Endowment Conditions of Mineral Resources and the Heterogeneity of Development and Utilization: a Study Based on the Accumulation Area of Iron Ore Resources in Hebei Province of China

In this study, 15 large and medium-sized iron deposits in Hebei Province are studied on their spatial agglomeration characteristics, development and utilization status of iron ore resources. We analyse detailedly on the endowment conditions of iron ore resources, the similarity and heterogeneity of mining and mineral processing, the comprehensive utilization potential of associated elements and tailings in typical accumulation areas of iron ore resources. Also, the differential utilization policies of different types of iron ore are given. The research results showed that the metallogenic types in northern Hebei, eastern Hebei, and central and southern Hebei are magmatic iron deposits, sedimentary metamorphic iron deposits, and skarn iron deposits respectively. The grade of iron and the proportion of magnetite in the three types of iron deposits are in the order of magnitude, skarn iron deposits > sedimentary metamorphic iron deposits > magmatic iron deposits. The recovery rate of mineral processing are also in the same order. The associated elements TiO₂, P₂O₅ and Sc in the magmatic iron deposits have recyclable value and therefore, research on the comprehensive utilization of these elements should be strengthened. The iron deposits exploitation leads to the production of a large amount of tailings waste and the use of tailings can be studied according to their properties to minimize their production rate and recyclable benefits.