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Case Study: Application of Cast Stone Composite Pipes for Tailing Conveyance at Baoshan Mining, Baotou Iron & Steel’s Iron-Rare Earth Mine
The Baoshan Mining Iron–Rare Earth Tailings Conveyance Project at Baotou Iron & Steel utilizes cast‑stone composite pipes, with a total pipeline length of 4,100 meters. Officially commissioned in July 2018, the project processes 16,000 tons of raw ore per day and has maintained continuous, stable operation without any anomalies to date, serving as a benchmark for long‑distance tailings transport in China’s fluorine‑bearing rare earth iron ores. Located in the high‑altitude, cold‑climate region of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the project spans a total conveyance distance of 4.1 km. The combination of extreme low temperatures and complex mineral slurries places stringent demands on the pipeline’s overall performance; the cast‑stone composite pipes, with their outstanding properties, are ideally suited to meet the long‑term, stable transport requirements of this high‑cold mining environment.
The project’s tailings consist of oxidized polymetallic ores containing iron, rare earths, and niobium, sourced from the Bayan Obo deposit. These tailings exhibit a complex mineralogical composition and unique operating conditions: the d₅₀ particle size is 0.038 mm, with 75% passing a 200-mesh screen; the true density is 2.79 t/m³, and the rare‑earth oxide grade reaches 7.88%. The conventional underflow concentration in slurry transport is 44%, and the slurry has a pH of approximately 7.9, indicating weak alkalinity. The gangue is rich in fluorite and aegirine, with a high proportion of fine particles and relatively high rheological resistance, resulting in dual wear mechanisms—abrasive erosion by fluorite particles and mild corrosion caused by trace amounts of fluoride ions. Cast stone composite pipes are specifically engineered to address these complex service conditions, effectively resisting both particulate abrasion and corrosive degradation from trace media.
After years of continuous high‑load operation under extreme cold, high resistance, and severe wear, the cast‑stone composite pipe has consistently maintained structural integrity and stable performance, with no wear‑related failures, no leakage incidents, and no need for frequent maintenance. Fully suited to the unique conditions of transporting rare‑earth and polymetallic mine tailings, its exceptional wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and environmental adaptability underscore its outstanding practicality and broad applicability, providing a mature and reliable engineering solution for long‑distance conveyance of complex iron‑rare‑earth tailings in China’s cold‑climate regions.
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