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Use of copper mine tailing in concrete: strength characteristics and durability performance

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Abstract

The increasing use of copper and its allied materials across many industries is ramping up copper mining activities in many countries, and proper management and disposal of huge volumes of copper mine tailings arising thereof is a huge challenge. Sungun mine is the biggest open-cast copper mine in the northwest of Iran. Approximately 13.7 million tons of copper mine tailing as a solid waste is generated annually as a result of mining and ore processing activities in the region. This study investigates the possibility of utilizing these waste tailings of Sungun as a partial substitute for cement in concrete. Several concrete mixtures were prepared by replacing cement with 0–30% of copper mine tailing. The specimens were tested to determine the mechanical and durability performance of concrete mixtures. Furthermore, the microstructure of concrete mixtures was also evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Results not only revealed that these solid waste tailings could be used successfully as a partial replacement material for the cement in concretes, but also statistical analysis showed that the mechanical and durability properties of concrete were significantly influenced by copper mine tailing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Blvd. 29 Bahman, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran

    Jamshid Esmaeili

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Blvd. 29 Bahman, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran

    Hossein Aslani

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  1. Jamshid Esmaeili
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  2. Hossein Aslani
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Correspondence to Jamshid Esmaeili.

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Esmaeili, J., Aslani, H. Use of copper mine tailing in concrete: strength characteristics and durability performance. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 21, 729–741 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-019-00831-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-019-00831-7

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