Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
9c4f6e07-d5ae-4c9f-8277-5198549dc152
Materials
Associated ID
e260d730-d726-4b21-b114-a786e9b05f10
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents the mining of limonite ore in China. It covers the life cycle inventory cradle-to-gate, starting from rock drilling to the production of iron ore, including all activities related to iron ore mining and production, but excluding the production of drilling rigs, transport equipment, personnel travel, and direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from daily office operations during the mining production process. The dataset is 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)', representing the average production level of limonite ore mining in China.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the mining of limonite ore, which primarily involves two basic methods: open-pit mining and underground mining. Open-pit mining is a method that involves removing overlying rock and soil to directly expose the ore body at the surface for extraction. This technique is typically applied to deposits that are shallow and large in scale, offering advantages such as lower mining costs and higher production efficiency. Typical open-pit mining procedures include drilling, blasting, overburden removal, ore loading, and transportation. Major equipment used includes excavators, drills, bulldozers, and mining 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 ore deposits where the ore body is buried deeply or where surface conditions are unsuitable for open-pit mining. The underground mining process includes shaft construction, ore extraction, and hoisting operations, employing equipment such as drills, hoists, and mine cars. The advantages of underground mining include minimal surface disturbance; however, it involves higher costs and stringent safety requirements.
Process Description
Limonite, primarily composed of hydrated iron oxides (FeO(OH)·nH2O), includes goethite, lepidocrocite, akaganeite, feroxyhyte, and hydrohematite. Limonite is rich in crystalline water, with a specific magnetic susceptibility of (20–80) × 10⁻⁶ m³/kg, a density of (3.0–4.2) g/cm³, and a Mohs hardness ranging from 1.0 to 5.5. During crushing and grinding processes, limonite is prone to sludging, which not only increases grinding energy consumption and reagent dosage but also reduces beneficiation efficiency, leading to resource waste.
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 limonite ore, mainly involving two methods: Open-pit mining: directly accessing the ore by removing surface rock and soil, suitable for shallow deposits, with lower costs and high production efficiency, typically employing large equipment such as excavators and bulldozers. Underground mining: accessing deep ore bodies through underground tunnels, suitable for deeply buried deposits, with higher costs and minimal surface disturbance, but requiring higher safety measures.