Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
bc8cfbe6-074a-4d9a-9401-12cd2a4013a5
Materials
Associated ID
fc66d041-0f7a-4e50-8c69-f17bc805983f
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents iron ore mined underground in Hebei. 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 direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the production of drilling rigs, transportation equipment, personnel travel 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 is representative of the average production level of underground iron ore mining using the fill mining method in Hebei.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the iron ore mining using the filling method in Hebei Province. The process flow is as follows:
1. Preparation Phase
Drift Development: Firstly, main transport and ventilation drifts are excavated at the lower part of the orebody to provide access for subsequent mining operations. Excavation typically starts from the bottom of the orebody and advances upward layer by layer.
Ore Zone Division: Based on the geological conditions of the orebody, it is divided into several horizontal layers, which are mined successively. The thickness of each layer depends on the orebody thickness and stope stability, generally ranging from 10 to 30 meters.
2. Sectional Mining
Ore fragmentation: The ore body is fragmented through drilling and blasting techniques, and the ore is removed from the stope and transported to the surface mineral processing plant for treatment. After ore fragmentation, the ore is transported via haulage drifts to either the surface or an underground processing plant.
Ore transportation: The ore is transported to the mineral processing plant using mine cars, belt conveyors, or other mechanized transport equipment. Goaf Backfilling
Backfill Materials: Commonly used backfill materials include tailings, waste rock, cement, or paste materials. These materials are transported via pipelines to the goaf and evenly fill the void. For areas requiring higher stability, cemented backfill materials combining cement or slag with tailings are typically used.
Backfill Methods: Backfilling can be performed using either cemented full-tailings backfill or waste rock backfill. After backfilling, the structural stability of the stope is ensured, preventing surface subsidence or goaf collapse.
4. Upper Orebody Mining
Stepwise Advance: Once backfilling of the lower goaf is completed, mining of the upper orebody proceeds, advancing progressively upward to ensure the safety and stability of the stope.
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,Hebei
Geography comment
Forming Hebei's average data through merging data from multiple sources
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
Cut-and-fill mining is an efficient and safe underground mining method widely used in the underground extraction of rich iron ore deposits, particularly for ore bodies with high grade (iron content greater than 40%) and mines with associated or co-existing ores. This method involves backfilling the voids created after ore extraction with tailings or waste rock, ensuring mine stability and reducing surface subsidence and environmental damage. It is especially suitable for both new and existing underground mines, and is commonly applied in environmentally sensitive areas and high-economic-value ore deposits, enabling efficient resource utilization and environmental protection.