vol.139 (1月22日)

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◎　光の99.95％を吸収して真っ黒にしか見えない羽を持つ「スーパーブラックバード」の秘密が明らかに　
（2018.1.10、GIGAZINE)

https://gigazine.net/news/20180110-bird-feather-super-black/

太陽光など受けた光のほぼ全てを羽根で吸収してしまうことで、
周りからは体の大部分が完全に真っ黒に見えてしまうという「スーパーブラックバード」が
パプアニューギニアに生息しています。

あまりに黒すぎるためにその表面の模様や凹凸はほとんど見ることができず、
ぽっかりと黒い空間が存在するようにしか見えないほどという鳥なのですが、
どんな仕組みで光を吸収しているのか、
そして何のためにそのような「進化」を遂げてきたのかが研究によって明らかにされています。
この不思議な特徴を持つのは、フウチョウ科に属するおよそ40種類の鳥たちです。
「ゴクラクチョウ (極楽鳥)」とも呼ばれるフウチョウは、オスの成鳥が非常に美しい飾り羽を持ち、
繁殖期にはその羽をいかした求愛ダンスを行うことでよく知られています。
フウチョウ科の仲間でも「スーパーブラックバード」と呼べる種とそうでない種が存在します
。下図のaとbは「普通の」黒い羽を持つカラスフウチョウ(a)とクロチメドリ(b)ですが、
それ以外のシロジクオナガフウチョウ(c)、シロジクオナガフウチョウ(d)、
ウロコフウチョウ(e)、オナガカンザシフウチョウ(f)、カタカケフウチョウ(g)は真っ黒な羽と、
それとの対比が見事な美しい色の羽を持っています。

研究を進めてきたハーバード大学の大学院生、ダコタ・マッコイさんによると、
フウチョウの仲間の羽が真っ黒に見えるのは、その特殊な構造にあるとのこと。
カラスフウチョウの羽(下図a)は、軸の周りに木の枝のように羽枝が生えているのに対し
、真っ黒な羽と美しい飾り羽を持つオナガカンザシフウチョウの羽は(b)、
羽枝がさらに細かく分岐する非常に複雑な構造になっていることがわかります。
この構造が光の反射のしかたを変え、羽に当たった光を吸収してしまうことで、
真っ黒な見た目を作りだしているとのこと。

素材に金をスパッタコーティングして皮膜を作り、走査顕微鏡(SEM)で観察した写真(cとd)を見ると、
カラスフウチョウの羽(c)は光を反射しているのに対し、
オナガカンザシフウチョウの羽(d)は真っ黒なままになっています。

光が吸収されて真っ暗になる理由は、
複雑に入りくんだ羽毛の隙間で光が反射を繰り返す間に吸収され(a)、
再び外部へと飛び出せなくなってしまうため。オナガカンザシフウチョウの場合、
その吸収率はなんと99.95%にも達しており、光はほぼ完全に羽の間に吸収されてしまいます。
これはつまり表面が「光らない」ことを意味し、
人やカメラにはその表面の様子を観察することができません。
そのため、その部分は完全に「真っ暗闇」の状態になり、
空間の中にブラックホールのような漆黒の部分が浮かんでいるように見えるそうです。

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◎　宿泊確保へクルーズ船　ＡＰＥＣ準備でパプア　（2018.1.11、日経）　
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO25569810R10C18A1000000/
【シドニー＝共同】パプアニューギニアのオニール首相は、
11月に同国で開かれるアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議にクルーズ船３隻を
チャーターすることを承認した。同国のメディアが11日伝えた。
会議には各国首脳、閣僚や報道陣ら１万人以上が訪れると予想され、
首都ポートモレスビー周辺だけでは宿泊施設が足りないとみられていた。

　３隻で計１万２千室以上を確保できる見通しで、
オニール氏は「クルーズ船は宿泊や食事提供のニーズに大いに役立つ」と述べた。

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◎　Mercury Kit Study Work For Smale Scale Miners　　
（2018.1.14、Post-Courier) https://postcourier.com.pg/mercury-kit-study-work-smale-scale-miners/

A recent mercury research study conducted at the small scale mining branch
in Wau, Morobe Province is a collaborative work
between the mining engineering department of Papua New Guinea's University of Technology,
he Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) through its small scale mining branch
and the University of Kyoto-Japan through t
he leadership of Professor Takaiku Yamamoto, has released its findings.

APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE GOLD MINING (ASGM) SECTOR

The use of mercury has become very popular among artisanal
and small scale miners because amalgamation is known
to efficiently extract fine particles of gold from concentrates obtained
by panning and sluicing operations.

Gold alloys with mercury to form an amalgam from which the gold can subsequently
be separated by evaporating the mercury.

The simplicity of the technique, low investment costs and its comparatively high gold recovery rate
has made the mercury amalgam method an integral part of the artisanal
and small scale gold mining operations.

In Papua New Guinea, most of the gold deposits worked by the artisanal and small scale gold miners
are alluvial deposits in which the gold particles are liberated from gangue particles.

It is customary to use riffled sluice-boxes to recover the liberated gold particles.

However, some of the gold particles, particularly the fine gold,
does not settle in the riffle compartments but flows over to be discarded as tailings.

In the hope of trapping these fine gold particles the artisanal miners frequently place
some mercury in between the riffle compartments.

Then in recent years some semi-mechanised and mechanised alluvial mining operations
used grinding mills or amalgam barrels for amalgamation of concentrates derived
from their recovery systems before putting it through the knelson concentrators
or shaking tables for cleaning.

Due to shear force between centrifugal force and drag force in knelson concentrators
or the stratification action of the shaking tables, mercury is
 easily dislodged from the gold and is lost to the tailings.

This is because the bonding mechanism holding gold and mercury together
is weak and doesn't require much force to sever the gold particles from the mercury,
and because of size and density differences,
mercury ends up in the tailings and eventually in the river systems.

However, by far the most dangerous practice adopted by the miners
is the gold recovery process from the gold mercury amalgams.

Gold is recovered by evaporating the mercury from the amalgam over an open fire

This process is commonly known as "cooking." The mercury vapour,
which includes fine globules, is partly inhaled while the remainder
is released into the atmosphere, which returns as part of the "mercury cycle."

Methods introduced to avoid the practice of releasing mercury into the atmosphere
and which can reduce the mercury loss to less than 0.1 per cent are available
but have not been so popular amongst miners
due to the discolouring effect on the gold after distillation in a retort.

This discolouration is caused by the presence of iron and arsenic compounds
and results in a lower price being offered by gold buyers for the product.

One such device is the "Mercury Retort" which evaporates the mercury in a closed cycle
 and recovers it by condensing the vapour with cooling water.

Mercury is toxic and an environmental pollutant which drew world attention in 1953
after it was reported that a large number of people living
in the Minamata bay area in Japan developed symptoms of disease
which affected their central nervous system after consuming fish.

The fish in the bay were contaminated with methyl-mercury
as a result of mercury being released into the bay by the Chisso Corporation,
a chemical company operating on the shores of the bay.

The mercury poisoning was responsible for a variety of clinical symptoms
which included speech impediments, failure of muscular coordination,
and contraction of visual fields in the eye, disturbance in smooth eyeball movements,
enteral hearing loss and unbalance of body.

The disease is now commonly known as the "Minamata Disease."

The recent study conducted at theMRA small scale mining branch
in Wau was a collaborative work
between the mining engineering department of Papua New Guinea's University of Technology,
the University of Kyoto-Japan and the small scale miners
in Wau/Bulolo was to trial a an Amalgam retorting machine from Kyoto University-Japan.

The objective was to test run the Japanese mercury recovery kit,
a prototype amalgam retorting machine for the recovery of mercury
and critically assess the overall performance,
its efficiency and ease of operation of the device.

The promotion and use of the retorts would be very beneficial
in the long term as they are capable of reducing discharge of mercury vapour
into the atmosphere and the environment.

It can also recover bulk of the mercury for recycling
which would be a potential economic gain for the small scale miners
and the chances of them being poisoned can be minimized through
the establishment of central facilities in alluvial mining active areas
which will alleviate the more dangerous practice of 'cooking" amalgams.

A batch of mercury gold amalgam samples were provided by the miners
from around Wau/Bulolo mining areas for over a period of one week
to conduct the research activity by retorting them
in the furnace at four different temperatures (300-500 OC, 300-600 OC, 300-700 OC ,300-800 OC)
and the mercury recovery results observed ,recorded and calculated.

From this activity, it is noted that mercury which was emitted
during the process was mostly trapped in the condensers 1 and 2.

The carbon filter indicated zero mercury which concludes
that the air released at the vacuum pump has zero mercury vapour.

From the results obtained, the research team concluded after careful assessment
of the overall performance and efficiency of the mercury recovery kit
that it is an appropriate technology and should be promoted
and used in Papua New Guinea's artisanal
and small scale gold mining industry for mercury and recycling recovery.

MRA managing director, Philip Samar, who was instrumental in introducing the technology,
said the purpose of this collaboration was to reduce and mitigate the increased use
and disposal of mercury into the environment and increase alluvial gold production,
resulting in the health of both the environment
and people plus improving the wellbeing of ordinary PNG alluvial miners.
The MRA through its small scale mining branch in Wau would like to thank
its research partners for the collaborative work undertaken.

This has set a milestone in being proactive in reducing
and controlling mercury contamination to the environment
and the users in the artisanal and small scale mining industry.

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◎　パプアニューギニア・カドバー島 噴煙1.2km
海底に溶岩ドーム出現か？1500人が避難　（2018.1.15、Hazard Lab)　

https://www.hazardlab.jp/know/topics/detail/2/3/23436.html

今月5日に有史以来、初めて爆発したパプアニューギニアのカドバー島では、
10日過ぎた現在も活発な噴火活動が続いており、噴煙の高さは1万2000メートル上空に到達した。

カドバー島はパプアニューギニア本土から北東へ25キロほど沖合に位置する標高365メートルの火山島で、
17世紀の英国人冒険家の著書の中で、「燃えている島」という記述があるものの、
有史以来、正確な噴火の記録はない。

　パプアニューギニア政府（PNF）は今月5日の噴火を受けて、
全島民590人を6キロ離れたブラップ・ブラップ島へ脱出させたが、
ラバウル火山観測所（RVO）は14日、
噴石や火山ガスが及ぶ危険性があるとして、
ブラップ・ブラップ島に避難しているカドバー島民を含む約1500人全員を
本土に避難させることを決定した。

　この決定に伴って、国際赤十字が避難者に対して2万6274ドルの資金を提供すると共に、
オーストラリア政府が約2万ドル分の人道支援を行うと発表した。

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◎　Japan Assist Schools Fund Projects　(2018.1.18, Post-Courier)　　
https://postcourier.com.pg/japan-assist-schools-fund-projects/

Tatana Elementary School, in Moresby Northwest,
is among three other recipient schools that have been granted funds
for vital infrastructure projects totalling close to K1 million.

It was given under Japan's official development assistance,
through the grassroots human security projects, a total amount of K961,203.

The funding assistance will see various projects for other schools
like Kil Primary School in Madang Province, and Kinjibi Primary School
and St Michael's Catholic Primary School in Western Highlands Province.

Head teacher of Tatana Elementary Joseph Paul said
the classroom will be the first for his school in 15 years
since its establishment in year 2000.

Despite its close proximity to the capital the school operated
its classes out in the open if building were not allocated from the main Tatana Primary School
 it operates alongside.

"On behalf of the board and management of Tatana Primary School and NCD education division
we would like to convey our gratitude for your tremendous support," Mr Paul said.

"We have been without a classroom for some 15 years,
 but through your assistance towards us,
the grant that we are receiving is of much benefit to our communities
and it will help our children in the future."

Tatana elementary will have the classroom built in six months
at the cost of K270,000.

Head teacher Benjamin Roimb thanked Japan Ambassador Satoshi Nakajima
for signing the grant for the school to build two double classroom buildings.

John Andakis, head teacher of St Michael's Catholic Primary School,
also thanked the government and people of Japan for granting his school a water project
that can assist students, staff and the surrounding community.

Mr Nakajima said the grants were granted based on the level of direct impact
on the lives of people in the communities
by addressing basic human needs such as primary education,
 health care, and infrastructure such as water supply systems.

The ambassador urged the recipients to make an effort to
implement the projects according to the timeframe
and the requirements set by the contracts.

"This is so that the projects will be completed and take effect as planned without delay,
for the benefit of the children and people in your communities," Mr Nakajima said.

He conveyed his appreciation of the PNG Government's tuition fee free policy
being maintained since 2012, adding that Japan's support program
will assist school alleviate issues of infrastructure that have arisen
as a result of the impressive enrollment numbers achieved to date.

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◎　Japanese Investments, Business Growing  (2018.1.18, Post-Courier )

https://postcourier.com.pg/japanese-investments-business-growing/

Japanese investments and imports of Papua New Guinean petroleum,
mineral and renewable resources will increase in years to come.

According to Japan's Ambassador to PNG Satoshi Nakajima,
the interest in PNG imports and investment by Japanese companies will grow
as the country continues to advance its economy and resource base.

Mr Nakajima pointed out the sale of liquefied natural gas
as the largest import from Papua New Guinea so far,
with Japan accounting for the purchase of 4.5 million metric tons produced in the country.

"First of, we are importing natural gas from PNG LNG through ExxonMobil,
9 million metric tons of LNG we import half of it.

"The next LNG will start in 2019, and maybe later
when it is online we will purchase gas from it as well," he said.

The Ambassador also pointed out businesses activities
in other sectors of the economy from motoring, machinery,
to fisheries - all a part of imports and exports to and from the Asian country.

"In East New Britain we have Open Bay Timbers company investment operated
by a Japanese foresting timer company that operates as a sustainable forest company," he said.

"We have importers who have shown increased interest in importing cocoa from PNG.

"PNG is growing and the growth rate is rapidly increasing
and the size of your economy is also large.

When we talk about the Pacific region, Papua New Guinea accounts for more than half of that,
so it is quite important.

"Japan of course does not have natural resources,
so we have to have good relations with this country," he said.

With the opportunity for APEC, set for the major meet in November,
Mr Nakajima said preparations so far have been impressive in promoting
the major economic meet that countries like Japan
are interested to be a part of the outcome.

"I think the Papua New Guinea Government is very efficient in promoting the APEC meeting
by constructing many facilities, especially this year
when the focus of the world will be on this country.

"The APEC meeting, we very much like to see
what Papua New Guinea can do to showcase its potential," Mr Nakajima said.

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◎　世界中の火山が噴火の不気味...2月は"巨大地震"に要警戒(2018.1.19、日刊ゲンダイ）

https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/life/221449

どうにも不気味な動きだ。世界中の火山が噴火し始めている。
今月５日、パプアニューギニアの火山島「カドバー島」で有史以来、初の噴火が起きたのを皮切りに、
インドネシア、フィリピンの火山が相次いで噴火。
日本でも１５日、鹿児島県の桜島が２度、噴火した
火山活動が活発化し、怖いのが大地震だ。
１７日は、６４３４人の犠牲者を出した「阪神・淡路大震災」からちょうど２３年の節目だったが、
来月にも国内で大地震が発生する可能性が高まっているのだ。
１４日、ペルー南部沖でマグニチュード（Ｍ）７．１の地震があった。
それから遡ること約半年、昨年７月中旬に、アリューシャン列島でＭ７．７の地震が発生している。

　実は、１９４６年に同じ場所で地震が発生した後、
日本で大地震が発生しているのだ。

同年４月、アリューシャン列島でＭ８．１の地震が起きた７カ月後の１１月、
ペルーでＭ７．３の地震が発生。

その１カ月後の１２月、日本の紀伊半島沖でＭ８．０の「昭和南海地震」が起きているのだ。

　アリューシャン列島→ペルーと地震の連鎖が不気味に符合。
４６年と同じパターンなら、来月中旬にも大地震が国内で発生するかもしれない。
地震・火山研究の第一人者である武蔵野学院大学特任教授の島村英紀氏（地球物理学）はこう言う。
「いつどこで大地震が発生するのか、正確に予測することはできません。
しかし、東日本大震災以降、国内で大きな地震が起きていない。
１６年４月の熊本地震は、東日本大震災の２０００分の１程度の規模でしたから『大地震』の枠からは外れます。

大陸プレートは常に同じペースで動いていますので、
時間がたてばたつほどプレートにかかるストレスはたまっていきます。
長い年月にわたってストレスがたまり続けると、
大地震発生のリスクも高まるのです。
４６年の連鎖地震と同様に、日本国内で近々、大地震が起きても不思議ではありません」

　昨年１２月１９日には、政府の「地震調査研究推進本部」が、
北海道千島海溝沿いでＭ８．８以上の超巨大地震の発生が「切迫している可能性が高い」と発表した。

対策しておいた方がよさそうだ。

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◎　パプアニューギニアの危険情報【危険レベル継続】 （内容の更新）　
　（2018.1.8、　在PNG日本国大使館）

http://www.png.emb-japan.go.jp/files/000325666.pdf

●ブーゲンビル島アラワ市以南（アラワ市街地及びキエタ市を除く）レベル２：不要不急の渡航は
止めてください。 （継続）

●上記を除く全地域
レベル１：十分注意してください。 （継続）

【ポイント】
●ブーゲンビル島アラワ市以南（アラワ市街地及びキエタ市を除く）については，自治州政府の実効
支配が及んでいないことから，不要不急の渡航は止めてください。
●首都ポートモレスビー，モロベ州レイ市等都市部では，生活困窮者等による金品強奪目的の犯罪が
頻発している上，警察機構が人員及び予算不足等の理由で十分機能しておらず，犯罪を抑止出来てい
ない状況です。性犯罪も増加しているため，十分注意して下さい。
●ニューブリテン島東部及びニューアイルランド島においては地震や火山活動が多く観測されている
ため，十分注意して下さい。

／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／＼／