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Abstract
Mine tailings are the byproducts of the mining industry. For many decades these tailings used to be stored in specially formed tailings ponds. This method of storage has caused several environmental disasters, coupled in some instances with human fatalities. These catastrophes prompted a change in the management strategy of tailings. This change started with attempting to solidify the tailings to immobilize them and reduce their hazard. As part of this new strategy, and in an effort to investigate the applicability of using mine tailings as a construction material, this study is an attempt to investigate the porosity dependent strength and leachability of newly formed mine tailings matrices. And to evaluate the applicability of using four different theoretical models to predict the strength of these matrices. For this purpose, two mine tailings, Musselwhite and Mont Wright, from the Eastern parts of Canada have been selected. In this study, solidification of the newly formed tailings matrices was investigated using Ordinary Portland cement, fly ash, slag and the new binder Calsifrit. Results show that using Calsifrit as a partial cement replacement, in addition to slag and fly ash, reduced the porosity of the tailings matrices. The leaching test showed that several types of heavy metals have a high percentage of retention in these matrices. Compressive strength results indicate that the tailings matrices are suitable as construction materials for certain structural applications. However, current theoretical models overpredict their strength and overprediction increases when fly ash or slag are added to the mix.
PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT
With the advent of new communication technologies and the proliferation of knowledge in all sectors, the public is more aware now of the challenges facing the environment. As such more emphasis has now been placed on regulatory bodies to establish guidelines for the enforcement of sustainable practices. The mining industry in Canada, which is one of the biggest in the world, is one such industry that has been implementing sustainable practices in its field. Sustainable construction materials made from mine waste is a must, if we are to move forward with reducing environmental pollution. Hence, this paper discusses the potential characteristics of such materials in view of their strength and environmental characteristics.
Competing Interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge with gratitude the support that Dr. Michelle Nokken and Dr. Catherine Mulligan of Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) have provided for this study.
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Notes on contributors
Ali A. Mahmood
Dr Ali A. Mahmood obtained his PhD from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. He has more than 12 years of experience in research, teaching and construction in the field of civil engineering. His research interests include: sustainable engineering materials, discrete element and numerical methods and soil stabilization and reinforcement. He has been a member and chair in several committees in international journals and conferences.
Maria Elektorowicz
Prof. Maria Elektorowicz obtained her M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees from Warsaw Technical University, Poland. Her research interests are bio-physico-chemical interaction phenomena in soil/groundwater/contaminant matrix, contaminated site remediation, as well as contaminated sediments and biosolids management. She joined Concordia University, in Montreal, in 1993. Since then she has been active in teaching Environmental Engineering and related subjects. Her research portfolio is rife with tens of papers and several patents.