Laboratory Characterization of Cemented Tailings Paste Containing Crushed Waste Rocks for Improved Compressive Strength Development

This paper aims at investigating some physical and mechanical characteristics of cemented tailings paste incorporating different amounts of crushed waste rocks (hereinafter called paste aggregate fill, PAF) for underground stope filling. Different mixture formulations were prepared with three classes of crushed waste rocks (or aggregate) grain size, namely 0/10, 0/15 and 0/20 mm. The amount of crushed waste rocks in the PAF mixtures ranges from 10 to 50% by volume (% v/v) (or 8–45% by mass, %m) of dry mill tailings and crushed waste rocks. The results show that the addition of crushed waste rocks in cemented tailings paste mixtures allows a significant unconfined compressive strength (UCS) development after 28 and 90 days of curing. The highest UCS was obtained from the mixtures containing 50% v/v of crushed waste rocks of class of size 0/15 mm. The PAF mixtures with the coarser crushed waste rocks (class of size of 0/20 mm) exhibit some particles segregation.

[1]  W. A. Hustrulid,et al.  Underground mining methods : engineering fundamentals and international case studies , 2001 .

[2]  Robert J. Mitchell,et al.  Model studies on cemented tailings used in mine backfill , 1982 .

[3]  A. Fourie,et al.  Handbook on Mine FIll , 2005 .

[4]  T. Belem,et al.  Characterisation of Self-Weight Consolidated Paste Backfill , 2006 .

[5]  Tikou Belem,et al.  Effects of settlement and drainage on strength development within mine paste backfill , 2002 .

[6]  Tikou Belem,et al.  Chemical factors that influence the performance of mine sulphidic paste backfill , 2002 .

[7]  D. Fowler,et al.  THE EFFECTS OF AGGREGATES CHARACTERISTICS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE , 2003 .

[8]  Wu Yao,et al.  Effect of coarse aggregate type on mechanical properties of high-performance concrete , 2001 .

[9]  Ergin Arioglu Design aspects of cemented aggregate fill mixes for tungsten stoping operations , 1984 .

[10]  Sandrine Bethmont,et al.  Mecanismes de segregation dans les betons autoplacants (BAP) : Etude experimentale des interactions granulaires , 2005 .

[11]  Mamadou Fall,et al.  Experimental characterization of the influence of tailings fineness and density on the quality of cemented paste backfill , 2005 .

[12]  R. J. Mitchell,et al.  Behaviour of cemented tailings sands , 1982 .

[13]  P. T. W. Lun Soil reinforcing technique in mine backfilling , 1986 .

[14]  David V. Boger,et al.  Analysis of the slump test for on-site yield stress measurement of mineral suspensions , 2003 .

[15]  Ayhan Kesimal,et al.  Effect of properties of tailings and binder on the short-and long-term strength and stability of cemented paste backfill , 2005 .

[16]  Tikou Belem,et al.  Design and Application of Underground Mine Paste Backfill Technology , 2008 .

[17]  Tikou Belem,et al.  A contribution to understanding the hardening process of cemented pastefill , 2004 .

[18]  Erol Yilmaz,et al.  Effects of curing and stress conditions on hydromechanical, geotechnical and geochemical properties of cemented paste backfill , 2014 .

[19]  Erol Yilmaz,et al.  Effect of curing under pressure on compressive strength development of cemented paste backfill , 2009 .

[20]  Belem Tikou,et al.  PREDICTIVE MODELS FOR PREFEASIBILITY CEMENTED PASTE BACKFILL MIX DESIGN , 2008 .

[21]  Tikou Belem,et al.  MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF CEMENTED PASTE BACKFILL , 2000 .

[22]  A. Fourie,et al.  Time-dependent failure criterion for cemented paste backfills , 2010 .

[23]  L. M. Amaratunga,et al.  Development of a high modulus paste fill using fine gold mill tailings , 1997 .

[24]  Tikou Belem,et al.  The effect of microstructural evolution on the physical properties of paste Backfill , 2001 .

[25]  Mostafa Benzaazoua,et al.  Laboratory Characterization of Mining Cemented Rockfill by NDT Methods: Experimental Set-up and Testing , 2013 .

[27]  Nagaratnam Sivakugan,et al.  Underground Mining with Backfills , 2007, Soils and Rocks.

[28]  F. P. Hassani,et al.  Consolidated rockfill optimization at Kidd Creek Mines , 1996 .

[29]  Jacques Ouellet,et al.  Cementitious backfill with high sulfur content Physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization , 1999 .