Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
2fde790a-011a-4edb-a725-c61224399692
Materials
Associated ID
ea894a55-d0bd-4250-a906-aff2be5992f0
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents a life cycle inventory (cradle-to-gate) of raw coal production starting from open-pit coal mining, covering all activities associated with raw coal production, but excluding coal washing and sorting processes, as well as direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the production of equipment such as conveyors and mining vehicles, personnel transportation during coal production, and daily office operations. The dataset was formed by consolidating data from multiple sources based on national standards such as 'Clean Production Standard for Coal Mining and Washing Industry' (HJ 446-2008), 'Emission Standard of Pollutants for Coal Industry', and 'Soil Environmental Quality Standard of the People's Republic of China', and is representative of the average production level in Qinghai.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the open-pit mining of raw coal, with the following process steps:
Drilling: Holes are drilled on the mining face of the mining area according to the ore body distribution and mining design, typically using large-scale drilling rigs. The primary purpose of drilling is to prepare channels for blasting operations.
Blasting: Blasting involves filling the drilled holes with explosives and detonating them to fracture the ore or rock. This process produces broken rock fragments, facilitating subsequent loading operations.
Loading: Large excavation equipment (such as electric shovels or hydraulic excavators) is used to load the blasted ore or rock onto transport vehicles. The selection of excavation and loading equipment usually depends on the deposit size and geological conditions.
Crushing: Ore or rock is initially crushed to facilitate subsequent transportation or further processing. Crushing is typically carried out at the mining site or temporary crushing stations, aiming to reduce ore particle size and improve transport efficiency.
Haulage: Haulage refers to the process of transporting ore or waste rock from the mining area to designated locations, usually using large trucks, belt conveyors, or railways. The choice of haulage routes and equipment depends on the mine scale and transportation distance.
Dumping: Dumping is the process of transporting overburden, waste rock, or other non-mineralized materials to waste dumps. Spoil heaps are typically located around the periphery of mines, and their stability and environmental impacts must be considered.
Pollutant Treatment and Disposal: Waste materials, dust, and wastewater generated during open-pit mining operations require proper treatment. Dust is usually suppressed by water sprinkling, while wastewater is treated through sedimentation tanks and chemical processes before discharge, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
Ecological Restoration and Remediation: Environmental damage caused by mining activities must be addressed through ecological restoration measures, including topsoil reclamation, vegetation restoration, and soil and water conservation. The goal of ecological restoration is to recover the natural ecosystem of the mined area and minimize long-term impacts on the surrounding environment.
Process Description
Coalfields in Qinghai Province are mainly distributed in the Datong River Basin of the central Qilian Mountains and along the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin. The region includes several important identified mining areas such as Yuka, Juhu'geng, Jiangcang, Reshui, Datong, and Damaigou. The coal-bearing formations span multiple geological periods, from lower to upper: Carboniferous, Permian, Late Triassic, and Early to Middle Jurassic, with the Early to Middle Jurassic being predominant. The province contains nearly all coal types, with coking coal as the primary type, accounting for about half of the total proven reserves, followed by long-flame coal, non-caking coal, lean coal, gas coal, and anthracite. Coal from the Carboniferous system is generally low-ash lean coal and anthracite, with minor occurrences of gassy fat coal and coking coal, and locally higher sulfur content. The raw coal quality is characterized by ash content of 5–28%, volatile matter of 18.16–38%, total sulfur of 0.25–0.5%, carbon content of 89.96%, and a net calorific value on as-received basis (Qnet,ar) of 4000–6800 kcal/kg.
Time period
2022
2026
Geography
China,Qinghai
Geography comment
Formed Qinghai's average data by merging data from multiple sources.
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
Open-pit mining includes drilling, blasting, loading, crushing, transportation, waste dumping, pollutant treatment and disposal, and ecological restoration and management.