A new processing technique for synchrotron scanning 3D X-ray diffraction data is introduced, utilizing symmetric Bragg reflections hkl and hkl, known as Friedel pairs. This technique is designed to tackle the difficulties associated with large, highly deformed, polyphase materials, especially geological samples.

The present study introduces a processing strategy for synchrotron scanning 3D X-ray diffraction (s3DXRD) data, aimed at addressing the challenges posed by large, highly deformed, polyphase materials such as crystalline rocks. Leveraging symmetric Bragg reflections known as Friedel pairs, our method enables diffraction events to be precisely located within the sample volume. This method allows for fitting the phase, crystal structure and unit-cell parameters at the intra-grain scale on a voxel grid. The processing workflow incorporates several new modules, designed to (i) efficiently match Friedel pairs in large s3DXRD datasets containing up to 108 diffraction peaks; (ii) assign phases to each pixel or voxel, resolving potential ambiguities arising from overlap in scattering angles between different crystallographic phases; and (iii) fit the crystal orientation and unit cell locally on a point-by-point basis. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique on fractured granite samples, highlighting the ability of the method to characterize complex geological materials and show their internal structure and mineral composition. Additionally, we include the characterization of a metal gasket made of a commercial aluminium alloy, which surrounded the granite sample during experiments. The results show the effectiveness of the technique in recovering information about the internal texture and residual strain of materials that have undergone high levels of plastic deformation.

The African Light Source (AfLS) project is now almost eight years old. This article assesses the history, current context and future of the project. There is by now considerable momentum in building the user community, including deep training, facilitating access to current facilities, growing the scientific output, scientific networks and growing the local laboratory-scale research infrastructure. The Conceptual Design Report for the AfLS is in its final editing stages. This document specifies the socio-economic and scientific rationales and the technical aspects amongst others. The AfLS is supported by many national and Pan-African scientific professional bodies and voluntary associates across many scientific disciplines, and there are stakeholders throughout the continent and beyond. The current roadmap phases have expanded to include national and Pan-African level conversations with policy makers through new Strategic Task Force groups. The document summarizes this progress and discusses the future of the project.

The management and processing of synchrotron and neutron computed tomography data can be a complex, labor-intensive and unstructured process. Users devote substantial time to both manually processing their data (i.e. organizing data/metadata, applying image filters etc.) and waiting for the computation of iterative alignment and reconstruction algorithms to finish. In this work, we present a solution to these problems: TomoPyUI, a user interface for the well known tomography data processing package TomoPy. This highly visual Python software package guides the user through the tomography processing pipeline from data import, preprocessing, alignment and finally to 3D volume reconstruction. The TomoPyUI systematic intermediate data and metadata storage system improves organization, and the inspection and manipulation tools (built within the application) help to avoid interrupted workflows. Notably, TomoPyUI operates entirely within a Jupyter environment. Herein, we provide a summary of these key features of TomoPyUI, along with an overview of the tomography processing pipeline, a discussion of the landscape of existing tomography processing software and the purpose of TomoPyUI, and a demonstration of its capabilities for real tomography data collected at SSRL beamline 6-2c.

This paper summarizes brief perspectives on the historic process of establishing an African Crystallographic Association (AfCA) and includes representative references. It covers activities within four arbitrarily selected, approximate time slots, i.e., 1890s–1999, 2000–2013, 2014–2019 and 2020–2023. A genuine attempt is made to include appropriate role players, organizations and accompanying events within these periods. It concludes with the official admission of AfCA as the fifth Regional Associate of the IUCr at the 26th Congress and General Assembly of the IUCr in Melbourne, Australia in 2023.

JUAMI, the joint undertaking for an African materials institute, is a project to build collaborations and materials research capabilities between PhD researchers in Africa, the United States, and the world. Focusing on research-active universities in the East African countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, the effort has run a series of schools focused on materials for sustainable energy and materials for sustainable development. These bring together early-career researchers from Africa, the US, and beyond, for two weeks in a close-knit environment. The program includes lectures on cutting-edge research from internationally renowned speakers, highly interactive tutorial lectures on the science behind the research, also from internationally known researchers, and hands-on practicals and team-building exercises that culminate in group proposals from self-formed student teams. The schools have benefited more than 300 early-career students and led to proposals that have received funding and have led to research collaborations and educational non-profits. JUAMI continues and has an ongoing community of alumni who share resources and expertise, and is open to like-minded people who want to join and develop contacts and collaborations internationally.

Data collection at X-ray free electron lasers has particular experimental challenges, such as continuous sample delivery or the use of novel ultrafast high-dynamic-range gain-switching X-ray detectors. This can result in a multitude of data artefacts, which can be detrimental to accurately determining structure-factor amplitudes for serial crystallography or single-particle imaging experiments. Here, a new data-classification tool is reported that offers a variety of machine-learning algorithms to sort data trained either on manual data sorting by the user or by profile fitting the intensity distribution on the detector based on the experiment. This is integrated into an easy-to-use graphical user interface, specifically designed to support the detectors, file formats and software available at most X-ray free electron laser facilities. The highly modular design makes the tool easily expandable to comply with other X-ray sources and detectors, and the supervised learning approach enables even the novice user to sort data containing unwanted artefacts or perform routine data-analysis tasks such as hit finding during an experiment, without needing to write code.

Africhange has announced that its Nigerian branch, Currenzo,...

Source: Streetwise Reports 11/07/2024

Sanu Gold Corp. (SANU:CSE; SNGCF:OTCQB; L73:FRA) commenced inaugural phase one drilling, to comprise about 19 holes for up to 2,000 meters (2,000m), at its Diguifara project in Guinea, as announced in a news release. Diguifara is one of this Canadian mineral explorer's three claim blocks totaling 280 square kilometers in the country's Siguiri Basin, a prolific gold district in West Africa. The other two assets are Daina and Bantabaye.

The company plans to drill test three priority targets, Dig 1, Dig 2, and Dig 3, which cover a cumulative strike length of 3.2 kilometers (3.2 km). Auger-in-saprolite samples from these targets showed gold grades up to 4.8 grams per ton (4.8 g/t). Along with auger sampling of bedrock, Sanu previously completed extensive and systematic surface geochemistry and ground geophysical surveys at Diguifara.

Capital Ltd. will complete the drilling, using a large multipurpose rig to drill air core and reverse circulation holes. This company is experienced in drilling large deposits in Guinea, and its investment arm, Capital DI, is a Sanu shareholder. Capital will collect samples on-site and submit them to MSALABS in Bamako, Mali, for analysis.

Sanu Gold is excited to drill at Diguifara because it contains kilometer-scale geochemical and geophysical gold trends and strong gold mineralization in the weathered bedrock and is located within trucking distance to a large operating gold mine, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Martin Pawlitschek told Streetwise Reports in an interview. He said the company could potentially monetize even a modest discovery of about 200,000–300,000 ounces (200–300 Koz) on the block due to this proximity to a major mine. Although it is important to point out that our target here is to make multi-million-ounce discoveries, our targets are large enough to potentially deliver this.

Diguifara is close to AngloGold Ashanti Plc.'s (AU:NYSE; ANG:JSE; AGG:ASX; AGD:LSE) Siguiri mine and mill, which produced gold since the mid-1990s, specifically 214 Koz last year. This South African gold miner owns 14% of Sanu.

"[AngloGold Ashanti has] a very hungry mill that will welcome additional ore feed from satellite deposits, and we're right in the range," said Pawlitschek.

In other news, Sanu announced separately that it added a new prospective gold target, Salat East, at its Daina claim block in the southeastern corner. There, artisanal miners started extracting mineralized material along a 500m-long, northeast-trending line of workings from a 5–8m wide structure dipping to the west. Daina already has an impressive pipeline of large footprint targets that will see drilling once the rig finishes at Diguifara.

"Salat East represents a new target with possible significant gold ounce potential," Pawlitschek said in the release.

Sanu intends to evaluate this target, with rock chip sampling, geological mapping and geophysics, prior to deciding whether or not to drill it.

Working to Discover Deposits

At Diguifara, Daina and Bantabaye, Sanu Gold is looking to discover multimillion-ounce gold deposits. The trio, in the Siguiri Basin, is surrounded by world-class operating mines and major new discoveries. Société Minière de Dinguiraye SA's Lefa, Hummingbird Resources Plc's (HUM:AIM) Kouroussa and Robex Resources Inc.'s (RBX:TSX.V) Kiniero and Predictive Discovery (PDI:ASX) with its 5.4million ounce Bankan project are some.

"We believe there is definitely that big potential on all three blocks," Pawlitschek told Streetwise.

Guinea and West Africa are pro-mining and looking to expand the industry, noted Sanu's CEO. Since the mid-1990s gold has been mined in Guinea. Last year, gold output there was 10% higher than in 2022, making Guinea the world's 23rd largest producer of the metal, according to GlobalData.

With contributions from operations in Guinea, and Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali, West Africa has become a key gold mining region, reports the data analytics firm. It forecasts total gold production in West Africa this year will be 11,830,000 ounces.

Gold Continues Historic Climb

The gold price broke through the US$2,800 per ounce (US$2,800/oz) Wednesday, marking its fourth consecutive monthly gain, Reuters reported on Oct. 31. After, gold retreated, to end today at US$2756/oz.

"You're going to see a bit more consolidation," David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures, told Reuters. "We have a lot of major impactful news next week, the U.S. election on Tuesday, Fed meeting on Wednesday. So it's really not surprising to see some traders take profits."

As for gold equities, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (SPCDNX) confirmed a multidecade bull run for junior, intermediate, and senior mining stocks when it closed above 1,000 recently, Stewart Thomson with 321Gold wrote. The index is a key indicator of the health of the general gold, silver, and mining stocks market.

A reversal of outflows from gold exchange-traded funds occurred during Q3/24, and inflows during the quarter amounted to 95 tons, as reported by the World Gold Council, reported Ron Struthers of Struthers Resource Stock Report on Oct. 30. Positive inflows during the quarter came from all geographical regions, for holdings of 3,200 tons.

"All regions saw positive inflows during the quarter, which ended with collective holdings of 3,200 tons," the newsletter writer added. "Next year, we should be back to levels of 2020 and 2021. This will be fuel for a continued bull market."

Experts predict the gold price will continue its historic climb. Recently polled London Bullion Market Association members indicated they believe the gold price could reach US$2,940/oz during 2025, reported Stockhead.

Also, for 2025, InvestingHaven predicts US$3,100/oz gold. This is based on leading gold price indicators, including heightened inflation and increasing central bank demand, and from patterns on long-term gold charts, it noted.

The Catalysts: Drill Results

With drilling underway at Diguifara, results from the program could catalyze Sanu's stock, said Pawlitschek. They will be released when ready in about six to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, the gold company will tackle preparations for drilling untested targets at Daina, which will start soon. The scope of the campaign planned for Daina matches that is being carried out at Diguifara. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-10892]

"We have multiple targets that are going for 3, 4, up to 9 km strike lengths, some of them," the CEO said, referring to Diguifara and Daina.

When the initial phase at Daina is complete and results from Diguifara are back, we will likely go back to Difuifara for follow up drilling.

Ownership and Share Structure

According to the company's latest presentation, the largest share holders include strategic investors Anglo Gold Ashanti at 14 % and Capital at 10%.

Institutional investors include Scotia Global Asset Management, US Global Investors, Lowell Resources Funds Management, and Palos Management, which collectively make up 17% of the shareholders.

Management, founders and insider own around 22% with another 22% being held by high net worth individuals. 15% is held by retail investors.

The market cap for Sanu Gold is CA$17-18million with 238.5 million common shares. The 52-week range for the stock is CA$0.03 and CA$0.15.

Sign up for our FREE newsletter at: www.streetwisereports.com/get-news

Important Disclosures:

1. Sanu Gold Corp. is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.
2. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Sanu Gold Corp.
3. Doresa Banning wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor.
4. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.

For additional disclosures, please click here.

( Companies Mentioned: SANU:CSE;SNGCF:OTCQB;L73:FRA, )

Singapore-based TransferTo has partnered with the Pan-African Ecobank Group in order to expand financial access and cross-border payments across the region of Africa.

Vehicles are covered with ash coming from the St. Vincent eruption of La Soufrière volcano, on the outskirts of Bridgetown, Barbados, on Sunday.; Credit: Chris Brandis/AP

Conditions on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent have worsened, as La Soufrière volcano continues to push ash and debris into the atmosphere. Dozens of individuals have been rescued from the northern part of the island after refusing to evacuate last week. Officials are warning anyone still in the red and orange zones to flee as the mountain presents a new danger to anyone still in the area.

There is evidence of pyroclastic flows, an avalanche of super-heated gas and debris traveling as fast as more than 120 miles per hour along the mountainside, in the areas around the volcano, University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center's lead scientist Richard Robertson said in a Sunday news conference. These flows are the most dangerous trait of the volcano, he said, as opposed to a slow-moving river of lava.

As La Soufrière continues to explosively erupt, ash and debris are launched into the air. Sometimes there isn't enough force behind the materials to continue upwards and the ash plume collapses on itself and it shoots back down, Robertson said. These clouds of gas can reach scalding-hot temperatures and carry car-sized boulders as the flows make their way through valleys along the mountain. Once the pyroclastic flows hit the coast, the sea water begins to boil and the clouds pick up speed, racing across the surface of the water and away from land until they run out of energy.

"These flows are really moving masses of destruction," Robertson said. "They just destroy everything in its path. Even if you have the strongest house in the world, they will just bulldoze it off the ground."

These flows can happen as the volcano goes through periods of explosive activity and venting. Every hour-and-a-half to 3 hours, Robertson explained, La Soufrière rumbles and produces tremors as the mountain vents more ash. This activity can create pyroclastic flows anywhere on the volcano, threatening anyone who didn't evacuate last week.

During the news conference, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said the coast guard has rescued dozens of people from the northern part of the island since the volcano started to erupt Friday morning. The areas closest to the volcano were ordered to be evacuated last week, but some people decided to stay, putting rescuers at risk.

"I'm pleading with persons, please, it's past the hour to get out," Gonsalves said. "And we will still have to try and get you out."

Some 16,000 people have already evacuated, The Associated Press reported, about 3,200 of whom have fled to 78 government-run shelters.

Robertson said things will likely get worse before they get better. Instruments monitoring the eruption have shown no sign of activity dying down. The volcano, he explained, is showing a similar pattern to the volcano's eruption in 1902 that killed about 1,600 people.

"That means it's probably, unfortunately, going to cause more damage and destruction to St. Vincent," Robertson said.

But the volcano isn't just affecting the people of St. Vincent. The winds have carried ash all the way to Barbados, about 120 miles east. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said the country needs to prepare itself for weeks of ashfall and harsh times.

"As bad as it is, it can be worse, and that's the first thing that we need to recognize," she said in a news conference Sunday. "We are living in uncertain times."

Dr. Erouscilla Joseph, director of the UWI Seismic Research Center, said the winds that carry the debris east over the island can then also circle back around, blanketing the island with more ash from the west.

"Unfortunately, the worst case scenario is this can go on for weeks because of the changes and the dynamics of this system," Joseph said. "We have to keep monitoring the seismicity associated with the volcano and advise based on that."

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

In the fall of 2009, as a part of the Catawba Aging Leadership Planning Project, Catawba County, along with aging service providers, volunteers and local municipalities developed a �Livable & Senior Friendly Community Survey�. This survey was widely distributed throughout Catawba County and targeted the County�s Senior Community, their caregivers and professionals in the aging field. The purpose of the survey was to obtain current and relevant information on the quality of life of seniors. Obtaining this information is important when looking toward the future of Catawba County.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a relatively rare situation in which the entire globe is grappling with the same crisis at the same time, albeit with widely varying approaches, resource levels, and political structures.

As vaccination campaigns begin ramping up around the world, experts discuss how variants, misinformation, and “brain drain” are affecting pandemic-control efforts.

Belgian Boys will debut two new products at Expo: Griddle Pancakes and Bite-sized Belgian Chocolate Chip Pancakes. 

Frito-Lay brands releasing new holiday snacks include Cheetos, Smartfood, Quaker, Cap'n Crunch, and Rold Gold.

Frito-Lay has issued a voluntary recall of a limited number of 14.5-oz. and 1-oz. tortilla chips that may contain undeclared soy and wheat ingredients from spicy sweet chili tortilla chips.

Whether gearing up for summer travel, or simply packing for a summer picnic, Frito-Lay has a variety of flavors and on-the-go options to help consumers fuel the summer fun. 

This week's Fun Friday includes a Big League Chew bobblehead, M&M's x Kate Spade collab, National Chocolate Day deals with Kinder and Fannie May, some fun Halloween stats from NCA, and National Tavern-Style Pizza Day.

The limited-edition meal kit is inspired by the series’ Thanksgiving episode and features all the pre-portioned ingredients to recreate the sweet and savory trifle.

FRITSCH recently released its new Soft Dough Sheeter (SDS).

The two chip flavors—one new and one returning—are hitting shelves in time for the fall snacking season.

The tangy and creamy buttermilk-tasting corn chips will be available for a limited time only, and this time, in packaging inspired by another ranch: “Yellowstone.” 

For the first time in the brand’s history, Fritos is blending two flavors into one bag with an exclusive, limited-edition Fritos X Twisters snack.

The line of gluten-free snacks will hit retail shelves this fall.

From cakes and pastries to deals for Rewards members, there are no tricks, only treats at Paris Baguette this October.

This week's Fun Friday includes a Nutella and Betches book club partnership, Nerds at the Big Game, Pillsbury partnering on candles, a Cheez-It college tailgating food truck, and Haribo's float debut at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

This week's Fun Friday includes a Menchie's and HI-CHEW partnership, Oprah's Favorite Things pound cake, Pinkbox Doughnuts' treat of the month, a Haribo and Adidas sneaker collab, and IT'SUGAR's "Chews-Your-Mix" candy experience.

This week's Fun Friday includes a bagel with no holes, the most popular pizza chains by state, and more.

In response to continued consumer demand for label-friendly ingredients, Cargill has expanded its processing capabilities of its sweetener plant in Cikande, Indonesia, to more than double the company’s production capacity for organic, non-GMO tapioca syrup.

Fryers continue to see ongoing improvements related to hygienic design, oil management and energy efficiency. Equipment suppliers are also offering models that occupy a smaller physical and carbon footprint, and that include adaptability to handle a diverse array of products.

Heat and Control, Inc., an equipment manufacturer and food processing industry supplier, recently released the OilSaver Filtration System to its Oil Management System lineup.

Every time I installed an ice maker supply line, I was always concerned that it may leak — pushing and pulling on the fridge. 

ZONEFIRST’s new A2L-compliant product are engineered to ensure full compliance with this code while maintaining system performance.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than half (51%) of the energy used in U.S. homes is directly spent on just two end uses, heating and air-conditioning. As such, producing a comfortable temperature within your living space creates one of the biggest carbon footprints of our modern living environment.

It’s imperative that those working with industrial freezers are able to recognize, treat, and most important prevent cold stress and its potential health impacts.

As consumer package companies are increasingly designing more products with sustainability in mind, experts note that within the label industry, more companies are recognizing the need for labeling equipment that also supports a circular economy.

At this year’s IFT First Annual Meeting and Expo in Chicago, PLT Health Solutions Inc., Morristown, N.J., will highlight its growing portfolio of beverage-friendly ingredients that provide a broad range of science-backed benefits for the burgeoning functional beverage market, it notes. 

As more and more beverages require greater investment in climate-controlled trucks and trailers, original equipment manufacturers and trailer manufacturers have made strides to meet these needs as well as support emission-reduction goals.

Beverage-makers are reaching sustainability goals as suppliers direct innovations for tabs, ends and closures with these aspects in mind. 

Translr, starting in 2018, has been one of the most famous trans dating apps in the United States which gathers 1M users now. It stops its users from seeing trans adults as fetishes since the release of the original version.

The monument contemplates the idea of strength, struggle and absence. Trice died from injuries he received during his first game in October of 1923. The work was installed for the centennial anniversary of Trice's death.

GK-S39: Illuminating Conservation - A Beacon of Hope for Sea Turtles

Held on August 24 - 26 at COEX A Hall in Seoul… Local and international textile fashion companies as participants in 524 booths!

GrandBilliards Invites You To Win A Lap Top

Youth Converts Foundation is a Nigerian based Non-Governmental Organization that is dedicated to using the power of sport for social development. Through DFDI, it is leveraging the love of soccer to build the capacity of the Nigerian youth.

Burhani Engineers Ltd, a leading Kenyan construction company, is spearheading the charge for gender-inclusive engineering in Africa.

Shabazz Arts will launch a Kickstarter campaign for their new graphic novel, Bearcat Wright & The Kayfable Chronicles. The book tells the story of Wright, the first African American pro-wrestling champion.

- -