Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
fb8bf619-169e-4acd-8e22-1d7f8fa191b3
Materials
Associated ID
caabff7a-867b-42b1-9d31-f8b8c356bfa7
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents iron ore mined underground in China. 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 the production of drilling rigs, transportation equipment, etc., as well as direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from personnel travel and daily office operations during the mining production process. 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 Chinese iron ore mining using open stope method.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the open-stope method for iron ore mining in China, with the following operational procedures:
1. Development of Drifts
Transport and ventilation drifts are excavated in the upper and lower parts of the ore body to facilitate ore extraction and transportation. Depending on the size and shape of the ore body, a transport drift is typically excavated at the bottom of the ore body, through which the ore is conveyed to the surface via a transportation system.
2. Drilling and Blasting
The ore body is divided into several mining districts, each of which is mined using drilling and blasting techniques. The depth and spacing of the drill holes are designed based on the thickness of the ore body and the strength of the rock. After blasting, the ore is fragmented and falls to the lower part of the mining area. The ore is then transported to the surface via haulage drifts.
3. Ore Extraction
The blasted ore is conveyed to the surface ore preparation plant by ore cars, belt conveyors, and other equipment for processing. After undergoing processes such as primary crushing, screening, and magnetic separation, high-grade iron concentrate is extracted for subsequent smelting and processing.
4. Stope Management
An important characteristic of the open stoping method is that stopes do not need to be backfilled. Due to the good self-stability of the orebody, the stopes can remain stable for a long period without collapse or triggering geological hazards. Therefore, the focus of stope management lies in preventing roof collapse and ensuring the safety 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
Geography comment
Forming China's average data through merging multiple provincial datasets
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
The open stoping method is a classic underground mining technique suitable for ore bodies with good self-stability, especially high-grade iron ore deposits. This method involves excavating stopes within the ore body and progressively extracting the ore without relying heavily on support or backfill materials, thereby achieving high mining efficiency and low extraction costs. The open stoping method is widely used in some small and medium-sized ore bodies in China, as well as in geologically stable mines for iron ore extraction.