Since the early 1970s, the South African gold-mining industry, for decades dominated by a set of fixed and unchanging features, has undergone a transformation. Above all, it is in the area of labour relations that changes have been most rapid and profound. Faced with a crisis in traditional patterns of labour recruitment, the mines have been forced to revise their sourcing and recruiting strategies and in so doing have struck at the heart of the migrant labour system. At the same time, in an attempt to contain the crisis of control, the mines have, for the first time in a hundred years, permitted trade unions to organise among workers, and in consequence the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has emerged as a powerful force in the industry. These processes are the subject of Wilmot James's sociological and historical study of African mine workers, which provides the first major account in twenty years of labour in South Africa's gold industry. In his lucid and original analysis, based on material much of which was not previously available to researchers, Wilmot James traces the interlocking developments which have brought about a transformation in the gold industry, and relates these to wider processes of change in contemporary South African society.

Precious Metals 1982 presents the variety of technical innovations in the application of precious metals. This book discusses the advances in recovery and refining and analysis of precious metals. Organized into 10 parts encompassing 47 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the fundamental experiments to elicit the mode of solidification for a small casting using the investment casting method. This text then describes the various medical uses of silver and its salts with the antibacterial properties of silver ions used in burn therapy, water purification, and to prevent infections. Other chapters consider the practical feasibility of a process involving the reaction of oxygen with gold particles in a potassium cyanide solution to produce potassium gold cyanide. This book discusses as well the major catalytic applications of the precious metals. The final chapter deals with fraud involving gold. This book is a valuable resource for engineers, metallurgists, geologists, jewelers, and goldsmiths.

Gold. Silver. Platinum. Palladium. Want more than a piece of paper with a stock number on it to show for your investment? Then learn about all the ways you can add precious metals to your portfolio. Gold and silver have been king and queen of metals for centuries. Today, they are joined by platinum and palladium in the precious metals arena. They are traded in the form of bars, rounds and ingots, tangible assets you can see and touch.

A detailed look at how to profit in the precious metals market Today, gold, silver, platinum, and palladium offer a new and different profit potential for those who understand the impact of new technologies, new economic forces, and new demographics. Updated to reflect changes in this market since the mid-1990s, The Precious Metals Trader focuses on new developments that could translate into serious profit-making trends-from electrically-generated automobiles that could substantially increase demand for platinum to the increased use of composites in dentistry, which could negatively impact the use of both silver and gold. The Precious Metals Trader also explains the supply/demand fundamentals of the four precious metals-gold, silver, platinum, and palladium-and provides projections about long-term trends and profit opportunities that will coincide with them. Filled with fresh insights from Philip Gotthelf-one of the top experts in this field-The Precious Metals Trader offers readers the guidance they need to trade profitably within this dynamic market. Philip Gotthelf (Closter, NJ) publishes the Commodex System-the oldest daily futures trading system published in the world-and the Commodity Futures Forecast Service. He is also President of Equidex Incorporated and Equidex Brokerage Group Inc.

Precious Metals 1981 presents the significant role of precious noble metals in various aspects of human life. This book discusses the wide array of uses of precious metals from dental fillings to the manufacturing of air conditioners. Organized into nine parts encompassing 48 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the chemical reducing capability of sodium borohydride for various organic heavy metal applications. This text then examines the general plant operations comprising of heap leaching methods utilized for the recovery of finely dispersed particles of gold and silver. Other chapters consider the refining characteristics of gold alloys containing impurities. This book discusses as well the fundamental principles of major conventional bonding methods used to produce metal clad materials used in jewelry and electrical contact applications. The final chapter deals with the precious and non-precious alloy systems used in Dentistry. This book is a valuable resource for engineers, jewelers, and goldsmiths.