Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
3d1a9c30-8e72-47a4-b360-614dfb32729e
Materials
Associated ID
f0d80c76-624d-4557-bb23-cf2e25ac98a1
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents the extraction of vanadium-titanium magnetite ore in China. It covers the life cycle inventory cradle-to-gate for iron ore production, starting from rock drilling to the output of iron ore. The inventory includes all activities related to iron ore mining and production, but excludes greenhouse gas emissions (direct and indirect) associated with the manufacturing of drilling rigs, transportation equipment, personnel travel, and routine office operations during the mining production process. The dataset was compiled from multiple data sources based on Chinese national standards, including 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 is representative of the average production level of vanadium-titanium magnetite ore mining in China.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the mining of vanadium-titanium magnetite ore, which mainly involves two basic methods: open-pit mining and underground mining. Open-pit mining is a method that involves removing the overlying rock and soil covering the ore body to directly expose the ore body at the surface for extraction. This technique is typically applied to large-scale, shallow-depth deposits, offering advantages such as lower mining costs and higher production efficiency. Typical open-pit mining steps include drilling, blasting, overburden removal, ore loading, and transportation. Major equipment used includes excavators, drill rigs, bulldozers, and haul trucks. Underground mining: Underground mining is primarily used for deeper ore bodies, accessing the ore through the construction of underground shafts and tunnels. This method is suitable for deposits where the ore body is buried deep underground or where surface conditions are unsuitable for open-pit mining. The underground mining process includes mine development, ore extraction, and haulage. Equipment used includes drills, hoists, and mine cars. The advantages of underground mining are minimal surface disturbance; however, it involves higher costs and stringent safety requirements.
Process Description
Vanadium-titanium magnetite is a complex associated mineral primarily composed of iron, vanadium, and titanium, accompanied by various valuable elements (such as chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, scandium, gallium, and platinum group elements), with high contents of valuable elements. It is an important industrial mineral raw material with high development and comprehensive utilization value. In nature, vanadium-titanium magnetite mainly forms in mafic and ultramafic rock bodies. Common valuable ore minerals in the resulting deposits are mainly titanomagnetite and ilmenite, along with minor amounts of magnetite, hematite, and sulfides. Ilmenite is a magnetite containing solid solution exsolutions such as ilmenite, ulvospinel, and magnesio-aluminate spinel, which can crystallize into ilmenite and magnetite through regional metamorphism. Vanadium-titanium magnetite typically contains 1%–15% TiO₂ and 0.1%–2% V₂O₅. The chemical composition of ilmenite is FeTiO₃, and ilmenite contains 52% TiO₂. 66%, with Fe2+ capable of complete isomorphous substitution with Mg2+ or Mn2+, forming the FeTiO3-MgTiO3 or FeTiO3-MnTiO3 series. When FeO is dominant, it is called ilmenite; when MgO is dominant, it is called geikielite; and when MnO is dominant, it is called pyrophanite. Ilmenite has a Mohs hardness of 5–6, a specific gravity of 4.70–4.78, exhibits weak magnetism, and has a magnetic susceptibility of 1173.33–224.56×10⁻⁹ m³/kg.
Time period
2022
2026
Geography
China
Geography comment
Chinese average data are formed by merging multiple provincial datasets.
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
This dataset describes the mining of vanadium-titanium magnetite ore, mainly including two methods: Open-pit mining: Directly accessing the ore by removing overlying rock and soil, suitable for shallow deposits, with lower costs and high production efficiency, commonly using large equipment such as excavators and bulldozers. Underground mining: Accessing deep ore bodies through underground tunnels, suitable for deeply buried deposits, with higher costs, less surface disturbance, but requiring greater safety measures.