connected to straight pylons about 6 inches tall, ending in small square metal foot pads.
Raaz must work with the “stubbies” before getting full-height prosthetic legs. The wounds on his thighs need to toughen, his balance improve and his muscles harden, so he can walk for longer stretches.
Usually patients spend about a month in the short legs. Raaz wants to beat that average.
He pulls silicone gel liners over his thighs for cushion, tugs the sockets on and stands at the parallel bars, while his mother, Julie Raaz, takes a video with her iPad.
This is the first time he has stood upright since he was wounded.
It feels strange, but good. His balance is off, the hard sockets pinch a bit and his thigh muscles strain to bear his weight. “Hopefully I won’t faceplant,” he says.
Humidifiers can make your little ones more comfortable
Winter months in cold climates are a time of dry skin and itchy eyes as we retreat into the dry air of our heated homes. For babies and young children, especially those who are too young to know how to blow their nose, dry indoor air may make them feel even more uncomfortable. Having a good humidifier can provide some relief.
“With humidifiers, I tend to recommend cool mist as opposed to warm mist,” said Dr. Amy Guiot , a pediatric hospitalist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “We’re concerned about accidental burns. Cool mist thins the mucus and makes everything flow out.” The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees that cool mist humidifiers are the safest choice.
What you need to pay close attention to is cleaning and maintaining the humidifier you ultimately choose. “Molds can happen with both (warm mist and cool mist),” said Dr. Guiot. “If the water sits there, mold will grow. You have to change water frequently and clean as directed.”
Dr. Robin Deterding, a co-author of “Inhalational Lung Injury Associated with Humidifier ‘White Dust,’” a case report that was published earlier this year in Pediatrics, said, “Most people don’t read the directions and use tap water. I recommend distilled water.” The problem is that some humidifiers end up spewing mineral particles into the air, which can potentially lead to health problems. Dr. Deterding urges parents to clean humidifiers daily.
Remember, too, that there can be too much of a good thing, and you don’t want to overdo using the humidifier. “You don’t want to run it all the time, every day—dust mites like humidity,” said Dr. Guiot. “You don’t want to be walking into a jungle.”
See our buying advice and Ratings (available to subscribers) for humidifiers and a wide range of other products for babies and kids.
“With humidifiers, I tend to recommend cool mist as opposed to warm mist,” said Dr. Amy Guiot , a pediatric hospitalist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “We’re concerned about accidental burns. Cool mist thins the mucus and makes everything flow out.” The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees that cool mist humidifiers are the safest choice.
What you need to pay close attention to is cleaning and maintaining the humidifier you ultimately choose. “Molds can happen with both (warm mist and cool mist),” said Dr. Guiot. “If the water sits there, mold will grow. You have to change water frequently and clean as directed.”
Dr. Robin Deterding, a co-author of “Inhalational Lung Injury Associated with Humidifier ‘White Dust,’” a case report that was published earlier this year in Pediatrics, said, “Most people don’t read the directions and use tap water. I recommend distilled water.” The problem is that some humidifiers end up spewing mineral particles into the air, which can potentially lead to health problems. Dr. Deterding urges parents to clean humidifiers daily.
Remember, too, that there can be too much of a good thing, and you don’t want to overdo using the humidifier. “You don’t want to run it all the time, every day—dust mites like humidity,” said Dr. Guiot. “You don’t want to be walking into a jungle.”
See our buying advice and Ratings (available to subscribers) for humidifiers and a wide range of other products for babies and kids.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Historical setting leads to lofty living
With their high ceilings, open spaces and big windows, urban lofts are the ultimate in cool. But go wrong with the design, and "cool" can quickly turn to "cold."
My client, Gerald, had just such a problem. Eager for loft living, he bought a unit in a beautiful historical building, but soon discovered it was cramped, uninviting and, aside from the concrete floor and a few uncovered pipes, had none of the detailing of an authentic loft.
Gerald longed for a warm and modern living space that would lend itself to lots of entertaining, and asked me to help. I had only 600 square feet of living space to work with, and into that space I had to address the kitchen, the living/dining areas -- and Gerald's prized piano. My big challenge was to give this small space maximum efficiency.
As an open space, the loft had four elevations that I needed to contend with. The kitchen took up one side of the living space. Due to its size, there was no room for a formal dining table, so I used a gorgeous black-quartz counter to create a spacious island and placed lots of seating around it. That way it can serve as both a kitchen prep area and as a perfect dining spot for guests.
A lack of storage was a big problem for Gerald. So, taking advantage of the great vertical space in the room, I used the wall adjacent to the kitchen as a place for all his stuff. First, I covered the wall in a warm gray faux brick for that truly authentic loft look, and then put up cabinetry that included a media unit and floating wooden shelves.
In the center of the room I created a floating furniture arrangement that included a long creamy sofa backed by a beautiful walnut credenza, two chairs and a few side tables. I also customized Gerald's existing storage bench with an upholstered velvet top, turning it into a luxurious, ottoman-style coffee table. I anchored all the furniture with an "area rug" of charcoal, brown, taupe and cream carpet tiles.
Gerald is an accomplished pianist and needed the perfect backdrop for his dazzling black piano. So on the third wall I used a sparkling glitz-and-glam treatment. First, I created three giant frames painted in a bronzy luxe finish. Then, for added bling, I filled the frames with antique mirrored panels and placed a shimmering polished chrome sconce inside each one.
I didn't want to cover up the floor-to-ceiling windows with drapes. Instead, I opted for gliding fabric panels in a light linen shade, hung from a ceiling-mounted track system. These panels will diffuse sunlight and provide some privacy -- and, best of all, they operate with a remote control!
To further brighten things up, I used a mix of gorgeous lighting fixtures that included a drum-pendant crystal chandelier over the living-room area, white pendant lights above the island and a variety of stunning floor and table lamps.
I decided to increase the sense of space inside Gerald's loft by carrying the design theme out into his small terrace. To visually connect the two spaces, I continued the carpet pattern outside using a weatherproof version of the interior tiles. Then I turned the exterior space into a casual lounge area by furnishing it with two love seats, a modern-day picnic table and two elegant benches -- all made of a handsome woven, weatherproof material.
Turning the boxy, cold space into an inviting elegant loft was not without its challenges. But, by mixing function with style, and by maximizing all the space at hand, I was able to give Gerald a stylish, modern home where he can relax, entertain -- and tickle the ivories way into the wee hours.
My client, Gerald, had just such a problem. Eager for loft living, he bought a unit in a beautiful historical building, but soon discovered it was cramped, uninviting and, aside from the concrete floor and a few uncovered pipes, had none of the detailing of an authentic loft.
Gerald longed for a warm and modern living space that would lend itself to lots of entertaining, and asked me to help. I had only 600 square feet of living space to work with, and into that space I had to address the kitchen, the living/dining areas -- and Gerald's prized piano. My big challenge was to give this small space maximum efficiency.
As an open space, the loft had four elevations that I needed to contend with. The kitchen took up one side of the living space. Due to its size, there was no room for a formal dining table, so I used a gorgeous black-quartz counter to create a spacious island and placed lots of seating around it. That way it can serve as both a kitchen prep area and as a perfect dining spot for guests.
A lack of storage was a big problem for Gerald. So, taking advantage of the great vertical space in the room, I used the wall adjacent to the kitchen as a place for all his stuff. First, I covered the wall in a warm gray faux brick for that truly authentic loft look, and then put up cabinetry that included a media unit and floating wooden shelves.
In the center of the room I created a floating furniture arrangement that included a long creamy sofa backed by a beautiful walnut credenza, two chairs and a few side tables. I also customized Gerald's existing storage bench with an upholstered velvet top, turning it into a luxurious, ottoman-style coffee table. I anchored all the furniture with an "area rug" of charcoal, brown, taupe and cream carpet tiles.
Gerald is an accomplished pianist and needed the perfect backdrop for his dazzling black piano. So on the third wall I used a sparkling glitz-and-glam treatment. First, I created three giant frames painted in a bronzy luxe finish. Then, for added bling, I filled the frames with antique mirrored panels and placed a shimmering polished chrome sconce inside each one.
I didn't want to cover up the floor-to-ceiling windows with drapes. Instead, I opted for gliding fabric panels in a light linen shade, hung from a ceiling-mounted track system. These panels will diffuse sunlight and provide some privacy -- and, best of all, they operate with a remote control!
To further brighten things up, I used a mix of gorgeous lighting fixtures that included a drum-pendant crystal chandelier over the living-room area, white pendant lights above the island and a variety of stunning floor and table lamps.
I decided to increase the sense of space inside Gerald's loft by carrying the design theme out into his small terrace. To visually connect the two spaces, I continued the carpet pattern outside using a weatherproof version of the interior tiles. Then I turned the exterior space into a casual lounge area by furnishing it with two love seats, a modern-day picnic table and two elegant benches -- all made of a handsome woven, weatherproof material.
Turning the boxy, cold space into an inviting elegant loft was not without its challenges. But, by mixing function with style, and by maximizing all the space at hand, I was able to give Gerald a stylish, modern home where he can relax, entertain -- and tickle the ivories way into the wee hours.
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