Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
8899e5df-e033-46f1-aebb-51cf5ce61369
Materials
Associated ID
ea894a55-d0bd-4250-a906-aff2be5992f0
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
This dataset represents the life cycle inventory (cradle-to-gate) from the beginning of open-pit coal mining to the production of raw coal, covering all activities related to raw coal production, but excluding coal washing processes, as well as direct or indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the production of equipment such as conveyors and mining vehicles, personnel travel 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 Preparation Industry" (HJ 446-2008), "Emission Standards of Pollutants for Coal Industry", and "Soil Environmental Quality Standards of the People's Republic of China", and is representative of the average production level in Shanxi.
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
Shanxi Province is a major coal-producing region, with extensive distribution, abundant reserves, a complete range of coal types, high-quality coal, shallow burial, and easy mining. Coal resources are distributed across 88 counties (cities and districts) in the province, covering an area of 61,800 km², accounting for 40.4% of the total provincial area. The coal resources are distributed from north to south across six major coalfields—Datong, Ningwu, Xishan, Qinshui, Huoxi, and Hedong (including 38 exploration mining areas)—and five major coal-producing areas: Hunyuan, Wutai, Fanxian, Yuancheng, and Pinglu. Shanxi Province is rich in coal resources with a full range of coal types, including nine major categories: lignite, long-flame coal, weakly caking coal, gas coal, fat coal, coking coal, lean coal,贫煤, and anthracite. Ash content in the Taiyuan Formation is 6. 95~37.97%, volatile matter 6.5~41.01, maximum thickness of the plastic layer 0~40 mm, total sulfur in raw coal 0.68~6.65%, calorific value 7712~9078 kcal/kg. The Shanxi Formation has ash content of 8~35%, volatile matter 6.4~40.03, maximum thickness of the plastic layer 0~75 mm, total sulfur 0.2~0.95%, and calorific value 7400~8660 kcal/kg. The Datong Formation consists entirely of weakly caking coal, with ash content of 8.56~16.13%, volatile matter in cleaned coal of 29.73~35.52%, maximum thickness of the plastic layer of 0 mm, and total sulfur in raw coal of 0. 49~1.93%, the as-received net calorific value Qnet,ar is 7705~7946 kcal/kg.
Time period
2022
2026
Geography
China,Shanxi
Geography comment
Forming Shanxi's average data through 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.