With　the　rapid　development　of　China’s　mineral　industry,　the　emission　of　iron　tailings　sand　has　increased　sharply.　At　present,　the　negative　storage　and　landfill　are　still　the　main　treatment　methods,　which　does　not　only　occupy　a　large　amount　of　land　resources,　but　also　cause　serious　environmental　pollution.　Therefore,　large-scale　consumption　of　iron　tailings　sand　is　imminent.　Iron　tailings　sand　is　a　kind　of　waste　discharged　after　the　‘useful　part’　of　iron　ore　is　selected　by　grinding,　flotation　or　magnetic　separation　under　a　certain　condition.　Compared　with　natural　fine　aggregate,　the　particle　is　finer,　angular　and　more　solid,　which　could　be　widely　used　in　various　practical　projects.　Among　them,　the　regional　differences　of　iron　tailings,　raw　ore　composition,　grade,　particle　size　and　mining　beneficiation　refining　process　have　a　greater　impact　on　the　physical　and　chemical　properties.　As　an　inert　material,　different　activation　methods　could　be　conducted　to　improve　the　activity　of　iron　tailings　sand,　whereas,　the　composite　activation　is　the　most　effective　technology.　In　this　paper,　the　utilization　of　building　materials　of　iron　tailings　sand　at　home　and　abroad　and　its　application　in　other　fields　are　reviewed.　The　influence　of　concrete　prepared　by　iron　tailings　sand　on　mechanical　properties　and　durability　is　summarized.　The　key　properties　of　the　application　in　road　functional　materials　are　discussed.　The　application　status　of　iron　tailings　sand-based　bricks　is　sorted　out.　The　feasibility　of　using　it　to　prepare　geopolymer　is　evaluated.　Its　advantages　in　the　preparation　of　mesoporous　molecular　sieves　and　the　improvement　of　expansive　soil　are　discussed.　©　2024　Bulletin　of　the　Chinese　Ceramic　Society　Press.　All　rights　reserved.