This dataset describes the limonite iron ore mining, which mainly includes two basic forms of mining: open-pit mining and underground mining. Open-pit mining: Open-pit mining is a method that removes the overlying rock and soil from the ore body to expose and mine the ore directly from the surface. This technique is typically applied to ore deposits that are relatively shallow and large in scale, offering advantages such as lower mining costs and high production efficiency. Typical steps in open-pit mining include drilling, blasting, stripping the overburden, loading, and transporting the ore. The primary equipment used includes excavators, drills, bulldozers, and mining trucks. Underground mining: Underground mining is mainly used for deeper ore bodies, accessing the ore by constructing underground tunnels and drifts. This method is suitable for ore deposits where the mineral body is deeply buried or where surface conditions are not suitable for open-pit mining. The process of underground mining includes mine construction, ore extraction, and hoisting, etc., with equipment used including drilling machines, hoists, mine cars, etc. The advantage of underground mining is less surface disruption, but it has higher costs and requires stringent safety measures.

Limonite ore, whose main component is hydrated iron oxide (FeO(OH)·nH2O). Limonite ore includes goethite, lepidocrocite, ferrihydrite, hydrous ferrihydrite, and hydrous hematite, among others. Limonite is rich in crystallization water, with a specific magnetic susceptibility of (20～80)×10^-6 m^3/kg, a density of (3.0～4.2) g/cm^3, and a Mohs hardness of 1.0～5.5. During crushing and grinding, it is relatively prone to form slimes, which not only increases the energy consumption of grinding and dosage of reagents but also lowers the beneficiation indexes, leading to resource wastage.