Effect of magnesium slag and blast furnace slag as partial cement substitutes on properties of cemented tailings backfill

Abstract

Utilizing mine solid waste as a partial cement substitute (CS) to develop new cementitious materials is a significant technological innovation that will decrease the expenses associated with filling mining. To realize the resource utilization of magnesium slag (MS) and blast furnace slag (BFS), the effects of different contents of MS and BFS as partial CSs on the deformation and energy characteristics of cemented tailings backfill on different curing ages (3, 7, and 28 d) were discussed. Meanwhile, the destabilization failure energy criterion of the backfill was established from the direction of energy change. The results show that the strength of all backfills increased with increasing curing age, and the strengths of the backfills exceeded 1.342 MPa on day 28. The backfill with 50% BFS+50% cement has the best performance in mechanical properties (the maximum strength can reach 6.129 MPa) and is the best choice among these CS combinations. The trend in peak strain and elastic modulus of the backfill with increasing curing age may vary depending on the CS combination. The energy index at peak stress of the backfill with BFS as a partial CS was significantly higher than that of the backfill under other CS combinations. In contrast, the enhancement of the energy index when MS was used as a partial CS was not as significant as BFS. Sharp changes in the energy consumption ratio after continuous smooth changes can be used as a criterion for destabilization and failure of the backfill. The research results can provide guidance for the application of MS and BFS as partial CSs in mine filling.

Keywords

cemented tailings backfill / cement substitute / curing age / mechanical properties / energy evolution / energy consumption ratio

References

[1] KinnunenP H, KaksonenA H. Towards circular economy in mining: Opportunities and bottlenecks for tailings valorization [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019, 228: 153-160

[2] MateusA, MartinsL. Building a mineral-based value chain in Europe: The balance between social acceptance and secure supply [J]. Mineral Economics, 2021, 34(2): 239-261

[3] ZhangY-l, QiH-n, LiC-q, et al.. Enhancing safety, sustainability, and economics in mining through innovative pillar design: A state-of-the-art review [J]. Journal of Safety and Sustainability, 2024, 1(1): 53-73

[4] ShengoL M. Review of practices in the managements of mineral wastes: The case of waste rocks and mine tailings [J]. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2021, 2327273

[5] SuppesR, Heuss-AssbichlerS. Resource potential of mine wastes: A conventional and sustainable perspective on a case study tailings mining project [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021, 297126446

[6] WangC, HarbottleD, LiuQ-x, et al.. Current state of fine mineral tailings treatment: A critical review on theory and practice [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2014, 58: 113-131

[7] DongL-j, TongX-j, LiX-b, et al.. Some developments and new insights of environmental problems and deep mining strategy for cleaner production in mines [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019, 210: 1562-1578

[8] Cacciuttolo VargasC, Marinovic PulidoA. Sustainable management of thickened tailings in Chile and Peru: A review of practical experience and socio-environmental acceptance [J]. Sustainability, 2022, 141710901

[9] YilmazE, KoohestaniB, CaoS. Recent practices in mine tailings’ recycling and reuse [M]. Managing Mining and Minerals Processing Wastes, 2023, Amsterdam. Elsevier. 271304

[10] GaoS, LiW, YuanK-k, et al.. Properties and application of thixotropic cement paste backfill with molybdenum tailings [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 391136169

[11] LiS-h, ChenJ-l, GaoW-h, et al.. Current situation and prospects for the clean utilization of gold tailings [J]. Waste Management, 2024, 180: 149-161

[12] QiC-c, FourieA. Cemented paste backfill for mineral tailings management: Review and future perspectives [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2019, 144106025

[13] LazorenkoG, KasprzhitskiiA, ShaikhF, et al.. Utilization potential of mine tailings in geopolymers: Physicochemical and environmental aspects [J]. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2021, 147: 559-577

[14] QueY, ChenJ-a, MaH-s, et al.. Using soil tuff-modified polymetallic lead-zinc tailings sand to facilitate sustainable development of subgrade engineering [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 426136128

[15] HamraouiL, BerganiA, EttoumiM, et al.. Towards a circular economy in the mining industry: Possible solutions for water recovery through advanced mineral tailings dewatering [J]. Minerals, 2024, 143319

[16] ErcikdiB, CihangirF, KesimalA, et al.. Utilization of industrial waste products as pozzolanic material in cemented paste backfill of high sulphide mill tailings [J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 168(23): 848-856

[17] SolismaaS, TorppaA, KuvaJ, et al.. Substitution of cement with granulated blast furnace slag in cemented paste backfill: Evaluation of technical and chemical properties [J]. Minerals, 2021, 11101068

[18] ZhouH, BasarirH, PouletT, et al.. Life cycle assessment of recycling copper slags as cement replacement material in mine backfill [J]. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2024, 205107591

[19] BeheraS K, MishraD P, SinghP, et al.. Utilization of mill tailings, fly ash and slag as mine paste backfill material: Review and future perspective [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 309125120

[20] XuZ-l, YaoJ-b, FuR-B. Characteristic, resource approaches and safety utilization assessment of non-ferrous metal smelting slags: A literature review [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2024, 31(4): 1178-1196

[21] GaoY-h, LiuL, FangZ-y, et al.. A backfill material without cementitious material: Carbonation curing magnesium slag based full solid waste backfill material [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2024, 31(5): 1507-1525

[22] WangX-b, YanX, LiX-Y. Environmental risks for application of magnesium slag to soils in China [J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2020, 19(7): 1671-1679

[23] YangX-b, DongF-s, ZhangX-z, et al.. Review on comprehensive utilization of magnesium slag and development prospect of preparing backfilling materials [J]. Minerals, 2022, 12111415

[24] PilarskaA A, KlapiszewskiL, JesionowskiT. Recent development in the synthesis, modification and application of Mg(OH)₂ and MgO: A review [J]. Powder Technology, 2017, 319: 373-407

[25] SunR, WuZ-j, WangD-m, et al.. Properties and hydration mechanism of ultrafine magnesium slag powder-cement composites cementitious materials [J]. Materials Reports, 2023, 37(9): 98-108(in Chinese)

[26] KumarS, KumarR, BandopadhyayA, et al.. Mechanical activation of granulated blast furnace slag and its effect on the properties and structure of Portland slag cement [J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2008, 30(8): 679-685

[27] ErdoğanÖ, ErdemirM, DurmuşH İ. Utilization and efficiency of ground granulated blast furnace slag on concrete properties–A review [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2016, 105: 423-434

[28] Elyasi GomariK, Rezaei GomariS, HughesD, et al.. Exploring the potential of steel slag waste for carbon sequestration through mineral carbonation: A comparative study of blast-furnace slag and ladle slag [J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2024, 351119835

[29] LiH, JinA-b, ChenS-j, et al.. Mechanical properties and microstructure of coal cinder-based ultra-fine tailings cemented tailings body [J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2024, 20e02763

[30] YangX-b, YangJ, YinS-h, et al.. Cementation characteristics and hydration mechanism of magnesium slag-phosphogypsum composite cementitious materials [J]. Materials Today Communications, 2024, 41110547

[31] ZhangS-y, ZhaoY-l, ZhangX-q, et al.. Durability and heavy metals leaching behavior of cemented paste backfill using chemical activated binary slag as binder under sulfate attack [J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2024, 20e03065

[32] HouY-q, YangK, ZhengK-d, et al.. Optimizing mechanical performance and flow characteristics of alkaline fly ash/rice husk ash composite backfill: Insights from multi-factor analysis and engineering optimization [J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2024, 95110126

[33] FangZ-y, GaoY-h, HeW, et al.. Carbonation curing of magnesium-coal slag solid waste backfill material: Study on properties of flow, mechanics and carbon sequestration [J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2024, 20e03204

[34] ZhaoY, TaheriA, KarakusM, et al.. Effects of water content, water type and temperature on the rheological behaviour of slag-cement and fly ash-cement paste backfill [J]. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 2020, 30(3): 271-278

[35] LiuL, RuanS-s, QiC-c, et al.. Co-disposal of magnesium slag and high-calcium fly ash as cementitious materials in backfill [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021, 279123684

[36] MinC-d, ShiY, LiuZ-X. Properties of cemented phosphogypsum (PG) backfill in case of partially substitution of composite Portland cement by ground granulated blast furnace slag [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 305124786

[37] ChenG, YaoN, YeY-c, et al.. Influence of partial cement substitution by ground blast furnace slag on the mechanical properties of phosphogypsum cemented backfill [J]. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023, 30(46): 102972-102985

[38] YangY-b, LaiX-p, ZhangY, et al.. Strength deterioration and energy dissipation characteristics of cemented backfill with different gangue particle size distributions [J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2023, 25: 5122-5135

[39] LiuL, DingX, TuB-b, et al.. Energy evolution and mechanical properties of modified magnesium slag-based backfill materials at different curing temperatures [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 411134555

[40] YangJ, YangX-b, YinS-h, et al.. Damage characteristics and constitutive model of magnesium slag-based cemented backfill based on energy dissipation [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 449138443

[41] XieG, SuoY-l, LiuL, et al.. Mechanical grinding activation of modified magnesium slag and its use as backfilling cementitious material [J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2023, 18e01778

[42] LiJ-z, ZhangX-d, PangS, et al.. Failure mechanism of a green substratum filling material based on digital scatter analysis [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 418135288

[43] YuX, TanY-y, SongW-d, et al.. Damage evolution of rock-encased-backfill structure under stepwise cyclic triaxial loading [J]. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2024, 16(2): 597-615

[44] XieH-p, JuY, LiL-Y. Criteria for strength and structural failure of rocks based on energy dissipation and energy release principles [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2005, 24(17): 3003-3010(in Chinese)

[45] HouY-q, YinS-h, ChenX, et al.. Study on characteristic stress and energy damage evolution mechanism of cemented tailings backfill under uniaxial compression [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 301124333

[46] GanD-q, LuY-z, SunH-k, et al.. Mechanical response and damage constitutive model of early-age cemented paste backfill after cyclic loading [J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2024, 86108822

[47] JiangF-f, ZhouH, ShengJ, et al.. Effects of temperature and age on physico-mechanical properties of cemented gravel sand backfills [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2020, 27(10): 2999-3012

[48] LuP, ZhaoY-q, ZhangN, et al.. Structural characteristics and cementitious behavior of magnesium slag in comparison with granulated blast furnace slag [J]. Materials, 2024, 172360

[49] LiP, CaiM-F. Energy evolution mechanism and failure criteria of jointed surrounding rock under uniaxial compression [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2021, 28(6): 1857-1874

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Central South University