Artisanal fired clay bricks in Dididi and QwaQwa : their production and related environmental issues
- Authors: Monatshebe, Tshiyoyo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Brick trade - South Africa , Brickworks - Economic aspects , Brickworks - Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/286010 , uj:30940
- Description: M.Tech. (Extraction Metallurgy) , Abstract: Artisanal in South Africa is found many fields and different types of applications. This study examined the populations of the Dididi and QwaQwa villages, who are involved in brick-making production as their principal daily activity. These artisanal brick-makers have to maintain their daily livelihood by producing fired clay bricks. However, the production of these bricks has resulted in environmental degradation. Finding a balance between economic and environmental considerations is therefore crucial. This study intended to investigate the quality of artisanal bricks manufactured in Dididi and QwaQwa, together with the effects on the environment. The environmental issues were studied using a survey questionnaire with statistics (descriptive methods and principal component analysis). The life cycle of artisanal brick-making was assessed in terms of renewability of resources, ecosystem conservation, minimisation of pollution and so on. The quality of bricks was studied first by mechanical properties, followed by an examination of the mineralogy of these bricks using analytical techniques (X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer). Lastly, the mechanical properties of the artisanal bricks were compared to commercially produced bricks according to the South Africa National Standard using the unconfined compressive strength test and water absorption analysis. The principal component analysis of the survey showed that brick-makers were interested in both the economic and environmental aspects. It was also found that these brick-makers do not use the Proctor compaction technique, explaining weak results for the artisanal fired and burnt bricks of the Dididi site, with 4.3 and 9 MPa respectively. The burnt bricks from the QwaQwa site, however, reached the recommended quality with 15 MPa. When considering the minimum unconfined compressive strength test set out by the South African National Standard (SANS 227:2007), it was shown that the new mineral formations could strengthen the bricks – especially if the artisans used the Proctor compaction technique. In comparison to commercial bricks, some of the results met the requirement of SANS 227:2007. Lastly, the results of the life-cycle analysis showed that the labour was intensive due to the small tools applied, and because minerals cannot be renewed, they require good management. The cash-flow tables show that artisanal brick-makers can improve their activities to the standard of industrial brick-making.
- Full Text:
Artisanal fired clay bricks in Dididi and QwaQwa : their production and related environmental issues
- Authors: Monatshebe, Tshiyoyo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Brick trade - South Africa , Brickworks - Economic aspects , Brickworks - Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/286010 , uj:30940
- Description: M.Tech. (Extraction Metallurgy) , Abstract: Artisanal in South Africa is found many fields and different types of applications. This study examined the populations of the Dididi and QwaQwa villages, who are involved in brick-making production as their principal daily activity. These artisanal brick-makers have to maintain their daily livelihood by producing fired clay bricks. However, the production of these bricks has resulted in environmental degradation. Finding a balance between economic and environmental considerations is therefore crucial. This study intended to investigate the quality of artisanal bricks manufactured in Dididi and QwaQwa, together with the effects on the environment. The environmental issues were studied using a survey questionnaire with statistics (descriptive methods and principal component analysis). The life cycle of artisanal brick-making was assessed in terms of renewability of resources, ecosystem conservation, minimisation of pollution and so on. The quality of bricks was studied first by mechanical properties, followed by an examination of the mineralogy of these bricks using analytical techniques (X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer). Lastly, the mechanical properties of the artisanal bricks were compared to commercially produced bricks according to the South Africa National Standard using the unconfined compressive strength test and water absorption analysis. The principal component analysis of the survey showed that brick-makers were interested in both the economic and environmental aspects. It was also found that these brick-makers do not use the Proctor compaction technique, explaining weak results for the artisanal fired and burnt bricks of the Dididi site, with 4.3 and 9 MPa respectively. The burnt bricks from the QwaQwa site, however, reached the recommended quality with 15 MPa. When considering the minimum unconfined compressive strength test set out by the South African National Standard (SANS 227:2007), it was shown that the new mineral formations could strengthen the bricks – especially if the artisans used the Proctor compaction technique. In comparison to commercial bricks, some of the results met the requirement of SANS 227:2007. Lastly, the results of the life-cycle analysis showed that the labour was intensive due to the small tools applied, and because minerals cannot be renewed, they require good management. The cash-flow tables show that artisanal brick-makers can improve their activities to the standard of industrial brick-making.
- Full Text:
A mineral economic feasibility study of a small brickworks
- Authors: Reid, Murray Charles
- Date: 2014-04-16
- Subjects: Factory management , Brickworks - Economic aspects , Brick trade - South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10752 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10260
- Description: M.Com. (Mineral Economics) , South Africa support is one of the world's fastest growing populations. By the year 2000 AD, South Africa's population is predicted to be 225% larger than it was in 1970. By 2000 AD the total population will have grown to over 54 million people, representing a compound growth rate of some 2,7% Per annum over the preceding 30 years. How will this hlrgeoning population be housed? Where will the growth be? It has been predicted, from numerous sources, that the non-European urban population will soar and thereby account for the bulk of the forecast growth. 'Ibis group will grow from 6 million in 1970 to 25 million by the year 2000, a rate of 4,9% Per annum, Whereas, the urban European population growth shall be :relatively static. Clearly, this phase of mass-urbanization will have to be accompanied by general socio-economic upliftment of the community as a whole. In this regard, the demand for housing, particularly low cost housing, will rise sharply. In South Africa today, many a prospectiive entrepreneur has identified this situation as an opportunity to establish a building-materials manufacturing plant. Because a brickworks is commonly believed to be a relatively simple operation to ,establish and run profitably, many entrepreneurs have applied their resources to this field. In reality, a small scale operation is found to be barely profitable and financial failure in this regard is relatively common. 'Ibis dissertation investigates why such a paradox should exist. A host of variables, which can become major pitfalls to a fledgling brick making business, are discussed. Possible hurdles facing such an operation range from raw material properties, the plant's . financial structure, to characteristics of the brick market be understanding of the interactions between these relatively complex facets of brick making, requires a multi-disciplinary approach. The discipline of Mineral Economics is ideally suited to address the range of problems facing the entrepreneurs, who attempt to establish a small brick plant.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Reid, Murray Charles
- Date: 2014-04-16
- Subjects: Factory management , Brickworks - Economic aspects , Brick trade - South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10752 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10260
- Description: M.Com. (Mineral Economics) , South Africa support is one of the world's fastest growing populations. By the year 2000 AD, South Africa's population is predicted to be 225% larger than it was in 1970. By 2000 AD the total population will have grown to over 54 million people, representing a compound growth rate of some 2,7% Per annum over the preceding 30 years. How will this hlrgeoning population be housed? Where will the growth be? It has been predicted, from numerous sources, that the non-European urban population will soar and thereby account for the bulk of the forecast growth. 'Ibis group will grow from 6 million in 1970 to 25 million by the year 2000, a rate of 4,9% Per annum, Whereas, the urban European population growth shall be :relatively static. Clearly, this phase of mass-urbanization will have to be accompanied by general socio-economic upliftment of the community as a whole. In this regard, the demand for housing, particularly low cost housing, will rise sharply. In South Africa today, many a prospectiive entrepreneur has identified this situation as an opportunity to establish a building-materials manufacturing plant. Because a brickworks is commonly believed to be a relatively simple operation to ,establish and run profitably, many entrepreneurs have applied their resources to this field. In reality, a small scale operation is found to be barely profitable and financial failure in this regard is relatively common. 'Ibis dissertation investigates why such a paradox should exist. A host of variables, which can become major pitfalls to a fledgling brick making business, are discussed. Possible hurdles facing such an operation range from raw material properties, the plant's . financial structure, to characteristics of the brick market be understanding of the interactions between these relatively complex facets of brick making, requires a multi-disciplinary approach. The discipline of Mineral Economics is ideally suited to address the range of problems facing the entrepreneurs, who attempt to establish a small brick plant.
- Full Text:
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