This dataset describes the mining of iron ore, which primarily includes two basic forms of mining: Open-pit mining and underground mining. Open-pit mining: This method involves removing the overlying rock and soil that covers the ore body to directly expose and mine the ore from the surface. Open-pit mining techniques are usually applied to ore bodies that are relatively shallow and of considerable scale, offering advantages like lower mining costs and higher production efficiency. Typical steps in open-pit mining include drilling, blasting, stripping the overburden, and ore loading and transportation. Equipment commonly used includes excavators, drills, bulldozers, and mining trucks, among others. Underground mining: Underground mining is primarily used for deeper ore bodies, accessing the ore through underground tunnels and drifts. This method is suitable for deposits where the mineral body is buried too deep or surface conditions are not suitable for open-pit mining. The process of underground mining includes mine construction, ore extraction, and hoisting, etc., with equipment such as drills, hoists, and mine cars, among others. The advantages of underground mining include less surface disruption; however, it comes with higher costs and demands high safety standards.

Iron ore is the primary raw material for steel production, and steel is one of the core materials for modern industry and infrastructure construction. China is the worlds largest steel producer with a huge demand for iron ore. However, Chinas iron ore resources are characterized by low grade and high impurities, which requires most of the iron ore to be processed by mineral dressing before use. Magnetic separation technology is the main technique in the iron ore dressing in China, especially suitable for magnetite and vanadium-titanomagnetite ore. For non-magnetic or weakly magnetic ores such as Hematite ore, limonite, and siderite, it is usually necessary to combine several processes including roasting, heavy media separation, strong magnetic separation, and flotation, to improve the yield and grade of iron concentrate.