The study of metal cycles in China

A model of Fe-flow in the life cycle of steel product was put forward and analyzed. Three important resource and environmental indicators for Fe-flow analysis,that is,steel scrap index,iron ore index and iron loss index were derived from this model. Illustrative examples,demonstrating the influence of the variation of steel output on steel scrap index and iron ore index were given. Case studies for estimating the values of steel scrap index of Japan,China and USA in the period of 1988-1997 were carried out. It was clarified that the main reason of severe deficiency in steel scraps for China's steel industry was its continued rapid growth. The study of iron,copper,zinc and lead cycle in China was carried out successfully according to this model.