Using Iron Ore Tailings from Tailing Dams as Road Material
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28, Issue 10
Abstract
The present work aims to evaluate the feasibility of iron ore tailings from tailing dams as an alternative material for road infrastructure. The iron ore tailings were characterized according to their chemical, mineralogical, environmental, and physical properties. Subsequently, the tailings were chemically stabilized using cement, lime, or steelmaking slag as binder. The tailing-cement, tailing-lime, and tailing-slag mixtures studied consisted of 1, 2, 5, and 10% binder content, each. The characterization methodology included chemical and mineralogical analysis through X-ray fluorescence and diffraction; environmental analysis with leaching and dissolution tests; evaluation of compaction curves; California bearing ratio (CBR) tests and expansion assessment; compressive strength, with curing in moisture chamber or at open air; water absorption; and evaluation of durability of the mixtures. Overall, the results indicate that the iron ore tailings are a feasible solution for use as layers for road paving, once chemically stabilized. The cement is the most efficient stabilizer among the studied binders. The slag-tailing sample did not endure the durability cycles; thus, further research is required to ensure its technical feasibility.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Brazilian research agencies CNPq, CAPES, and FAPEMIG. They are also grateful for the financial support, logistics, and materials provision from NUGEO/UFOP and ARCELOMITTAL; and for the infrastructure, encouragement and collaboration of the Research Group on Solid Wastes–RECICLOS–CNPq.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28 • Issue 10 • October 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 20, 2015
Accepted: Feb 10, 2016
Published online: May 4, 2016
Published in print: Oct 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Oct 4, 2016
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