Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
8b7ac6d9-05cd-4da5-ac82-c6d4f99401e4
Materials
Associated ID
caabff7a-867b-42b1-9d31-f8b8c356bfa7
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents iron ore from underground mining in Hebei. It provides a life cycle inventory (cradle-to-gate) covering all activities related to iron ore mining and production, from drilling through to the output of iron ore, but excluding the production of drilling rigs, transportation equipment, personnel travel, and direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from 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 represents the average production level of open-stope method for iron ore mining in Hebei.
Activity Description
This dataset describes the open-stope mining method for iron ore in Hebei, with the following process steps:
1. Tunnel Excavation
Transport and ventilation tunnels are excavated at 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, transport tunnels are typically excavated at the bottom of the ore body, allowing the ore to be conveyed to the surface via a transportation system.
2. Blast-hole Drilling
The ore body is divided into several mining sections, each of which is mined using blast-hole drilling technology. The depth and spacing of the drill holes are designed according to 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 stope. The ore is then transported to the surface through haulage drifts.
3. Ore Extraction
The blasted ore is transported to the surface concentrator by ore cars, belt conveyors, and other equipment for processing. After initial crushing, screening, magnetic separation, and other processes, high-grade iron concentrate is extracted for subsequent smelting and processing.
4. Stope Management
An important characteristic of the open stope mining method is that the mined-out areas do not require backfilling. Due to the good self-stability of the orebody, the mined-out areas can remain stable for a long period without collapsing or triggering geological hazards. Therefore, the key aspects of stope management focus on 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,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
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.