Open AccessMechanical behavior analysis of polymer stabilized gold ore tailings
Author(s) -
Giovanna Monique Alelvan,
Michéle Dal Toé Casagrande,
Nilo César Consoli
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
soils and rocks/soils and rocks
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.161
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2675-5475
pISSN - 1980-9743
DOI - 10.28927/sr.2022.075421
Subject(s) - tailings , materials science , polymer , compressive strength , direct shear test , composite material , muscovite , scanning electron microscope , quartz , curing (chemistry) , metallurgy , shear (geology)
Chemical stabilization for mining tailings is a promising alternative to enable their use as construction materials. For this, it is necessary to evaluate the behavior of these composites to ensure minimum design requirements. This research aims to demonstrate that an addition of 15% of polymeric solution content, corresponding to 6% of polymer by tailings mass unit, can improve considerably the mechanical strength of gold ore mining tailings. To this end, unconfined compression and direct shear tests were conducted, indicating an increase in compressive and shear strength, especially with 28 days of curing time and at maximum dry unit weight. Microstructural and chemical tests were also performed, demonstrating that the tailings have silt-sized particles, mostly composed of quartz, muscovite, and kaolinite. Despite its granulometry, the tailings do not exhibit cohesive behavior and require to be considered perhaps as rock sediments. Scanning Electron Microscope analysis showed that the particles are lamellar, and a more stable arrangement contributes to the polymer’s performance as a binder. It was observed that the strength gain occurs due to polymer bond effect and to the matric suction.