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.

Mechanical behavior of iron ore tailings under standard compression and extension triaxial stress paths

The disposal of mining tailings has increasingly focused on the use of dry stacks.These structures offer more security since they use filtered and compacted material.Because of the construction method and the heights achieved,the material that compounds the structure can be subjected to different stress paths along the failure plane.The theoretical framework considered in the design of these structures generally is the critical state soil mechanics(CSSM).However,the data in the literature concerning the uniqueness of critical state line(CSL)is still controversial as the soil is subjected to different stress paths.With respect to tailings,this question is even more restricted.This paper studies two tailings with different gradings due to the beneficial processes over extension and compression paths.A series of drained and undrained triaxial tests was conducted over a range of initial densities and stress levels.In the q-p'plane,different critical stress ratio(M)values were obtained for compression and extension stress paths.However,the critical state friction angle is very similar with a slightly higher critical state friction angle for extension tests.Curved stress path dependent CSLs were obtained in the n-lnp0 plane with the extension tests below the CSL defined in compression.Regarding the fines content,the studied tailings presented very similar M and critical state friction angle values.However,the fines content af-fects the volumetric behavior of the studied tailings and the CSLs on the n-lnp0 plane shift downwards with the increasing fines content for compression and extension tests.In relation to dilatancy analysis,the fines content did not present an evident influence on the dilatancy of the materials.However,different values of mean stress ratio N were obtained between compression and extension tests and can corroborate the existence of non-unique CSLs for these materials.

Iron ore tailings used for the preparation of cementitious material by compound thermal activation

In the background of little reuse and large stockpile for iron ore tailings, iron ore tailing from Chinese Tonghua were used as raw material to prepare cementitious materials. Cementitious properties of the iron ore tailings activated by compound thermal activation were studied. Testing methods, such as XRD, TG-DTA, and IR were used for researching the phase and structure variety of the iron ore railings in the process of compound thermal activation. The results reveal that a new cementitious material that contains 30wt% of the iron ore tailings can be obtained by compounded thermal activation, whose mortar strength can come up to the standard of 42.5 cement of China.

Reconstruction of broken Si–O–Si bonds in iron ore tailings (IOTs) in concrete

This paper reports a study on the reconstruction of broken Si O Si bonds in iron ore tailings (IOTs) in concrete. Limestone and IOTs were used to investigate the influence of different types of coarse aggregates on the compressive strengths of concrete samples. The dif- ferences in interfacial transition zones (ITZs) between aggregate and paste were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ener- gy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Meanwhile, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) were used to study microscopic changes in limestone and IOTs powders in a simple alkaline environment that simulated cement. The results show that the compressive strengths of IOTs concrete or paste are higher than those of limestone concrete or paste under identical conditions. The Ca/Si atom ratios in the ITZs of IOTs con- crete samples are lower than those of limestone concrete;the diffraction peak of the calcium silicate phase at 2θ = 29.5°, as well as the bands of Si O bonds shifting to lower wavenumbers, indicates reconstruction of the broken Si-O-Si bonds on the surfaces of IOTs with Ca(OH)2.

Different Effects of Wet and Dry Grinding on the Activation of Iron Ore Tailings

Improving the activity of Iron Ore Tailings(IOTs)to utilize them as a mineral admixture in cement-based minerals is still challenging.In this paper,the wet grinding technology was employed to stimulate the activity of IOTs,and the traditional dry grinding method was used as a reference.The effect of wet grinding on the activation of IOTs was evaluated through ion leaching from an alkaline solution and the reactivity index.Additionally,a detailed comparison between Dry-grinding Iron Ore Tailings(DIOTs)and Wet-grinding Iron Ore Tailings(WIOTs)was made.This comparison was based on particle characteristics,crystal structures,chemical structure,and surface properties.The results showed that the particle size of IOTs reduced rapidly during wet grinding.In addition,WIOTs had a higher activity index compared to DIOTs.The storage of lattice distortions in the quartz crystal structure was also more significant during the wet grinding process than during the dry grinding process.Moreover,both prolonged dry and wet grinding could destabilize the Si-O bond and decrease the surface binding energy.

Relationship between polymerization degree and cementitious activity of iron ore tailings

The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the polymerization degree and cememitious activity of iron ore tailings. In light of the poor usage of iron ore tailings, stockpile samples from Tangshan were studied in terms of their ability to become cementitious materials. Compound thermal activation was used to improve the cementitious properties of the tailings, while analyzing methods, such as X-ray diffraction （XRD）, infrared spectroscopy （IR）, nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR）, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer （XPS）, were employed to study the changes in phase and structure under different activation conditions. The results reveal clear relationships between the binding energies of Si2p and O 1 s, polymerization degree, and cementitious activity of iron ore tailings.

Mechanical Properties of Iron Ore Tailings Filled-Polypropylene Composites

Iron ore tailings filled polypropylene (PP) composites were produced using the compo-indirect squeeze casting (C-ISC) process. Particle sizes 150, 212 and 300 μm where considered for different volume fractions of 5% to 30% at intervals of 5%. The tensile and impact behavior of the produced composites were investigated, experimentally, by carrying out uniaxial tensile and izod impact tests to obtain tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus of elasticity and impact strength. Empirical data were compared with results obtained from models proposed by Nielsen, Bigg and Einstein. The experimental results show that elongation at break for iron ore tailings filled PP reduces with increasing 150 μm particle size. Tensile strength reduces with increasing filler. The Bigg equation exhibited improved predictability with decreasing particle size of filler in PP;while the Einstein equation which assumes poor adhesion gives the best prediction of modulus of elasticity with increasing particle size in PP. Izod impact strength decreases with particle size but increases with increasing volume content of iron ore tailings from 5% to 25% for each particle size considered.

Preparation of Micro-Iron Ore Tailings by Wet-Grinding and Its Application in Sulphoaluminate Cement

Herein,micro iron ore tailings(micro-IOTs)were prepared by wet-grinding and applied to improve sulphoaluminate cement(SAC)performance.The physicochemical properties of micro-IOTs were investigated by particle size analysis,XRD,and XPS.The hydrates trait and the hydration mechanism of micro-IOTs-SAC composite were studied by XRD,TGA,MIP,and SEM.The results demonstrated that micro-IOTs with an average grain diameter of 517 nm could be obtained by wet-grinding.The setting time of SAC gradually decreased with increasing micro-IOTs content.By adding 2%micro-IOTs,the compressive strengths of SAC pastes were enhanced about 22%and 10%at 4 h and 28 d,respectively.Moreover,the addition of micro-IOTs accelerated ettringite precipitation and changed its morphology,resulting in early strength improvement of the binary system.And increased later strength by micro-IOTs was closely related to the high content of AH_(3),fine pore structure,and high hydration degree of SAC.The findings suggested one new approach to utilize iron ore tailings in cementbased materials.

Pavement Performance Research Progress and Evaluation of Asphalt Mixture Incorporating Iron Ore Tailings

In order to solve the problems caused by the storage of iron ore tailings (IOTs), many researchers conducted a series of experimental studies on the reuse of IOTs. The results of many studies showed that it was feasible to use IOTs for road engineering. This paper summarized the composition, gradation and particle characteristics of IOTs from chemical and physical aspects, and proved the feasibility of IOTs replacing traditional aggregate for asphalt concrete. Then, the research on the road performance of asphalt concrete incorporating IOTs were summarized and reviewed, including the evaluation of high-temperature stability, low-temperature crack resistance, fatigue resistance and water stability. The water stability and the improvement of adhesion between asphalt and IOTs aggregate were discussed in detail. Finally, the performance of IOTs as asphalt concrete aggregate and the existing defects were evaluated, and future research directions were proposed.

Hydrometallurgical Processing of Brazilian Iron Ore Tailings for the Synthesis of Pigments

The aim of this study was to investigate the synthesis of iron oxide pigments from IOT. The sample of IOT was obtained through mining activity of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The procedure was carried out by hot acid leaching with hydrochloric acid (HCl) which allowed the recovery of about 95% of the iron in a liquor. The iron-based pigments—red (IBP_R), black (IBP_B), and yellow (IBP_Y)—were synthetised from the liquor by selective precipitation, crystallisation, and thermal procedures. The pigments were characterised by particle size distribution, mineral and chemical compositions, as well as colourimetric properties. The process of synthesis was successful and the procedure was shown to maximise the utilisation of mineral resources and minimise the environmental, social, and economic impacts associated with IOT disposal.

Volcanic Activity and Thermal Excitation of Rich-silicon Iron Ore Tailing in Concrete

In order to distinguish the filling effect and volcanic activity and explore the ways motivating the activity of rich-silicon iron ore tailing（IOT）, inert quartz was brought in as the correction standard, the influences of fineness, calcination, thermal curing system and some other factors were investigated by IR, XRD, MIP, and so on microscopic methods. The experimental results show grinding and calcination can only change the amorphous state of SiO2, and IOT do not have volcanic activity in concrete cured under room temperature condition. Thermal curing systems can stimulate the activity of IOT, especially mortar cured by autoclave curing system can consume a large amount of Ca（OH）2 and hard calcium silicate and has a closer structure. When the specific surface area of IOT powder is 800 m^2/kg, and 30% cement is replaced by IOT powder, the mortar strength with IOT powder is even higher than that with cementonly.

Impact of Iron Ore Tailing on Foraminifera of the Uppateru River Estuary, East Coast of India

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages have been used to determine the effects of Iran ore tailing pollution on the marine environment. The present paper attempts to unveil pollution impact as responded by foraminiferal species of Uppateru estuary. The faunal data thus generated is compared with earlier data sets for possible adverse effects. There has been substantial reduction in total foraminiferal number (TFN), from 574 in 2006 to 213 in 2008 species (st.no.3) per10 gram sediment. Even the total species number (TSN) decreased from 27 in (st.no.8) 2006 to 8 (st.no.1) in 2008. Ammonia accounted for its share (68%), followed by Elphidium (7.4%) and Quinqueloculina (6.5%). These genera are considered to be robust and opportunistic type in the study area. This faunal variation in terms of density (TFN) may be owing to the pollution caused by iron ore tailing. This study also supports the view that benthic foraminiferal biota can be used as a tool to monitor marine pollution in general and estuarine environment in specific.

Performance evaluation for selectivity of the flocculant on hematite in selective flocculation

Increased demand for iron ore necessitates the utilization of low-grade iron ore fines, slimes, and existing tailings. Selective flocculation can be an alternative physico-chemical process for utilizing these low-grade fines, slimes, and tailings. In selective fiocculation, the most critical objective is the selection of proper reagents that will make fioc of desired minerals. In present study, selective flocculation was applied to ultra-fine synthetic mixtures of hematite and kaolinite, and the Fe value was upgraded up to 65.78% with the reduction of Al2O3 and SiO2 values to 2.65% and 3.6670, respectively. Here, degraded wheat starch was used as a flocculant.In this process, separation occurs on the basis of the selectivity of the flocculant. The selectivity of the fiocculant can be quantified in terms of separation efficiency. Here, an attempt was also made to develop a correlation between separation efficiency and major operating parameters such as flocculent dose, pH value, and solid concentration to predict the separation performance.