Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
716d7ff1-b7af-473c-8d3e-e33baa38ddba
Materials
Associated ID
ea894a55-d0bd-4250-a906-aff2be5992f0
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents the life cycle inventory of raw coal production cradle-to-gate, starting from open-pit coal mining and covering all activities associated with raw coal production. However, it excludes coal washing and preparation processes, as well as greenhouse gas emissions--direct or indirect--related to the production of equipment such as conveyors and mining vehicles, personnel transportation during coal production, and daily office operations. The dataset is formed by consolidating data from multiple sources based on national standards such as "Cleaner Production Standard for Coal Mining and Preparation Industry" (HJ 446-2008), "Emission Standards of Pollutants for Coal Industry", and "Soil Environmental Quality Standard of the People's Republic of China", and is representative of the average production level in Shaanxi.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the open-pit mining of raw coal, with the following process steps:
Drilling: Holes are drilled on the mining face of the mining area according to the ore body distribution and mining design, typically using large-scale drilling rigs. The primary purpose of drilling is to prepare channels for blasting operations.
Blasting: Blasting involves filling the drilled holes with explosives and detonating them to fracture the ore or rock. This process produces broken rock fragments, facilitating subsequent loading operations.
Loading: Large excavation equipment (such as electric shovels or hydraulic excavators) is used to load the blasted ore or rock onto transport vehicles. The selection of excavation and loading equipment usually depends on the deposit size and geological conditions.
Crushing: Ore or rock is initially crushed to facilitate subsequent transportation or further processing. Crushing is typically carried out at the mining site or temporary crushing stations, aiming to reduce ore particle size and improve transport efficiency.
Haulage: Haulage refers to the process of transporting ore or waste rock from the mining area to designated locations, usually using large trucks, belt conveyors, or railways. The choice of haulage routes and equipment depends on the mine scale and transportation distance.
Dumping: Dumping is the process of transporting overburden, waste rock, or other non-mineralized materials to waste dumps. Spoil heaps are typically located around the periphery of mines, and their stability and environmental impacts must be considered.
Pollutant Treatment and Disposal: Waste materials, dust, and wastewater generated during open-pit mining operations require proper treatment. Dust is usually suppressed by water sprinkling, while wastewater is treated through sedimentation tanks and chemical processes before discharge, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
Ecological Restoration and Remediation: Environmental damage caused by mining activities must be addressed through ecological restoration measures, including topsoil reclamation, vegetation restoration, and soil and water conservation. The goal of ecological restoration is to recover the natural ecosystem of the mined area and minimize long-term impacts on the surrounding environment.
Process Description
Shaanxi Province is rich in coal resources with a complete range of coal types and excellent coal quality. These resources are distributed across five major coalfields: the Northern Shaanxi Carboniferous-Permian coalfield, the Weihe North Carboniferous-Permian coalfield, the Northern Shaanxi Triassic coalfield, the Northern Shaanxi Jurassic coalfield, and the Huanglong Jurassic coalfield. These coalfields feature simple geological structures and large reserves, accounting for over 99% of the province's total coal resources. In terms of proven reserves, low-metamorphic coals such as long-flame coal, non-caking coal, and weakly caking coal constitute 65%. Gassy coal, lean coal, and贫煤 (lean-lean coal) are secondary in quantity, while fat coal, coking coal, and anthracite are relatively scarce. The raw coal quality ranges as follows: ash content 6.12–43.57%, volatile matter 4.68–53.54%, and total sulfur 0.23–7. 57%, with a calorific value of 4037~7045 kcal/kg. The cleaned coal quality features an ash content of 2.84~22.17%, volatile matter of 7.06~44.61%, carbon content of 76.84~95.78%, and a net calorific value on an as-received basis (Qnet,ar) of 7324~8694 kcal/kg.
Time period
2022
2026
Geography
China,Shaanxi
Geography comment
Formed Shaanxi's average data through merging data from multiple sources.
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
Open-pit mining includes drilling, blasting, loading, crushing, transportation, waste dumping, pollutant treatment and disposal, and ecological restoration and management.