Reinforcing effects of polypropylene on energy absorption and fracturing of cement-based tailings backfill under impact loading

Polypropylene(PP)fiber-reinforced cement-based tailings backfill(FRCTB)is a green compound material with superior crack resistance and has good prospects for application in underground mining.However,FRCTB exhibits susceptibility to dynamic events,such as impact ground pressure and blast vibrations.This paper investigates the energy and crack distribution behavior of FRCTB under dynamic impact,considering the height/diameter(H/D)effect.Split Hopkinson pressure bar,industrial computed tomography scan,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)experiments were carried out on six types of FRCTB.Laboratory outcomes confirmed fiber aggregation at the bottom of specimens.When H/D was less than 0.8,the proportion of PP fibers distributed along theθangle direction of80°-90°increased.For the total energy,all samples presented similar energy absorption,reflectance,and transmittance.However,a rise in H/D may cause a rise in the energy absorption rate of FRCTB during the peak phase.A positive correlation existed between the average strain rate and absorbed energy per unit volume.The increase in H/D resulted in a decreased crack volume fraction of FRCTB.When the H/D was greater than or equal to 0.7,the maximum crack volume fraction of FRCTB was observed close to the incidence plane.Radial cracks were present only in the FRCTB with an H/D ratio of 0.5.Samples with H/D ratios of 0.5 and 0.6 showed similar distributions of weakly and heavily damaged areas.PP fibers can limit the emergence and expansion of cracks by influencing their path.SEM observations revealed considerable differences in the bonding strengths between fibers and the FRCTB.Fibers that adhered particularly well to the substrate were attracted together with the hydration products adhering to surfaces.These results show that FRCTB is promising as a sustainable and green backfill for determining the design properties of mining with backfill.

Rheological properties and concentration evolution of thickened tailings under the coupling effect of compression and shear

Cemented paste backfill(CPB)is a key technology for green mining in metal mines,in which tailings thickening comprises the primary link of CPB technology.However,difficult flocculation and substandard concentrations of thickened tailings often occur.The rheological properties and concentration evolution in the thickened tailings remain unclear.Moreover,traditional indoor thickening experiments have yet to quantitatively characterize their rheological properties.An experiment of flocculation condition optimization based on the Box-Behnken design(BBD)was performed in the study,and the two response values were investigated:concentration and the mean weighted chord length(MWCL)of flocs.Thus,optimal flocculation conditions were obtained.In addition,the rheological properties and concentration evolution of different flocculant dosages and ultrafine tailing contents under shear,compression,and compression-shear coupling experimental conditions were tested and compared.The results show that the shear yield stress under compression and compression-shear coupling increases with the growth of compressive yield stress,while the shear yield stress increases slightly under shear.The order of shear yield stress from low to high under different thickening conditions is shear,compression,and compression-shear coupling.Under compression and compression-shear coupling,the concentration first rapidly increases with the growth of compressive yield stress and then slowly increases,while concentration increases slightly under shear.The order of concentration from low to high under different thickening conditions is shear,compression,and compression-shear coupling.Finally,the evolution mechanism of the flocs and drainage channels during the thickening of the thickened tailings under different experimental conditions was revealed.

Chemical weathering profile in the V–Ti–Fe mine tailings pond:a basalt-weathering analog

The(ultra-)mafic mine tailings pond revealed a weathering discrepancy in the tailings profile,which provided a valuable analog to assess the role of carbonate and silicate weathering of the basalt.In this study,drill-cores samples were selected from the Wanniangou V–Ti–Fe mine tailings pond(Sichuan province,China)to investigate the mineralogicand geochemical characteristics in the tailings profile.The results reveal(1)the tailings pond profile consist of upper and lower layers.The upper layer is composed of carbonate weathering(1.4%),which was formed in the initial stages of tailings exposure and represented a minimal weathering degree.(2)The lower layer was primarily observed at the aquifer zone of the tailings pond,and was consistent with 0.45%carbonate weathering and 48.4%silicate weathering.(3)The weathering discrepancy in the tailings profile could be due to the sulfide oxidation and aerobic/flowing aquifer,which facilitate the water-tailings reactions.The tailings profile provides an analog to studying basalt weathering,as it spans both carbonate and silicate weathering.This research reinforces the idea that silicate weathering is predominant in basaltic areas and plays a crucial role in regulating atmospheric CO_(2)(carbon dioxide)levels on Earth.

Release characteristics and stabilization of heavy metals in antimony tailings in Yunnan Province,China

The pollution caused by the mining and smelting of heavy metals is becoming an increasingly severe environmental problem.In this study,the environmental risks of mine tailings were explored using typical antimony tailings(the depth of the sample taken from the ground to the deepest position of 120 cm)from the Zuoxiguo mine in Yunnan Province,Southwest China.The tailings were examined to explore the geological background,distribution characteristics,and release characteristics of heavy metals.Additionally,stabilizer treatments for heavy metals were investigated in consideration of waste treatment.The results showed that the contents of Sb and As(8.93×103 and 425 mg/kg,respectively)in the tailings were considerably higher than the local soil background values,suggesting that these metals pose a considerable threat to the surrounding environment.The geological background values of Cr,Cd,Pb,Cu,and Zn were relatively low.The results of static release showed that Sb,As,Cd,and Cr leached from the tailings more easily than Cu,Zn,and Pb under acidic conditions(pH=2.98).Geo-accumulation indices and potential ecological risk indices showed that Sb,As,Cd,and Pb were highly enriched in the tailings,whereas Cu,Cr,and Zn contents were relatively low.The single factor ecological risk index of the mining area showed that Sb and As are high ecological risk factors,whereas Cr,Cu,Zn,Cd,and Pb are not.The results of the orthogonal test results showed that by adding 15.0%(m/m)fly ash and 15.0%(m/m)zeolite powder to the quicklime and curing for 28 d,a significant stabilization effect was observed for Sb,As,and Pb.This study helps determine the priority control components for characteristic heavy metals in antimony tailings,and provides valuable insights regarding the formulation of appropriate mitigation strategies.

Preparation and interface state of phosphate tailing-based geopolymers

The long-term storage of phosphate tailings will occupy a large amount of land,pollute soil and groundwater,thus,it is crucial to achieve the harmless disposal of phosphate tailings.In this study,high-performance geopolymers with compressive strength of 38.8 MPa were prepared by using phosphate tailings as the main raw material,fly ash as the active silicon-aluminum material,and water glass as the alkaline activator.The solid content of phosphate tailings and fly ash was 60% and 40%,respectively,and the water-cement ratio was 0.22.The results of XRD,FTIR,SEM-EDS and XPS show that the reactivity of phosphate tailings with alkaline activator is weak,and the silicon-aluminum material can react with alkaline activator to form zeolite and gel,and encapsulate/cover the phosphate tailings to form a dense phosphate tailings-based geopolymer.During the formation of geopolymers,part of the aluminum-oxygen tetrahedron replaced the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron,causing the polycondensation reaction between geopolymers and increasing the strength of geopolymers.The leaching toxicity test results show that the geopolymer has a good solid sealing effect on heavy metal ions.The preparation of geopolymer from phosphate tailings is an important way to alleviate the storage pressure and realize the resource utilization of phosphate tailings.

Determination of critical state line(CSL)for silty-sandy iron ore tailings subjected to low-high confining pressures

The disposal of filtered tailings in high dry stacks can induce particle breakage,changing the material's behaviour during the structure's lifetime.The grading changes influence material properties at the critical state,and this is not mature for intermediate artificial soils(tailings)in a broad range of confining pressures.In this paper,it aims to describe the behaviour of iron ore tailings in a spectrum of confining pressures broader than the reported in previous studies.A series of consolidated drained(CD)triaxial tests was carried out with confining pressures ranging from 0.075 MPa to 120 MPa.These results show that the amount of breakage plays an essential role in the response of iron ore tailings.The existence of curved critical state line(CSL)in both specific volume(ν)-logarithm of mean effective stress(p′)and deviatoric stress(q)-mean effective stress(p′)planes,and different responses in the deviatoric stress-axial strain-volumetric strain curves were verified.An inverse S-shaped equation was proposed to represent the silty-sandy tailings'behaviour up to high pressures onν-lnp′plane.The proposed equation provides a basis for enhancing constitutive models and considers the evolution of the grading up to severe loading conditions.The adjustment considered three regions with different responses associated with particle breakage at different pressure levels.

Malargüe Site Remediation:A Successful Solution for Uranium Mill Tailings

Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA) has the responsibility for restoring uranium mining facilities once the operations have finished.CNEA,within its Environmental Program and in compliance with its legal responsibilities,decides to implement a restoration project for all sites related to the mining and processing of uranium ores.The Malargüe Site is located within the Province of Mendoza in the city of Malargüe.It is the first site to successfully complete its remediation.The activities consist of relocation of tailings to an engineering repository.The tailings management(encapsulation) and rehabilitation of the area was finished in June 2017.The remediation alternative for the ore tailings was selected after conducting comparative studies and submitted the project to the society for consideration.The objective of the encapsulation of the mineral tails is to isolate them from the environment,also proceeding with the decontamination and rehabilitation of the area (landscaping,post-closure monitoring and 20 years monitoring period).Encapsulation consisted of the construction of a containment cell for the mine tailings,to isolate them and prevent pollutants from entering the environment through the transfer routes.To clean the impacted areas,the soil was removed,it was incorporated into the encapsulation,and the filling was carried out with natural soils from the area.Remediation prevents radon transfer to the environment,as ^(222)Ra is an alpha emitter with a half-life of four days,which produces its own radioactive progeny.Radon progeny are solids,and when a ^(222)Ra nucleus emits an alpha particle into the air,the resulting ^(218)Po nucleus,momentarily electrically charged,adheres to any dust particle.Remediation prevents the discharge into the air containing radon and also containing dust particles charged with intensely radioactive radon progeny.The tasks mentioned make it possible to decrease radon emanation,reduce radiological risks to the public and prevent the entry of rainwater into the system.In addition,the containment system prevents the discharge of contaminated liquids into the environment,avoiding contamination of the groundwater.All these activities are according to the concepts of sustainability.

Fluid-Related Performances and Compressive Strength of Clinker-Free Cementitious Backfill Material Based on Phosphate Tailings

Phosphate tailings are usually used as backfill material in order to recycle tailings resources.This study considers the effect of the mix proportions of clinker-free binders on the fluidity,compressive strength and other key performances of cementitious backfill materials based on phosphate tailings.In particular,three solid wastes,phosphogypsum(PG),semi-aqueous phosphogypsum(HPG)and calcium carbide slag(CS),were selected to activate wet ground granulated blast furnace slag(WGGBS)and three different phosphate tailings backfill materials were prepared.Fluidity,rheology,settling ratio,compressive strength,water resistance and ion leaching behavior of backfill materials were determined.According to the results,when either PG or HPG is used as the sole activator,the fluidity properties of the materials are enhanced.Phosphate tailings backfill material activated with PG present the largest fluidity and the lowest yield stress.Furthermore,the backfill material’s compressive strength is considerably increased to 2.9 MPa at 28 days after WGGBS activation using a mix of HPG and CS,all with a settling ratio of only 1.15 percent.Additionally,all the three ratios of binder have obvious solidification effects on heavy metal ions Cu and Zn,and P in phosphate tailings.

Industrial utilization of arsenic-containing gold dressing tailings as pellet prepared by straight grate process

The utilization of arsenic-containing gold dressing tailings is an urgent issue faced by gold production companies worldwide.The thermodynamic analysis results indicate that ferrous arsenate(FeAsO_(4)),pyrite(FeS_(2))and sodium cyanide(NaCN)in the arsenic-containing gold metallurgical tailings can be effectively removed using straight grate process,and the removal of pyrite and sodium cyanide is basically completed during the preheating stage,while the removal of ferrous arsenate requires the roasting stage.The pellets undergo a transformation from magnetite to hematite during the preheating process,and are solidified through micro-crystalline bonding and high-temperature recrystallization of hematite(Fe_(2)O_(3))during the roasting process.Ultimately,pellets with removal rates of 80.77% for arsenic,88.78% for sulfur,and 99.88% for cyanide are obtained,as well as the iron content is 61.1% and the compressive strength is 3071 N,meeting the requirements for blast furnace burden.This study provides an industrially feasible method for treating arsenic-containing gold smelting tailings,benefiting gold production enterprises.

Effects of Using Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Tailings as Lightweight Aggregate on the Mechanical Properties of Specified Density Concrete

Municipal solid waste incineration tailings were used as lightweight aggregate(MSWIT-LA)in the preparation of specified density concrete to study the effects on compressive strength,axial compressive strength,flexural strength,microhardness,total number of pores,pore area,and pore spacing.The results showed that the internal curing and morphological effects induced by an appropriate quantity of MSWIT-LA improved the compressive response of specified density concrete specimens,whereas an excessive quantity of MSWIT-LA significantly reduced their mechanical properties.An analysis of pore structure indicated that the addition of MSWIT-LA increased the total quantity of pores and promoted cement hydration,resulting in a denser microstructure than that of ordinary concrete.The results of a principal component analysis showed that the mechanical response of specified density concrete prepared with 25%MSWIT-LA was superior to that of an equivalent ordinary concrete.It was therefore concluded that MSWIT-LA can be feasibly applied to achieve excellent specified density concrete properties while utilising municipal solid waste incineration tailings to protect the environment and alleviate shortages of sand and gravel resources.

Non-Destructive Detection and Evaluation of Heavy Metal Pollution in Tailings Reservoir

Heavy metal pollution is a negative effect generated in the process of utilizing non-ferrous mineral. Studies about heavy metal migration detection are very important. A new method for rapid detection of heavy metal migration based on ground penetrating radar (GPR) was provided. Comparative tests were studied from field to lab with GPR and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). A tailings reservoir in the Xiangjiang River basin at Hunan Province was taken as experimental site. The downward transfer rule of heavy metal migration was confirmed through tests on systematically arranged survey lines and sampling points in tailings site. Results showed: 1) Through GPR image recognition, tailings reservoir had 3 layers. Reclaimed soil layer (the first layer) and tailings layer (the second layer) had a clear interface. However, tailings layer (the second layer) and subsoil layer (the third layer) had an obscure interface on radar images. It was concluded that heavy metal component had migrated downwards. 2) Chemical component analysis verified image recognition conclusions. Concentrations of As, Cd and Pb were significantly out of limit, while concentration of Cr was under limit according to analysis results on samples from different depths. 3) Pollution degree was evaluated. Downward migration was the main form of heavy metal migration in tailings site, upward migration occurred through adsorption at the same time.

Tailings Dam Mining, Theoretical Considerations, and Circular Economy: A Review

Mining in tailings dams has emerged as a strategic alternative for mining companies for both economic and environmental reasons. Owing to technological limitations in recent decades, many of these dams have high metal contents, emphasizing the need to evaluate the quality of these residues, especially considering the technological advancements in current concentration plants. An economic viability analysis associated with reusing these materials is crucial. From an environmental point of view, improving mining techniques for dams by considering both safety and feasibility is an advantageous option in decommissioning processes and alignment in the circular economy. In this context, representing these tailings in terms of grade quality and granulometry, as well as the associated contaminants, is essential. Geostatistical estimation and simulation methods are valuable tools for modeling tailings bodies, but they require a reliable sampling campaign to ensure acceptably low errors. From an operational perspective, tailings recovery can be conducted via dry methods, such as mechanical excavation, or hydraulic methods, such as dredging or hydraulic blasting. Dredging is a commonly used method, and cutter suction dredgers, which require pumping to transport fragmented material, are the most commonly used tools. In this paper, some practical applications of geostatistical methods for resource quantification in tailings dams will be discussed. Additionally, the main mining methods for tailings recovery in dams will be presented. Emphasis will be given to the dredging method, along with the key analysis parameters for sizing dredgers, pumps, and pipelines.

Leaching of heavy metals from Dexing copper mine tailings pond

AThe wastewater source of 4# tailing pond in Dexing copper mine consists of alkaline flotation pulp and acid mine drainage （AMD） from the nearby opencast mine. Therefore, the heavy metals in tailing ore are very likely to be released due to acidification from AMD. The leaching behaviors ofZn, Cu, Fe and Mn in mine tailings from Dexing copper mine were investigated by a series of laboratory batch experiments. The effectcs ofpH, temperature, particle size and contact time on the leachability of such heavy metals were examined. It was evident that Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were major heavy metals in the tailings while gangue minerals like quartz were major constituents in examined tailings. The tailing dissolution reaction was controlled by the acid, whose kinetics could be expressed according to the heterogeneous reaction models and explained by a shrinking core model with the surface chemical reaction as the rate-controlling step. The leachability of all metals examined depended on pH and contact time. The batch studies indicated that the maximum leaching ratios ofZn, Cu, Fe and Mn at pH 2.0 were 5.4%, 5.8%, l 1.1% and 34.1%, respectively. The dissolubility of all metals examined was positively correlated to the temperatures. The particle size would not change dissolution tendency of those heavy metals, but decrease the concentrations of leached heavy metals.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Actinomycete Isolates from Iron Mine Tailings

[Objective]The aim was to discuss the actinomycete biodiversity of iron-mine tailings by phylogenetic analysis of 12 typical isolates. [Method]The genomic DNAs were extracted by phenol-chloroform method; phylogeny analysis was carried out based on 16S rDNA PCR amplification and sequencing. [Result]The results showed that all the 12 strains belong to the genus Streptomyces sharing 98.7%-99.9% similarities with their nearest known neighbors. [Conclusion]Streptomyces is the dominant culturable actinomycete group of iron mine tailings,in which there are many potential novel species.

Soil Environmental Quality Evaluation for Wasteland of Coalmine Tailing Polluted by Heavy Metals in Mingshan of Guangdong

ln order to appraise scientifical y the heavy metal contamination in waste-land of coalmine tailing in Mingshan of Guangdong, the 5 soil samples in wasteland of coalmine tailing were col ected in November 2010 to March 2011. The 7 heavy metals content in the contaminated soil was measured by atomic absorption spec-trophotometry. The results showed the pH of the wasteland soil ranged from 2.87 to 6.16, and the soil was relatively infertile. The soil was mainly pol uted by Cd and Mn. The Cd content in wasteland soil ranged from 0.759 mg/kg to 3.109 mg/kg with an average content of 2.052 mg/kg, which was much higher than the standard content. The Mn content ranged from 387.057 to 488.660 mg/kg with an average content of 421.215 mg/kg, which was much higher than the standard content. The Nemerow integrated pol ution indexes showed the sample 1, sample 4 and sample 5 were of heavy pol ution, and sample 2 and sample 3 were of moderate pol ution.

Effect of combined pollution by heavy metals on soil enzymatic activities in areas polluted by tailings from Pb-Zn-Ag mine

Some enzymatic activities were determined in the areas polluted by tailings from Tiantai Pb-Zn-Ag Mine in Zhejiang Province of China. The results indicated the soil enzymatic activities decreased significantly with increase of concentrations of heavy metals or the distance away from mining tailing center, especially dehydrogenase and urease activities. Multivariate regression analysis between heavy metal contents and soil enzymatic activities indicated that single dehydrogenase activity was very significantly correlated to combined effect of soil heavy metals in mine area. Moreover, single urease, protease and acid phosphatase activities were significantly related to the combined effect of heavy metals. The results suggest it is feasible to use soil enzymatic activities to indicate the pollution situation by combined heavy metals in the soil of mine area.

Revegetation of Copper Mine Tailings with Ryegrass and Willow

To restore vegetation on metal mine tailings is very difficult because theyoften contain high concentrations of heavy metals, low nutrient content and low water retentioncapacity. This study involved 3 experiments that evaluated the effects of 4 treatment amendments:montmorillonite, rice straw, organic manure and chemical fertilizer on the growth of ryegrass(Lolium perenne L.) and willow (Salix viminalis L.) with Cu and Zn mine tailings from two miningareas. The results showed that ryegrass was the most tolerant of 4 crops to Cu toxicity. Also whenorganic manure, which contained high concentrations of inorganic salts, was added to the minetailings, it significantly hindered ryegrass growth (P = 0.05). Meanwhile, with ryegrass organicmanure significantly increased (P = 0.05) the extractable Cu concentration in both mine tailings.When montmorillonite was used as a mine tailings amendment with willow, the height and tress numberat the 1st cut were significantly greater (P = 0.05) than a control without montmorillonite. Howeverthere was no significant difference for height, tress number, dry weight or root dry weight at the2nd cut. So, amendment applications to reduce metal toxicity and increase nutrients retention inmine tailings were essential during revegetation of mine tailings.

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Plants on Mn Mine Tailings

The Xiangtan Manganese (Mn) Mine in the middle of Hunan Province, China, has been mined since 1913 with mine tailings including excavated wastes, wastewater, and smelting wastes. A survey was conducted on the Mn mine tailing soils and eight plants on the Mn mine tailings. The concentrations of soil Mn, Pb, and Cd and the metal-enrichment traits of these eight plants were analyzed simultaneously. Exceptionally high concentrations of these three metals were found in the soils, especially on the tailing dam. Each plant investigated in this study accumulated the three heavy metals, but no hyperaccumulator of these metals was found. However, analysis indicated that Poa pratensis Linn., Gnaphalium affine D. Don, Pteris vittata L., Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq., and Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. possessed specially good metal-enrichment and metal-tolerant traits. P. pratensis, G. affine, and P. vittata were Pb-tolerant plants; and C. canadensis, P. pratensis, and G. affine were Cd-tolerant plants. P. acinosa had a great tolerance to Mn. and it was a valuable plant for on-site phytoremediation. Phragmites communis Trin. was found to have high metal tolerance and economic benefit as a raw material for paper and should be considered for soil remediation. G. affine and C. canadensis had excessive accumulation of Mn and could be useful in phytoremediation. However, although P. pratensis was a good accumulator, it was not a suitable plant for soil remediation because its biomass was too little.

Restoration potential of pioneer plants growing on lead-zinc mine tailings in Lanping, southwest China

This study focused on the restoration potential of ten pioneer plants (Artemisia roxburghiana, Artemisia tangutica, Carex inanis, Cyperaceae hebecarpus, Plantago depresa, Cynoglossum lanceolatum, Potentilla saundesiana, Coriaria sinica, Oxyria sinensis, and Miscanthus nepalensis) during the early phase of Pb-Zn mine tailings phytostabilization, in Lanping, China. The concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, and Cu) and soil fertility (the available N, P, K, and organic matter) in the rhizosphere of these spe...

Effect of Different Amendments on Ryegrass Growth in Copper Mine Tailings

Montmorillonite, rice straw, organic manure and chemical fertilizer were usedas amendment materials for copper mine tailings, and their effects on mine tailing pH, nutrientsarid metal availability to ryegrass were investigated. Chemical fertilization was the most effectiveone in improving ryegrass growth in mine tailings among the amendment materials examined. It wasfound that montmorillonite raised biomass of ryegrass at the 1st and 2nd cuts, but it did not givefurther positive effects at the3rd and 4th cuts. The effect of organic materials on ryegrass growthwas not so good as expected, mainly due to their slow decomposition in mine tailings with less soilmicroorganisms. Available Cu and Zn contents in mine tailings decreased in the presence ofmontmorillonite but increased when rice straw and organic manure were used as amendments. Cu and Zncontents in ryegrass decreased with increasing the rate of montmorillonite application but increasedwith the rate of rice straw. Zn showed much stronger mobility from soil lo ryegrass than Cu, andalmost all the available N and P in mine tailings, except for the treatments with organic manure,were completely consumed after ryegrass had grown in mine tailings for more than four months andbeen harvested for four times. Owing to its large biomass and high metal uptake, ryegrass is apotential plant for remediation of metal contaminated soils in practice.