Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
21ee5bc1-0e90-4df9-938c-4d8e03ec7248
Materials
Associated ID
d22bd039-49e6-4150-a779-4b835269005d
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents iron ore from underground mining in Liaoning. It covers the life cycle inventory (cradle-to-gate) from rock drilling to iron ore production, including all activities related to iron ore mining and production, but excluding the direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the production of drilling machines, transportation equipment, personnel commuting during mining operations, and daily office activities. The dataset was compiled from multiple data sources based on national standards such as the 'Manual of Production and Emission Coefficients for the Iron Ore Mining and Processing Industry (0810)', 'Emission standard of pollutants for mining and mineral procressing industry (GB 28661-2012)', 'Cleaning production standard Iron ore mining and mineral processing industry', and 'The norm of the energy consumption per unit product of iron ore dressing(GB31337-2014)', and represents the average production level of iron ore mined by caving method in Liaoning.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the iron ore mining using the caving method in Liaoning. The process flow is as follows:
1. Preparation Phase
Orebody Division and Tunnel Excavation: Based on the geological conditions of the orebody, the orebody is divided into several blocks, each typically with clear boundaries in both horizontal and vertical directions. Main transportation tunnels, ventilation tunnels, and mining operation tunnels are excavated to facilitate subsequent ore transportation and stope ventilation.
Stope Design: A stope is created beneath the orebody, usually formed by drilling and blasting. The design of the stope is crucial, as it must ensure the overlying orebody can naturally cave during mining. Cave Initiation
Orebody Pre-treatment: To induce orebody caving, blasting is typically conducted at the lower part of the orebody to create a fractured zone, reducing the overall stability of the rock mass and accelerating the caving process. During this stage, proper blast design and control are required to avoid damage to the surrounding rock formations.
Caving Process: Once the support at the upper part of the orebody fails, the orebody naturally collapses under gravity and falls into the mined-out area. The caved ore is collected and processed via the transportation system. This caving method utilizes the orebody's self-weight, reduces drilling and blasting costs, and enables large-scale ore recovery. Ore Transportation and Processing
Ore Transportation: The collapsed ore is transported through the mining level drifts to the surface or to the concentrator, typically using equipment such as ore cars or belt conveyors. Since the ore is naturally fragmented during caving, its particle size usually meets the requirements for mineral processing, eliminating the need for additional crushing.
Ore Separation: The ore delivered to the surface enters the mineral processing flowsheet, which includes operations such as crushing, grinding, magnetic separation, and flotation. It is further processed and enriched according to the ore type and grade to produce high-grade iron concentrate. Control and Management of the Caving Process
Safety Monitoring: Due to the uncertainty associated with the caving process, safety monitoring in the mining area is a critical aspect of block caving or sublevel caving methods. Monitoring systems ensure the smooth progression of ore caving by continuously tracking key parameters such as roof stability and stope pressure, thereby preventing stope collapse and accidents causing casualties.
Stope Stability Maintenance: The success of caving methods is closely related to stope stability. Precise management of the design of mined-out areas, control of blasting intensity, and ore extraction rate is essential to ensure the safety and efficient operation of the entire mining system.
Process Description
Iron ore is the primary raw material for steel production, and steel is one of the core materials for modern industry and infrastructure. China is the world's largest steel producer and has enormous demand for iron ore. However, China's iron ore resources are characterized by low grade and high impurity content, requiring most iron ore to undergo beneficiation before use. Magnetic separation is the main beneficiation technology for iron ore in China, especially suitable for magnetite and vanadium-titanium magnetite. For non-magnetic or weakly magnetic ores such as hematite, limonite, and siderite, a combination of processes including roasting, gravity separation, high-intensity magnetic separation, and flotation is typically required to improve the yield and grade of iron concentrate.
Time period
2022
2026
Geography
China,Liaoning
Geography comment
Forming Liaoning's average data through merging data from multiple sources
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
Caving is a large-scale, low-cost mining method commonly used in underground iron ore mining in China, suitable for orebodies with poor self-stability, large size, and great thickness. By allowing the orebody to collapse naturally or through induced means, the ore fragments fall under gravity into the extraction area, where it is collected and transported to the surface. This method is widely applied in several large deposits in China, especially for iron ores with relatively low grade and great mining depth.