Influence of Types of Fillers on Workability, Bleeding, Compressive Strength, and Degree of Compaction of Hydraulic Concrete

This study aims to determine the optimal quantity of fillers to add to hydraulic concrete and to assess the influence of these fillers on its rheological characteristics and mechanical properties. The characterization of the aggregates shows that they meet the specifications for the formulation of hydraulic concrete according to the Dreux-Gorisse method. Normalizing the formula to the cubic meter enables to define the standard concrete. The cement content is 350 kg/m3. The mineral materials added to the concrete to increase its characteristics and properties are limestone, basalt, and sandstone fillers with a weight percent of 4%, 5%, and 3% respectively. Changes in concrete properties with the addition of fillers were determined through geotechnical tests. The results obtained show a decrease in the workability measured by slump test which returned 7.8 cm for the standard concrete sample, 7.2 cm with 5% of basalt, 7.3 cm with 4% of limestone, and 6.1 cm with 3% of sandstone. Regarding the bleeding, the results show that it decreases leading to a substantial improvement in stabilization reaching 26% with 5% of basalt fillers, 29% with 4% of limestone fillers, and 31% with 3% of sandstone fillers. The compressive strengths noted Rc28 at 28 days increases compared to that of the standard concrete, which is 31.5 MPa. They increase to 34.3 MPa with 5% of basalt fillers being 8.9%, 36.2 MPa with 4% of limestone fillers being 14.9%, and 36.8 MPa with 3% of sandstone fillers being 16.8%. Finally, the addition of fillers increases the degree of compaction values to 83.62% with 5% of basalt fillers, 84.2% with 4% of limestone fillers, and 84.34% with 3% of sandstone fillers.

Geochemical CompGeochemical Comparison of Fresh and Weathered Tailings from the Sabodala Gold Mine Kedougou Region, Senegal Following 6 Years of Operationarison of Fresh and Weathered Tailings from the Sabodala Gold Mine Kedougou Region, Senegal Following 6 Years of Operation

The Sabodala gold mine is located in the Kedegou region in eastern Senegal near the border with Mali in a tropical Savannah climate zone with distinct wet and dry seasons. The mine has been operating since 2009 with active tailings deposition giving an ideal opportunity to study the weathering characteristics of carbonate rich tailings materials under real world conditions. The mine is operated in accordance with international best practice with regular monitoring of water quality and tailings chemistry in accordance with the international cyanide management code (ICMC) and also in order to monitor and control any potential impacts from Acid Rock Drainage and Metal Leaching (ARDML) that may be generated from the tailings materials and waste rock. In 2015 as part of a project looking at the potential for re-use of generated tailings as construction materials, a number of additional geochemical tests including whole rock assays, mineralogy, Acid Base Accounting in accordance with modified Sobek method with siderite correction, together with paste pH and electrical conductivity (Ec) measurements were undertaken. The purpose of the study was to update the predictions of the potential for ARDML generation and drainage pH in leachates forming from the Sabodala tailings. The tests were run on one composite weathered and 3 selective fresh samples collected by auger drilling on three holes over the tailing. Results have enabled a better understanding of the chemical weathering characteristics of finely ground tailings materials under tropical weathering conditions and the nature of secondary minerals precipitated.

Characterization of Fired Clay Bricks for an Economic Contribution of the Exploitation of Thicky Clay Deposit

Clay materials from Thicky in Thiès district (Senegal) are very abundant and could be used for the production of clay brick for the construction industry in Senegal and the surrounding countries. The geophysical, geotechnical, and thermal studies carried out did lead to a better comprehension of the potential of the area for clay production. It also allowed determining the physical and chemical characteristics of the clays for their use in order to make fired clay bricks. Different types of fired clay brick were produced with Thicky’s clays. The study of the physical, mechanical and thermal parameters of these raw materials and bricks has given very satisfactory results compared to the standards in use. It is noted a good ceramic behavior, and there is no deterioration observed after firing at 900°C until low residual moisture of about 3% (on a dry basis), a smooth texture with a beautiful appearance, a low loss on ignition, a low shrinkage value of less than 1% (dry), moderate water absorption and also good compressive strength. The study of thermal properties on a brick wall by the asymmetric lime plane method gives satisfactory effusivity and thermal conductivity values which are respectively equal to 746.48 J·K-1·m-2·s-1/2 and 0.42 W·m-1·k-1 with a thermal resistance of 0.0028 m2·K·W-1.

Effects of Preparation’s Parameters on Stabilization of Sabodala Gold Mine Tailings: Comparison of Fresh and Weathered Materials

The Sabodala gold mine tailings were stabilised using geopolymerization technics in order to improve their mechanical properties in general for a reuse as building materials for local communities. The effect of several preparation parameters on the compressive and tensile strength of the stabilised tailings has been studied to define their optimums. For each formulation, all parameters are kept constant and only one is variable. The prepared samples are then tested for compressive and tensile strength to see how the variable parameter impact on these properties. The same work was carried out for the fresh tailings and for the weathered one to see whether they behave differently and if they need different treatment. The results show that for most of parameters, there is an optimal value on either side of which compressive and tensile strength decrease. Except for few parameters, the fresh and the weathered tailings have a similar behaviour with regards to trends of their mechanical properties with changing preparation conditions. In addition to the similarity of weathered and fresh tailings mechanical characteristics following their stabilization by geopolymerization, this work has proved the considerable effects of the preparation’s parameters.