Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
ca107b22-4e6a-4596-a9fe-2ac92a1ff7d9
Materials
Associated ID
fc66d041-0f7a-4e50-8c69-f17bc805983f
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents iron ore mined underground in Liaoning. It covers the life cycle inventory cradle-to-gate, starting from rock drilling to the production of iron ore, encompassing all activities related to iron ore mining and production, but excluding the production of drilling rigs, transportation equipment, personnel travel during mining operations, and direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from daily office operations. 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 iron ore mined by the filling method in Liaoning.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the iron ore mining using the filling method in Liaoning. The process flow is as follows:
1. Preparation phase
Tunnel excavation: Firstly, the main transportation tunnels and ventilation tunnels are excavated at the lower part of the ore body to provide access for subsequent mining. Excavation usually starts from the bottom of the ore body and advances upward layer by layer.
Ore block division: According to the geological conditions of the ore body, the ore body is divided into several horizontal layers, which are mined layer by layer. The thickness of each layer depends on the thickness of the ore body and the stability of the mining field, generally ranging from 10 to 30 meters.
2. Sectional Mining
Ore fragmentation: The ore body is fragmented using 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, it is conveyed via haulage roadways to either the surface or an underground mineral processing plant.
Ore transportation: The ore is transported to the mineral processing plant for treatment using mine cars, belt conveyors, or other mechanized transport equipment.
3. Backfilling of Goaf
Backfill Materials: Commonly used materials include tailings, waste rock, cement, or paste fill. These materials are transported via pipelines to the goaf and evenly fill the void. For areas requiring higher stability, cemented backfill materials, such as a mixture of cement, slag, and tailings, are typically used.
Backfill Methods: Backfilling can be implemented using either total tailings cemented fill or waste rock fill. After backfilling, the structural stability of the stope is ensured, preventing surface subsidence or goaf collapse.
4. Upper Orebody Extraction
Stepwise Advancement: After the backfilling of the lower goaf is completed, extraction of the upper orebody proceeds progressively upward, ensuring safety and stability of the mining area.
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
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.