The Lobby: Off-topic discussion

I used to use keep an eye on the clock, but now I don’t find the time.

The mind sometimes does more worthwhile things while it’s wandering than when it sticks in its conventional groove. Everyone should give their mind some wandering time every day. It probably improves the application of cognitive processes to regular or ordinary activities imparting higher values, greater self esteem, more compassion and a better life. Of course, it doesn’t predict the winner of the 3:30 at Newmarket so we have to keep one foot on the ground.

I think I’ve probably unwittingly overstepped the boundary on this occasion, to quote a well-known sage.

The mind, like the rest of your body, needs a space in which to switch off from the constant noise in the head coming from the external stimulus through the senses which can affect all thought processes. 10 minutes quiet stillness each day is enough to allow the creative juices to flow from the source beyond the ego centred conditioned mind.

It probably won’t predict the winner of the 3:30, but you will unwittingly discover something much more rewarding than any amount of money can buy 🙂

I am no expert on steel production and that appears to be what this mine is intending to support by providing coking coal. A quick look in the web:

“Coking coal is a key raw material in steel production. As iron occurs only as iron oxides in the earth’s crust, the ores must be converted, or ‘reduced’, using carbon. The primary source of this carbon is coking coal. … Coke reduces iron ore to molten iron saturated with carbon, called hot metal.”

FACT SHEET Steel and raw materials – worldsteel
http://www.worldsteel.org › dam

“Can steel be made without coking coal?
Coking coal is usually bituminous-rank coal with special qualities that are needed in the blast furnace. While an increasing amount of steel is being recycled, there is currently no technology to make steel at scale without using coal.

“Is coal essential for steel production?
Blast furnaces need coal, but there is an alternative technology called an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). This is responsible for approximately 30% of the world’s steel production and does not require coal. But it does require an input of pig iron which does usually require coal.“

Thanks malcolm. I wonder if the environmental protests are intending to oppose steel production or whether they have just jumped on an all coal is bad bandwagon?

I understand that it is difficult to eliminate use of coal in steel manufacture at present, but we can reduce it. We have come a long way since the days of open fires and power stations that pumped out so much sulphur dioxide that it caused acid rain in other countries. We must continue to innovate for the benefit of our health.

Indeed, but steel is still going to be needed for a lot of things.

(including fire retardant appliances)

…..and a Vaillant boiler heat exchanger.

I guess that comes from the stainless steel mines, Malcolm.

Derek – I don’t doubt we need steel but if it can be produced in a way that minimises pollution is that not worthwhile?

This might be of interest. https://ectltd.com.au/can-we-make-steel-without-metallurgical-coal/

I was surprised when I read that this method was regarded as lower emissions because lignite is usually associated with pollution, for example when it is used as a fuel in eastern Europe. https://www.env-health.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/HEAL-Lignite-Briefing-en_web.pdf Of course steel production and burning lignite are very different. Carbon is of course a vital component of steels, albeit no more than 0.3% in the most common – mild steel.

We certainly do need steel and hopefully steel production can be made cleaner. I still remember the extent of dirt and pollution that I witnessed on a visit to a steel works when I was at school.