On July 23, 6 students from Northeastern University tragically lost their lives during a visit to the Inner Mongolia Mining Company under the state-owned company China National Gold Group. The accident occurred when a grid plate detached and fell into the flotation tank, resulting in the fatalities of the 6 students while one teacher sustained injuries.
In the early hours of July 24, China Gold Gold announced that the incident took place at the Wunügetu Mountain Copper-Molybdenum Ore Dressing Plant of Inner Mongolia Mining Company of China Gold Group, where the students were learning about the flotation process. After the grid plate fell into the flotation tank, the students were rescued, but unfortunately confirmed to have passed away. One teacher was also injured in the accident.
According to a student from Northeastern University who spoke to Southern Metropolis Daily on the 23rd, the students who lost their lives were third-year students majoring in mineral processing engineering at the university, and they were under the direct tutelage of the student who disclosed the information. The student mentioned that they had visited the ore dressing plant before, where typically no employees were around the machinery except during maintenance. During their internship visit, there were more students and teachers present compared to the usual 20-30 workers in the flotation area. The student expressed concerns about the stability of the grid plate with seven people standing on it.
Describing the flotation tank as a vertical structure with a height of over ten meters filled with pulp similar to mudflows, the student emphasized the difficulty of movement once inside and the potential dangers it posed.
The flotation tank used in the flotation separation of copper-molybdenum ore is considered a crucial device in the process, as it separates valuable minerals from waste rocks using froth flotation method.
An industry professional informed Jixiang News that the pulp water inside the flotation tank contains suspended particles, chemical agents, and heavy metal ions, with corrosive and high-temperature risks that necessitate strict safety precautions. The individual emphasized that once someone falls into the tank, the chances of survival are minimal.
Official records show that the mining rights of the Wunügetu Mountain Copper-Molybdenum Mine of Inner Mongolia Mining Company, China Gold Group, were established on September 5, 2008, by the former Ministry of Land and Resources.
Ironically, in February of this year, the WeChat public account of China Gold Inner Mongolia Mining claimed that safety in the ore dressing department of the company has always been a top priority. They boasted about replacing the platform grid plate and achieving a “zero-accident” goal in the flotation workshop last year.
The official announcement of the incident sparked discussions on social media, with many expressing shock and criticism over the way the tragic loss of lives was conveyed in a seemingly understated manner. Some users pointed out the inherent dangers of the flotation tank and criticized the company’s safety measures.
Family members of the deceased students revealed online that the accident occurred at 10 a.m. on the day of the incident, but they were not notified until 8:30 p.m. that evening. The notification lacked detailed information, only stating that an accident had occurred without elaboration.