Laboratory investigation into the compressive strength of cemented paste tailings aggregate fills

Authors: Hane, I; Belem, T; Benzaazoua, M; Maqsoud, A

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1710_28_Hane

Cite As:
Hane, I, Belem, T, Benzaazoua, M & Maqsoud, A 2017, 'Laboratory investigation into the compressive strength of cemented paste tailings aggregate fills', in M Hudyma & Y Potvin (eds), UMT 2017: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Underground Mining Technology, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 363-373, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1710_28_Hane

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
The use of backfill has now become a component of underground mining operations. In terms of mining methods, the top-down method would be less expensive than the bottom-up method, irrespective of the rock mass hardness. However, the implementation of the top-down method requires a high compressive strength ( 4 MPa) of backfill. The addition of aggregates (e.g. crushed waste rock) to the tailings could achieve this targeted strength. This paper investigates the effect of adding aggregates (crushed waste rock) on the compressive strength development of cemented paste tailings aggregate fill (PAF). Two types of waste rock were crushed to two aggregate sizes (0/10 and 0/15 mm) and their proportion in PAF mixtures varied from 10 to 50 %v/v (by cumulative volume of dry crushed waste rock and tailings). These are oxidised acid generating waste rocks (AG) and non-acid generating waste rocks (NAG). The binder type used is a blend of 20% general use Portland cement (type GU) and 80% of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) at 5 wt% (by total dry mass of aggregates and tailings). The unconfined compressive strength was determined at seven, 28 and 90 days of curing. The results show that the addition of crushed development waste rock to the cemented paste backfill increases significantly its compressive strength. The strength gain varies in the range 2893% at 28 days and 544% at 90 days of curing in drained conditions. However, the strength development is influenced by the aggregate class of size, the volume and the mineralogy of the aggregates in the mixture.

Keywords: tailings, crushed waste rock, aggregate, paste aggregate fill (PAF), compressive strength

References:
Abdul-Hussain, N & Fall, M 2011, ‘Unsaturated hydraulic properties of cemented tailings backfill that contains sodium silicate’, Engineering Geology, vol. 123, no. 4, pp. 288–301.
Amaratunga, LM 1991, ‘Experimental evaluation of a novel concept of utilization and disposal of fine mill tailings as aggregates by agglomeration’, Minerals Engineering, vol. 4, no. 7–11, pp. 1081–1090.
Annor, A 1999, A Study of the Characteristics and Behaviour of Composite Backfill Material, PhD thesis, McGill University, Montreal.
Arioglu, E 1984, ‘Design aspects of cemented aggregate fill mixes for tungsten stoping operations’, Mining Science and Technology, vol. 1, pp. 209–214.
ASTM International 2015, ASTM C128-15: Standard Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and Absorption of Fine Aggregate, ASTM International, West Conshohocken.
ASTM International, 2017, ASTM C39 / C39M-17a: Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens, ASTM International, West Conshohocken.
Aubertin, M, Bussière, M & Bernier L 2002, Environnement et Gestion des Rejets Miniers, Presse Internationales Polytechnique, Montreal, CD-ROM.
Belem, T 2009, Développement d’une Méthode Intégré d'Analyse de Stabilité des Chantiers Miniers Remblayés, IRSST Report No R622, pp. 1–97.
Belem, T & Benzaazoua, M 2008, ‘Design and application of underground mine paste backfill technology’, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, vol. 26, no. 2, p. 175.
Belem, T, Benzaazoua, M, Bussière, B & Dagenais, AM, 2002, ‘Effects of settlement and drainage on strength development within mine paste backfill’, Proceedings of Tailings and Mine Waste Management ’02, A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 139–148.
Benzaazoua, M, Belem, T & Bussière, B 2002, ‘Chemical factors that influence the performance of mine sulphidic paste backfill’, Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 32, no. 7, pp. 1133–1144.
Benzaazoua, M, Fall, M & Belem T 2004, ‘A contribution to understanding the hardening process of cemented pastefill’, Minerals Engineering, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 141–152.
Benzaazoua, M, Ouellet, J Servant, S, Newman, P & Verburg, R 1999, ‘Cementitious backfill with high sulfur content physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization’, Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 29, no. 5, pp 719–725.
Bernier, LR, Li, MG & Moerman, A 1999, ‘Effects of tailings and binder geochemistry on the physical strength of paste backfill’,
in D Goldsack, N Belzile, P Yearwood & G Hall (eds), Proceedings of Mining and the Environment II, Laurentian University, Sudbury, pp. 1113–1122.
De Souza, E, Archibald, JF & Dirige, APE 2003, ‘Economics and perspectives of underground backfill practices in Canadian mining’, Proceedings of the 105th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Westmount, 15 p.
Dorricott, MG & Grice, TA 2002, ‘Backfill–the environmentally friendly tailings disposal system’, Proceedings of the International Conference on the Sustainable Processing of Minerals Green Processing 2002, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, pp. 265–270.
Emad, MZ 2013, Dynamic Performance of Cemented Rockfill Under Blast-induced Vibrations, PhD thesis, McGill University, Montreal.
Fall, M, Benzaazoua, M & Ouellet, S 2005, ‘Experimental characterization of the influence of tailings fineness and density on the quality of cemented paste backfill’, Minerals Engineering, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 41–44.
Farsangi, PN, Hayward, AG & Hassani, FP 1996, ‘Consolidated rockfill optimization at Kidd Creek Mines’, CIM Bulletin, vol. 89, no. 1001, pp. 129–134.
Grice, TA 1998, ‘Underground mining with backfill’, Proceedings of 2nd Annual Summit – Mine Tailings Disposal Systems, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, pp. 1–14.
Hane, I, Belem, T, Benzaazoua, M & Maqsoud, A 2017, ‘Laboratory characterization of cemented tailings paste containing crushed waste rocks for improved compressive strength development’, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, vol. 35,
pp. 645–662.
Hassani, FP & Archibald, J 1998, Mine Backfill, Canadian Institute of Mine, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Westmount, CD-ROM.
Kintzel, R 2005, ‘CAF backfill of primary stopes at Callie Underground Mine’, Proceedings of the Ninth Underground Operators’ Conference, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, pp. 151–171.
Kesimal, A, Yilmaz, E & Ercikdi, B 2004, ‘Environmental benefits by use of paste backfill technology for disposal of sulfide-bearing mine tailings’, Proceedings of the 4th International Scientific Conference - Modern Management of Mine Producing, Geology and Environmental Protection, vol. 4, SGEM International Scientific GeoConference, Sofia, pp. 431–440.
Kesimal, A, Yilmaz, E, Ercikdi, B, Alp, I & Deveci, H 2005, ‘Effect of properties of tailings and binder on the short-and long-term strength and stability of cemented paste backfill’, Materials Letters, vol. 59, no. 28, pp. 3703–3709.
Landriault, D, Verburg, R, Cincilla, W & Welch, D 1997, Paste Technology for Underground Backfill and Surface Tailings Disposal Applications, short course notes in Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Technical Workshop held on 27 April 1997, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Westmount.
Leahy, FJ & Cowling, R 1978, ‘Stope fill developments at Mount Isa’, Proceedings of the Twelfth Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposium on Mining with Backfill, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Westmount.
Lun, PTW 1986, ‘Soil reinforcing technique in mine backfilling’, International Journal of Mining and Geological Engineering, vol. 4, pp. 47–66.
Mitchell, RJ & Wong, BC 1982, ‘Behaviour of cemented tailings sands’, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 19, pp. 289–295.
O’Toole, D 2004, ‘Features the basics of mine backfill: A review of some critical factors for Cement Aggregate Fill’, Engineering and Mining Journal.
Senyur, G & Dincer E 1989, ‘Cement stabilized aggregate: Analyse of the proprieties related to curing time’, International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, vol. 10, pp. 315–321.
Swan, G 1985, ‘A new approach to cemented backfill design’, CIM Bulletin, vol. 78, pp. 53–58.
Tariq, A & Yanful, EK 2013, ‘A review of binders used in cemented paste tailings for underground and surface disposal practices’, Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 131, pp. 138–149.
Wang, C & Villaescusa, E 2000, ‘Backfill research at the Western Australian School of Mines’, Proceedings of MassMin 2000, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, pp. 1–15.
Wu, KR, Chen, B, Yao, W & Zhang, D 2001, ‘Effect of coarse aggregate type on mechanical properties of High-Performance Concrete’, Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 31, pp. 1421–1425.
Yilmaz, E, Belem, T & Benzaazoua, M 2014, ‘Effects of curing and stress conditions on hydromechanical, geotechnical and geochemical properties of cemented paste backfill’, Engineering Geology, vol. 168, pp. 23–37.
Yilmaz, E, Benzaazoua, M, Belem, T & Bussière, B 2009, ‘Effect of curing under pressure on compressive strength development of cemented paste backfill’, Minerals Engineering, vol. 22, no. 9–10, pp. 772–785.
Yu, TR & Counter, DB 1983, ‘Backfill practice and technology at Kidd Creek Mines’, CIM Bulletin, vol. 76, no. 856, pp. 56–65.




© Copyright 2024, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), The University of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au