Some embodiments of the invention include a method of producing iron carbonate binder compositions including providing a plurality of binder precursors including a powdered iron or steel, a first powdered additive comprising silica, a second powdered additive including calcium carbonate, and a powdered clay. The method includes mixing the plurality of binder precursors and a water additive to form an uncured product, and feeding at least a portion of the uncured product into a curing chamber. The curing chamber is fluidly coupled to a CO2 source so that some CO2 from the CO2 source reacts with the uncured product to form a cured iron carbonate containing product and at least one reaction byproduct, where at least some byproduct can be fed from the curing chamber to the CO2 source for use as a fuel by the CO2 source.