This　study　analyzed　the　prevalent　physicochemical　phases　of　smelting　slag　from　the　perspective　of　data　science　and　chemistry.　Findings　delineated　the　silicate　phase　as　the　pivotal　and　predominant　constraining　phase　for　the　resource　utilization　of　smelting　slag.　An　intricate　correlation　between　metallic　elements　and　dominant　phases　was　constructed.　Typical　silicate　phase　olivine　(OL)　was　synthesized　as　a　paradigm　to　examine　alkali　depolymerization,　unveiling　the　optimal　conditions　for　such　depolymerization　to　be　an　alkali　to　olivine　molar　ratio　of　1:5,　a　reaction　temperature　of　700 °C,　and　a　duration　of　3 h.　The　underlying　mechanism　of　alkali　depolymerization　within　silicate　phases　was　elucidated　under　these　parameters.　The　reaction　mechanism　of　alkali　depolymerization　within　silicate　phases　can　be　encapsulated　in　three　sequential　steps:　(1)　NaOH　dissociation　and　subsequent　adsorption　of　OH−　to　cationic　(Mg　or　Fe)　sites;　(2)　disruption　of　cation-oxygen　bonds,　leading　to　the　formation　of　hydroxide　compounds,　which　then　underwent　oxidation;　(3)　Na+　occupied　the　resultant　cation　vacancy　sites,　instigating　further　depolymerization　of　the　intermediate　Na2(Mg,Fe)SiO4.　The　articulated　mechanism　is　anticipated　to　furnish　theoretical　underpinnings　for　the　efficacious　recuperation　of　metals　from　smelting　slags.　Graphical　abstract:　(Figure　presented.).　©　Youke　Publishing　Co.,Ltd　2024.