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Critical state analysis of two compacted filtered iron ore tailings with different gradings and mineralogy at different stages of treatment

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Abstract

Slurry tailings storage in large impoundments has been largely used worldwide for a long time, as their cost is very competitive. However, recent disasters have brought to light the need to better comprehend the mechanics of the materials stored and to search for disposal alternatives to overcome the drawbacks. One possibility is the filtered tailings disposal (dry stacking) which requires a better understanding of the material’s response in a dewatered (through filtration) and compacted condition. This paper compares two tailings from the same beneficiation (treatment) plant with different gradings and mineralogy, related to the beneficial processes they undergo. A series of triaxial tests comprising isotropic compression without shearing specimens, as well as isotropic compression followed by drained (CID) and undrained (CIU) shearing, and K-compression followed by undrained (CKU) shearing specimens were conducted over a range of confining pressures and initial compaction degrees. The experimental program allowed the evaluation of convergence for normal compression lines (NCLs) and the analysis under the light of critical state soil mechanics for the stress–strain response of the tested materials. The research outcomes show that changes in iron ore tailings gradings due to different production processes and the use of different compaction degrees had an influence on its behavior (compression and shearing) at lower stress levels, while at higher stresses levels, this difference is erased and there is a convergence for unique and parallels NCL and CSL on ν–ln p′ plane with a spacing of 2.71. On the p′–q plane both tailings showed a unique and similar CSL.

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Data availability statement

Some or all data, models, or code that supports the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

CSL:

Critical state line

CIU:

Isotropically consolidated undrained triaxial compression test

CID:

Isotropically consolidated drained triaxial compression test

CKU:

K-consolidated undrained triaxial compression test

DEM:

Discrete element method

FC:

Fines content

F:

Flotation tailings

IOT:

Iron ore tailings

NCL:

Normal compression line

PI:

Plasticity index

QF:

Region of Quadrilátero Ferrífero

S:

Slime tailings

TFC:

Threshold fines content

D :

Dilation rate = dev/des

D min :

Maximum dilation rate

e :

Void ratio

e 0 :

Void ratio prior to consolidation

e min :

Minimum void ratio

e max :

Maximum void ratio

G :

Elastic shear modulus

m :

Slope of convergence lines

M :

Critical state stress ratio

M tc :

Critical state stress ratio at triaxial compression

f cs ′ :

Critical state friction angle

u :

Specific volume = 1 + e

h :

Stress ratio = q/p′

h max :

Top stress ratio = q/p′

p′ :

Mean effective stress

p 0 ’ :

Mean effective stress at the beginning of the shearing phase

q :

Deviatoric stress (σ1–σ3)

σ' 1, σ′ 3 :

Principal effective stresses

σ'h :

Horizontal effective stresses

σ'v :

Vertical effective stresses

u :

Pore water pressure

e a :

Axial strain

e s :

Shear strain

e v :

Volumetric strain

w :

Water content

w L :

Liquid limit

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Funding

The authors wish to express their appreciation to VALE S.A., MEC/CAPES, and Brazilian Research Council (CNPq) for the support to the research group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Civil Engineering, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-190, Brazil

    Nilo Cesar Consoli, Alexia Cindy Wagner, João Vítor de Azambuja Carvalho & Hugo Carlos Scheuermann Filho

  2. Exploration and Mineral Projects - Mineral Development Centre, VALE S.A, Santa Luzia, MG, 33040-900, Brazil

    João Paulo Sousa Silva, Inácio Carvalho & Pedro Pazzoto Cacciari

  3. Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, University College London, London, UK

    Beatrice Anne Baudet & Matthew Richard Coop

  4. Geotechnical Project Management, VALE S.A, Nova Lima, MG, 34006-270, Brazil

    Gustavo Marçal de Sousa

  5. Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada

    Pedro Pazzoto Cacciari

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  1. Nilo Cesar Consoli
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Consoli, N.C., Silva, J.P.S., Wagner, A.C. et al. Critical state analysis of two compacted filtered iron ore tailings with different gradings and mineralogy at different stages of treatment. Acta Geotech. 19, 881–898 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01963-9

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