Iron tailings turn waste into treasure! This article will take you to understand the current situation of iron tailings!

With the continuous development of mining and the steel industry, the storage capacity of iron tailings as waste after beneficiation is also increasing. According to statistics, the total annual production of tailings in China is approximately1.272 billion tons, of which iron tailings produced the largest amount, about 520 million tons, accounting for 40.9% of the total tailings production. Improving the utilization rate of iron tailings resources is of great significance in reducing the pressure on the use of existing mineral resources, turning waste into treasure, promoting national economic development, ensuring the supply of iron resources, and protecting the environment.

Definition and current situation of iron tailings

Iron tailings are solid waste discharged from the extraction of refined iron ore through beneficiation technology. They are the part of iron ore with low content of valuable elements generated during processing and utilization, and are an important component of solid waste in mines.

According to statistics, the annual cumulative increase in global tailings can reach5 billion to 7 billion tons, with iron tailings accounting for about half. At present, the total stockpile of iron tailings in China and Brazil alone has exceeded 10 billion tons. The main methods for treating iron tailings at home and abroad include iron tailings re selection, tailings pond storage, vegetation reclamation, and mine filling.

In recent years, we have been advocating forThe sustainable development concept of 'green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver'. In order to prevent and control tailings pollution to the environment, protect and improve the ecological environment, the "Management Measures for the Prevention and Control of Tailings Pollution to the Environment" were reviewed and approved by the second ministerial meeting of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on March 15, 2022. It has been officially announced and will come into effect on July 1, 2022.

Chemical and Mineral Composition of Iron Tailings

The chemical composition of iron tailings is mainly composed of oxides of silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, and magnesium, with small amounts of phosphorus and sulfur. Due to different origins, the chemical composition of iron tailings varies greatly. Research shows that the main chemical components of some typical iron tailings at home and abroad are roughly as follows:

The Fe2O3 content is generally between 6% and 17%, with some reaching over 20%;

The SiO2 content is generally between 30% and 80%, with a few below 20%. The SiO2 content in high silicon iron tailings is generally not less than 60%;

The Al2O3 content is generally 1% to 13%, with a few reaching 45%;

The MgO content is generally between 1% and 14%;

The CaO content is generally between 1% and 18%, with a few reaching 30%. Among them, the CaO content in high silicon iron tailings is relatively low, below 5%.

Application of iron tailings

With the advancement of science and technology, the comprehensive utilization efficiency of iron tailings is constantly improving. To build a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society and achieve the goal of green mining, the comprehensive utilization of iron tailings needs to be further studied. At present, the comprehensive utilization direction of iron tailings mainly includes the recovery of valuable components in iron tailings, filling of goaf, preparation of fertilizers and soil amendments, preparation of concrete and roadbed materials, and preparation of building materials.

Recovery technology of valuable components from iron tailings

Recovery of iron, phosphorus, titanium and other elements from iron tailings.

Iron tailings as filling material for goaf

Mining has formed a large number of goaf areas, which pose serious safety hazards to surrounding buildings and the normal operation of mining work. The use of iron tailings as filling materials for goaf areas has solved the land waste and environmental problems caused by the large accumulation of iron tailings.

Iron tailings fertilizer and its soil amendment

Iron tailings contain trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and phosphorus required for plant growth. Using iron tailings to produce magnetized fertilizers can improve soil and enhance soil fertility.
Iron tailings subgrade material

Using cement to improve iron tailings for roadbed filling, research has found that the addition of cement can enhance the water stability, unconfined compressive strength, and resistance to local compression deformation of iron tailings.

Iron tailings building materials

Iron tailings are widely used in the production of iron tailings concrete, iron tailings brick making, and iron tailings insulation wall materials due to their similar mineral composition to natural sand The preparation of building materials such as microcrystalline glass from iron tailings can not only alleviate environmental pollution and land waste caused by the large accumulation of iron tailings, but also replace some raw materials, saving production costs.

Application of X-ray Diffraction in Copper Tailings

With the deepening of the concept of green mining and sustainable development, the recycling and reuse of iron tailings have also received close attention from people. The resource utilization of iron tailings is of great significance for the construction of ecological civilizationThe recycling and utilization of iron tailings not only solves the problems of environmental pollution and land waste caused by large-scale accumulation, but also explores its potential utilization value, turning waste into treasure.

Langshengying PortableThe X-ray diffractometer (geochemical version) is a portable X-ray diffraction device developed by Langsheng Science specifically for on-site mineral phase analysis. Its fusion, XRD、Various technologies such as XRF and computer software can quickly perform qualitative and quantitative analysis, crystal structure analysis, material structure analysis, and crystallinity determination on mineral samples, with advantages such as fast testing speed, simple sample preparation, and high accuracy.