Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
d3fe20a7-5385-441a-9ae7-5bcf3e3609c5
Materials
Associated ID
d22bd039-49e6-4150-a779-4b835269005d
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents the life cycle inventory of iron ore extracted underground in China, cradle-to-gate, covering all activities associated with iron ore mining and production from drilling to the output of iron ore, but excluding the production of drilling equipment, transportation vehicles, and other machinery, as well as direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from personnel commuting and 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)'. It represents the average production level of iron ore mining using the caving method in China.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the iron ore mining using caving methods in China, with the following process steps:
1. Preparation Phase
Orebody Division and Drift Development: Based on the geological conditions of the orebody, it is divided into several blocks, each typically having defined boundaries in both horizontal and vertical directions. Main haulage drifts, ventilation drifts, and mining operation drifts are developed to facilitate subsequent ore transportation and stope ventilation.
Stopes Design: A void is established beneath the orebody, usually created through drilling and blasting to form the mining stope. The design of the stope is crucial to ensure that the overlying orebody can collapse naturally during extraction.
2. Cave Initiation
Orebody Pre-treatment: To induce orebody caving, blasting is typically conducted at the lower part of the orebody to create fractured zones, reducing the overall stability of the rock mass and accelerating the caving process. This phase requires careful blast design and control to prevent damage to the surrounding rock strata.
Caving Process: Once the support at the upper part of the orebody fails, the orebody naturally collapses under gravity into the mined-out area. The caved ore is then collected and processed via a transportation system. Block caving utilizes the orebody's self-weight, reducing drilling and blasting costs, enabling large-scale ore recovery. Ore Transportation and Processing
Ore Transportation: The collapsed ore is transported through drawpoints to the surface or to the concentrator, usually by equipment such as ore cars or belt conveyors. Since the ore is naturally broken during caving, its fragmentation size typically meets the requirements for mineral processing, eliminating the need for additional crushing.
Ore Separation: Once transported to the surface, the ore enters the mineral processing stage, which includes processes such as crushing, grinding, magnetic separation, and flotation. These steps further treat and concentrate the ore according to its type and grade, ultimately producing high-grade iron concentrate. Control and Management of the Caving Process
Safety Monitoring: Due to the inherent uncertainty of the caving process, safety monitoring in the mining area is a critical component of block caving or sublevel caving methods. Monitoring systems ensure the smooth progression of ore caving by continuously tracking key parameters such as roof stability and stope pressure, thereby preventing cave-ins and accidents involving personnel.
Stope Stability Maintenance: The success of caving methods is closely tied to stope stability. Precise management of factors such as the design of void areas, control of blasting intensity, and ore extraction rate is essential to ensure the safety and efficient operation of the entire mining system.
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
Geography comment
Forming China's average data through data integration from multiple sources
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
Block caving is a large-scale, low-cost mining method commonly used in underground iron ore mining in China, suitable for orebodies with poor self-stability, large dimensions, and great thickness. By allowing the orebody to collapse naturally or through artificial initiation, the broken ore gravitates into the extraction zones, where it is collected and transported to the surface. This method is widely applied in some of China's large ore deposits, particularly suitable for iron ores with relatively low grade and significant mining depth.