Iron ores and concentrates, other than roasted iron pyrites

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR produces site-specific foreground inventories for iron ores and iron concentrates at the declared mine or beneficiation gate. It covers direct-shipping ore, lump ore, fines and non-agglomerated concentrates from surface or underground extraction and physical beneficiation. Magnetite and hematite routes must be distinguished. Roasted iron pyrites, fired pellets, sinter, direct-reduced iron, pig iron and steel are excluded. Pelletizing, sintering and metallurgical reduction require separate downstream methodology. Magnetic roasting or chemical leaching requires an explicitly extended route inventory and cannot be represented as ordinary physical separation.

The reference is a declared product quantity, not an assertion that different ore grades provide equal furnace performance. This PCR defines its own foreground scope and collection requirements; technical sources support process applicability, rather than industry-wide recipes or consumption defaults.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.ores-and-minerals-electricity-gas-and-water.metal-ores.iron-ores-and-concentrates-other-than-roasted-iron-pyrites
classification_refs	CPC 3.0:14100; classification context only
covered_products	Direct-shipping iron ore; lump ore; iron ore fines; non-agglomerated iron concentrate
excluded_products	Roasted iron pyrites; pellets; sinter; metallic iron; steel
representative_product	Dewatered iron concentrate with declared dry-basis total Fe assay and particle size
production_route	Extraction, crushing/screening, conditional grinding and magnetic/gravity separation, conditional flotation, dewatering and gate handling
market_state	Bulk ore or concentrate; moisture, mineralogy, size and grade declared at gate

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Supply iron-bearing mineral feedstock for downstream ironmaking preparation
How much	1 kg dry product at the declared gate
How well	Declare total Fe on a dry basis, mineralogy, size distribution, moisture, SiO2, Al2O3, P and S; no universal minimum grade is imposed
How long or cycle	One gate delivery; no service-life requirement
reference_flow_link	final_product

Field	Value
Reference amount	1
Reference product flow	Concentrate powder 3d8f36b6-aab1-4687-ac75-00bf966ed458
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	mine and plant location; reporting period; gate; extraction or purchased-feed start; product form; ore mineralogy; route; dry-basis Fe assay; moisture basis and sampling method; particle size; SiO2; Al2O3; P; S; saleable dry mass; upstream-link coverage; allocation method

The object above represents the concentrate route. An ore/lump/fines dataset must use the matching product identity in both the reference object and final_product; confirmed Iron ore aa72a314-73ed-4400-95a0-a8f9f837a27f is an ore candidate, not an automatic concentrate substitute. Preserve the 1 kg dry basis and declare the actual grade/form. A linked provider must use the same moisture convention; if its flow mass is as-received, convert the exchange to wet mass with the measured moisture and expose 1 kg dry equivalent in metadata. Never reinterpret a provider flow silently. Required qualifiers must appear in the foreground data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
dry_reference	reference product	Mass	kg	Use 1 kg dry product. Collect wet mass and matched wet-basis moisture by cp_product; remove free moisture only, not chemically bound water.
grade_basis	ore and concentrate	Mass fraction	kg/kg	Record total Fe as a dry-basis mass fraction. Convert reported percent by division by 100; contained Fe does not replace product mass.
energy_basis	site_electricity	Net calorific value	MJ	Convert metered kWh to MJ using 3.6 MJ/kWh. The provider voltage must match the declared meter boundary.
water_basis	water and slurry	Volume; Mass	m3; kg	Keep water volume, slurry wet mass and solids dry mass separate. Convert only with measured density/solids fraction for the same sample.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Either in-situ ore at the mine or purchased ore entering a separately declared beneficiation plant
starting_condition_role	Extraction foreground or beneficiation-only foreground, explicitly distinguished
product_classification_scope	Iron ores and non-agglomerated concentrates; CPC 3.0:14100 provides classification context
recursive_input_rule	Purchased same-category ore enters once as an input with an upstream provider; internal middlings and recycle do not restart category tracing
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link purchased feed, fuel, electricity, reagents, transport and off-site waste treatment; disclose geography, technology, moisture basis and coverage
disclosure	Gate, process coverage, stock changes, stripping, water sources, tailings fate, infrastructure/closure treatment and omissions

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_route	all datasets	Include the actual drilling, extraction, hauling, crushing, separation and dewatering stages within the declared foreground; include purchased-feed transport to the plant.	epa-iron-1994
boundary_services	site operations	Include pumping, dust control, tailings handling and mine-water treatment. Recycled water is internal throughput; record fresh withdrawals separately.	ifc-mining-2007
boundary_start	purchased ore	A beneficiation-only package must retain the upstream ore link; it cannot claim cradle-to-gate coverage when extraction burdens are absent. Internal mined ore carries no second upstream ore provider.
boundary_extension	lifecycle coverage	Exclude downstream agglomeration, smelting and customer transport from this gate inventory. Declare exploration, capital equipment, mine development, closure and post-closure coverage; include attributable long-term waste management or document an assessed omission, never silently assume zero.

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
mining	Extraction and internal ore haul	conditional	In-situ extraction is inside the declared boundary	Ore recovery and waste-rock generation	per 1 kg reference flow
beneficiation	Crushing, screening and physical separation	conditional	The actual route crushes, screens, grinds or separates ore	Prepare size and recover iron-bearing minerals	per 1 kg reference flow
flotation	Flotation upgrading	conditional	The actual route uses flotation	Route-specific reagent use and separation	per 1 kg reference flow
finishing	Dewatering, product control and gate handling	required	All datasets; dewatering only where physically performed	Saleable product release	per 1 kg reference flow
site_services	Utilities, tailings and water management	required	All datasets, scaled to attributable activity	Single site utility ledger and environmental controls	per 1 kg reference flow

All exchange amounts use the same reporting-period saleable dry-output denominator D in kg. Internal ore transfers cancel on consolidation. Concentrate movements between beneficiation, flotation and finishing are stage-balance observations in the collection protocols, not additional product exchanges in this gate inventory; only final_product is the completed concentrate output. Tailings and rock receive on-site management or an explicitly linked off-site treatment, once. On-site final deposited stocks are tracked physically, not invented as elementary emissions. The site-services ledger records all utilities and direct releases once; stage submeter values must reconcile to it, not be added again.

Each card is conditional on the named exchange occurring. These are concrete example identities, not a complete site recipe: add each actual explosive, collector, frother, fuel, lubricant, liner, packaging item, recovered co-product, waste and emitted substance as its own card with matched identity and protocol. Include CO, SO2, CH4, N2O, coarse/fine dust, nitrate and dissolved metals where source records establish releases. Do not silently assign zero when unmeasured. Alternate reagents require separate identities, not a renamed UUID.

Process: Extraction and internal ore haul (mining)

Inputs

Product flows

Emulsion Explosive (mining_explosive)

Issued emulsion-explosive mass / D; only when this formulation is used. Add each other actual explosive and detonator separately.

• Selected flow: Emulsion Explosive eb58ee82-ee46-4306-baef-51dfef1d1ccc
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Issued emulsion-explosive mass / D; only when this formulation is used. Add each other actual explosive and detonator separately.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_mining
• Sources: epa-iron-1994

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Iron ore, in ground (ore_resource)

Dry extracted ore mass / D; ore mass including gangue, not contained Fe; exclude barren overburden.

• Selected flow: Iron ore, in ground a41972a3-173d-4d12-8394-0a0da769234b
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Dry extracted ore mass / D; ore mass including gangue, not contained Fe; exclude barren overburden.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_mining
• Sources:

Outputs

Product flows

Iron ore (mined_ore)

Dry mined ore transferred / D; record stock change and loss. Internal transfer only when linked to beneficiation.

• Selected flow: Iron ore aa72a314-73ed-4400-95a0-a8f9f837a27f
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Dry mined ore transferred / D; record stock change and loss. Internal transfer only when linked to beneficiation.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_mining
• Sources:

Waste flows

Iron-mine waste rock (waste_rock)

Dry waste-rock mass / D; includes separately identified stripping/development rock, with fate and stock changes.

• Selected flow: Iron-mine waste rock
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Dry waste-rock mass / D; includes separately identified stripping/development rock, with fate and stock changes.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_mining
• Sources:

Iron-mine overburden soil (overburden)

Removed soil mass / D when stripping occurs; record dry basis and restoration storage separately.

• Selected flow: Iron-mine overburden soil
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Removed soil mass / D when stripping occurs; record dry basis and restoration storage separately.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_mining
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Process: Crushing, screening and physical separation (beneficiation)

Inputs

Product flows

Iron ore (ore_feed)

Dry ore feed consumed / D, adjusted for feed stocks. Internal mined feed and externally purchased feed are separately tagged.

• Selected flow: Iron ore aa72a314-73ed-4400-95a0-a8f9f837a27f
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Dry ore feed consumed / D, adjusted for feed stocks. Internal mined feed and externally purchased feed are separately tagged.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_beneficiation
• Sources:

Steel ball (grinding_balls)

Net steel-ball consumption / D when wet steel-ball milling applies and the material matches the selected identity; reconcile purchases, additions and ball stocks.

• Selected flow: Steel ball d5f10af9-1429-4a11-b47f-71173cc13b2f
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net steel-ball consumption / D when wet steel-ball milling applies and the material matches the selected identity; reconcile purchases, additions and ball stocks.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_beneficiation
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Iron-ore separation tailings (separation_tailings)

Dry tailings solids / D; collect slurry wet mass and solids fraction separately; declare sulfide content and management fate.

• Selected flow: Iron-ore separation tailings
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Dry tailings solids / D; collect slurry wet mass and solids fraction separately; declare sulfide content and management fate.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_beneficiation
• Sources: epa-iron-1994

Elementary flows

Process: Flotation upgrading (flotation)

Inputs

Product flows

corn starch (flotation_starch)

Issued corn-starch dry mass / D only when corn starch is used as depressant; distinguish gelatinization water.

• Selected flow: corn starch 982918a4-54b1-4792-9ee5-2f3155d4e929
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Issued corn-starch dry mass / D only when corn starch is used as depressant; distinguish gelatinization water.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_flotation
• Sources:

Sodium hydroxide (flotation_naoh)

NaOH dry-equivalent mass / D when used; record formulation concentration and actual solution mass without counting dilution water twice.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide e0abcced-0611-4c24-9290-5a2c5a0c4169
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: NaOH dry-equivalent mass / D when used; record formulation concentration and actual solution mass without counting dilution water twice.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_flotation
• Sources:

Dodecylamine acetate (flotation_collector)

Issued formulated collector mass / D only when this exact chemical is used; document purity and reject other amines as automatic substitutes.

• Selected flow: Dodecylamine acetate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Issued formulated collector mass / D only when this exact chemical is used; document purity and reject other amines as automatic substitutes.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_flotation
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Iron-ore flotation tailings (flotation_tailings)

Dry flotation-tailings solids / D; retain reagent composition and receiving management route.

• Selected flow: Iron-ore flotation tailings
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Dry flotation-tailings solids / D; retain reagent composition and receiving management route.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_flotation
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Process: Dewatering, product control and gate handling (finishing)

Inputs

Product flows

Polyacrylamide (dewatering_flocculant)

Issued formulated polyacrylamide mass / D only where used; disclose ionic form and active concentration.

• Selected flow: Polyacrylamide
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Issued formulated polyacrylamide mass / D only where used; disclose ionic form and active concentration.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_product
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Concentrate powder (final_product)

1 kg

• Selected flow: Concentrate powder 3d8f36b6-aab1-4687-ac75-00bf966ed458
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: 1 kg
• Value mode: fixed_value
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_product
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Process: Utilities, tailings and water management (site_services)

Inputs

Product flows

Alternating current (site_electricity)

Metered attributable electricity in MJ / D; match 1–35 kV consumption boundary. Count mining, milling, flotation, filters, pumps and treatment once in this site ledger.

• Selected flow: Alternating current 3d76981f-964a-4865-b588-0e067a2a1163
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: Metered attributable electricity in MJ / D; match 1–35 kV consumption boundary. Count mining, milling, flotation, filters, pumps and treatment once in this site ledger.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_utilities
• Sources:

Diesel fuel (site_diesel)

Diesel consumed in kg / D; use batch density for volume records and retain equipment allocation. Supplier fuel production and direct combustion are separate.

• Selected flow: Diesel fuel 9d258d75-6792-4f1c-9856-81602ed8f816
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Diesel consumed in kg / D; use batch density for volume records and retain equipment allocation. Supplier fuel production and direct combustion are separate.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_utilities
• Sources:

Process Water (purchased_water)

Purchased treated process-water mass / D when supplied externally; do not also record supplier abstraction as direct site withdrawal.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Purchased treated process-water mass / D when supplied externally; do not also record supplier abstraction as direct site withdrawal.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_water
• Sources:

Hydrated lime (neutralization_lime)

Issued Ca(OH)2 product mass / D only when neutralization uses hydrated lime; record purity.

• Selected flow: Hydrated lime
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Issued Ca(OH)2 product mass / D only when neutralization uses hydrated lime; record purity.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

river water (river_withdrawal)

Direct river withdrawal in m3 / D when present; exclude internal recirculation.

• Selected flow: river water 805a7346-1664-4483-afe3-4b224be5e361
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Direct river withdrawal in m3 / D when present; exclude internal recirculation.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_water
• Sources: ifc-mining-2007

ground water (groundwater_withdrawal)

Direct groundwater abstraction including mine dewatering in m3 / D when present; identify reuse, discharge and consumed fraction.

• Selected flow: ground water 4f462198-40cd-4184-8733-86648a20dc3f
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Direct groundwater abstraction including mine dewatering in m3 / D when present; identify reuse, discharge and consumed fraction.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_water
• Sources: ifc-mining-2007

Occupation, mineral extraction site (mine_land_occupation)

Occupied mining and waste-management area multiplied by occupation duration / D; declare land class and avoid overlapping areas.

• Selected flow: Occupation, mineral extraction site
• Flow property / unit: Areatime / m2a
• Amount rule: Occupied mining and waste-management area multiplied by occupation duration / D; declare land class and avoid overlapping areas.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_land
• Sources:

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Iron-mine wastewater (offsite_wastewater)

Transferred untreated or partly treated wastewater wet mass / D only for off-site treatment; link the receiving treatment and do not duplicate on-site releases.

• Selected flow: Iron-mine wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Transferred untreated or partly treated wastewater wet mass / D only for off-site treatment; link the receiving treatment and do not duplicate on-site releases.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources:

Iron-mine water-treatment sludge (water_treatment_sludge)

Sludge dry mass / D with moisture and destination; account treatment separately from tailings.

• Selected flow: Iron-mine water-treatment sludge
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Sludge dry mass / D with moisture and destination; account treatment separately from tailings.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources:

Elementary flows

carbon dioxide (fossil) (direct_fossil_co2)

Direct fossil CO2 released to air in kg / D from on-site fuel and blasting; use measured emissions or a documented fuel-carbon balance, not electricity-provider emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Direct fossil CO2 released to air in kg / D from on-site fuel and blasting; use measured emissions or a documented fuel-carbon balance, not electricity-provider emissions.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

particles (PM2.5) (direct_pm25)

Measured airborne PM2.5 kg / D after controls from mining, crushing, handling and combustion; do not treat captured dust as released PM2.5.

• Selected flow: particles (PM2.5) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9293-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured airborne PM2.5 kg / D after controls from mining, crushing, handling and combustion; do not treat captured dust as released PM2.5.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Nitrogen oxides, to air (direct_nox)

Measured NOx mass expressed as NO2 / D for engines and blasting where released; record measurement basis.

• Selected flow: Nitrogen oxides, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured NOx mass expressed as NO2 / D for engines and blasting where released; record measurement basis.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

Water, to surface water (effluent_water)

Discharged water in m3 / D after on-site treatment; retain receiving basin and release point, separately from wastewater transferred to a treatment provider.

• Selected flow: Water, to surface water
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Discharged water in m3 / D after on-site treatment; retain receiving basin and release point, separately from wastewater transferred to a treatment provider.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_water
• Sources:

Iron, to fresh water (effluent_iron)

Measured dissolved/total iron load in kg / D at final discharge; specify analytical fraction and avoid duplicating the same load.

• Selected flow: Iron, to fresh water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured dissolved/total iron load in kg / D at final discharge; specify analytical fraction and avoid duplicating the same load.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_emissions
• Sources:

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_hierarchy	multiple saleable outputs	First investigate subdivision or system expansion. Prefer measured process-specific attribution; an expanded-system result must remain labelled as such. If unavoidable, use a justified underlying physical relationship, then a documented other relationship such as economic value.	eu-ef-2021
allocation_ore_grades	lump, fines and concentrate	Do not allocate common mining burdens by contained Fe automatically. If economic allocation is justified, share_i = dry_mass_i * price_i / sum(dry_mass_j * price_j); use comparable net gate prices, same period and moisture basis, disclose price sensitivity and keep output-specific finishing burdens direct.	eu-ef-2021
allocation_waste	tailings, overburden and waste rock	Disposal materials are not saleable co-products merely because they have mass. Retain attributable handling and treatment burdens. A demonstrated saleable recovered product requires a separate identity, specification, buyer evidence and justified allocation; do not add an unsupported avoided-production credit.

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_product	finishing	saleable output and moisture	weighing and assay	batch; wet mass W; wet-basis moisture w; dry-basis Fe fraction f; size; impurities; stocks; gate receipts	Calibrated weighbridge or belt scale; matched lot moisture sampling and laboratory assay. Use ISO 3087 or a disclosed validated equivalent; the public ISO scope does not supply the complete laboratory procedure.	kg; kg/kg	each lot	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_mining	mining	ore, explosive, overburden and rock	mine production records	pit or stope; ore tonnes; moisture; explosive issue; rock/soil volumes; density; stock change; destinations	Reconcile mine survey, calibrated scales, drilling/blast logs and issue records; convert surveyed volume with sampled material density.	kg	shift and blast	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_beneficiation	beneficiation	feed, concentrate, grinding media and tailings	plant mass balance	feed and product weights; moisture; Fe assay; media additions and stocks; tailings slurry mass; solids fraction	Matched feed/product samples, scales and slurry density/solids tests; measure circulating middlings separately.	kg; kg/kg	shift and composite sample	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_flotation	flotation	flotation feed, product, reagents and rejects	reagent and plant records	chemical name; CAS; formulation; concentration; issued mass; opening and closing stocks; concentrate and tailings solids	Verify safety data sheets and issue logs; weigh or meter each chemical separately; reconcile stage mass and assay.	kg	batch and shift	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_utilities	site_services	electricity and diesel	utility meters and fuel stock ledger	meter kWh; voltage; diesel mass or litres; density; receipts; stocks; equipment hours; attribution shares	Dedicated meters and fuel records; reconcile whole-site totals to attributable activities and exclude contractor fuel already included in a service provider.	MJ; kg	daily, reconciled monthly	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_water	site_services	withdrawal, purchased water, reuse and discharge	water balance	source; basin; inflow; purchased water; return water; discharge; evaporation; product/tailings retained water; stock change	Source and outfall meters with basin identification; retain a separate internal-circulation ledger.	m3; kg	daily and seasonal reconciliation	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_waste	site_services	waste fate and treatment	treatment and disposal ledger	tailings solids; wet mass; sulfate/sulfide characterization; neutralizer; sludge; destination; storage; closure plan	Weighbridge, slurry measurements, treatment logs and receiving manifests; record on-site management inventories and assessed future requirements separately.	kg	transfer and monthly balance	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_emissions	site_services	direct air and water releases	monitoring or documented calculation	source; substance; compartment; concentration; gas/liquid flow; operating hours; control; fuel carbon; factor source; detection limit	Representative stack, fugitive and outfall measurements; load = concentration * matched flow * time with explicit unit conversion. Fuel-carbon estimates require measured composition and oxidation assumptions.	kg	operating campaign and permit schedule	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation
cp_land	site_services	land occupation	survey and permit map	polygon; land class; area; duration; overlapping boundary; reclamation state	GIS/survey polygons and mine plan; distinguish occupation from transformation and record each transformation land class separately.	m2*a	annual and land change	same declared reporting period	declared mine/plant; no unrelated production	per 1 kg reference flow	calibration, source records, uncertainty and reconciliation

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
dry_mass	product and intermediate solids	dry_mass = W * (1 - w); D = sum(saleable dry mass); w is moisture fraction on wet mass, 0 <= w < 1. Reconcile production = dispatch + closing stock - opening stock + identified losses.	W; w; cp_product	dry_mass; D	iso-moisture-2020
normalize_period	all inventory rows	Normalized exchange = attributable reporting-period exchange / D; D is positive saleable dry-output mass in kg; final_product = 1 kg dry product. Never average batch intensities without mass weighting.	period totals; D; allocation shares	exchange per 1 kg reference flow
fe_recovery	beneficiation and flotation	Contained Fe = dry solids mass * dry-basis Fe fraction; Fe recovery = Fe in recovered product / Fe in consumed feed, with stock changes and all exits reconciled.	dry masses; Fe assays; stocks	contained Fe; recovery
water_reconcile	site water ledger	External inflows = discharge + evaporation + water exported in product/waste + storage increase; internal return water cancels. Do not equate gross withdrawal with net consumption.	cp_water; moisture; stocks	water balance residual	ifc-mining-2007
energy_conversion	site_electricity; site_diesel	Electricity MJ = metered kWh * 3.6; diesel kg = measured litres * batch density in kg/L; on-site generation inputs are recorded once and internal generated power is not purchased grid power.	cp_utilities; density	MJ; kg

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
quality_period	all collection protocols	Use one common representative reporting period, normally a full operating year as this PCR collection design; shorter campaigns require reason, seasonality and capacity disclosure.	period register; operating hours
quality_identity	each exchange	Verify flow type, chemical identity, product form, compartment, reference property and bilingual official name; pending identities require resolution before publication.	supplier specification and identity records
quality_uncertainty	balance and estimates	Retain scale/meter calibration, assay representativeness, density, factor provenance and uncertainty; explain residuals using measured uncertainties rather than a universal fixed tolerance.	calibration; assays; balance sheets
quality_missing	unmeasured conditional flows	Distinguish absent, unmeasured, modelled and excluded exchanges; provide an estimate and source or a coverage gap, never an unsupported zero.	completeness register

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference	reference and final product	Require matching product UUID/form, 1 kg dry basis, all qualifiers, positive D and matched moisture/Fe assay. Wet-mass providers require explicit conversion.
validate_balance	all stages	Check dry-solid, contained-Fe and water balances with stock changes and uncertainty; recovery fractions must lie between zero and one unless a documented balance correction resolves the discrepancy.
validate_double_count	utilities, intermediates and wastes	Cancel internal ore/concentrate/water transfers; reconcile the single utility ledger. Match waste outputs to one management fate and include treatment burdens; supplier emissions are not site direct releases.
validate_coverage	dataset handoff	Report checks performed/skipped, missing measurements, unresolved identities, omitted stages and upstream coverage. Errors or unassessed mandatory coverage cannot be labelled complete.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Site-specific foreground gate inventory for the declared iron-ore product
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset after coverage and quality assessment
allowed_use	Matched mineral feedstock supply to downstream preparation or ironmaking; separately labelled beneficiation-only use
excluded_use	Unqualified comparison across grade/form/routes; pellet or steel production; cradle-to-gate claims for incomplete upstream coverage
required_metadata	All reference qualifiers; inventory basis; route; gate; process coverage; providers; stock treatment; allocation shares; geography; time; land and waste-management scope
required_quality_disclosure	Measured/modelled coverage; unresolved identities; uncertainty; balance residuals; water source/basin; chemical formulation; emission compartments; omissions and long-term treatment
update_trigger	Changed orebody/grade, route, recovery, reagent formulation, utility supply, waste fate, gate or reporting-period representativeness

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
epa-iron-1994	official_guidance	US EPA, EPA 530-R-94-030 (1994), Volume 3: Iron, §§1.4–1.5. https://archive.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/web/pdf/iron.pdf	Historical physical process descriptions: extraction, separation and tailings. Not current market shares, consumption factors, legal limits or universal grades.
ifc-mining-2007	official_guidance	IFC / World Bank Group, Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Mining (10 December 2007), §1.1 Water Use. https://www.ifc.org/content/dam/ifc/doc/2000/2007-mining-ehs-guidelines-en.pdf	Mining water-balance and return-water distinctions; not iron-specific LCA consumption ranges.
iso-moisture-2020	standard	ISO 3087:2020, Iron ores — Determination of the moisture content of a lot, public scope/catalogue. https://www.iso.org/standard/72159.html	Applicability of lot-moisture determination to natural and processed iron ores. Detailed laboratory method requires access to the actual standard or a validated equivalent.
eu-ef-2021	official_guidance	Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279, Annex I §4.5, consolidated 30 December 2021. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02021H2279-20211230	General multifunctionality hierarchy; citation does not assert full PEF conformity.