Work

Influence of Iron Mining Waste Addition as a Sustainable Alternative on the Resilient and Physical Properties of Soils for Pavement Design

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Mining activities generate large volumes of waste, posing environmental and economic challenges, particularly in Brazil’s Quadrilátero Ferrífero region. This study assesses the potential reuse of iron ore waste from Samarco Mineração S.A. in road pavement layers by blending it with phyllite residual soil (PRS) and lateritic clayey soil (LCS). The addition of 50% waste to PRS led to substantial improvements, increasing the resilient modulus (RM) by up to 130% under medium stress and reducing expansibility from 6.1% to 1%, meeting Brazilian standards for sub-base applications. These enhancements make the PRS-waste blend a viable and sustainable option for reinforcing subgrade and sub-base layers. In contrast, the LCS with 20% waste showed moderate RM improvements under high-stress conditions, while higher waste contents reduced stiffness, indicating that higher dosages may adversely affect performance. This study highlights the potential of inert, non-hazardous mining waste as a safe and efficient solution for pavement applications, promoting the sustainable use of discarded materials.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su162310211

Authors: Daniel Corrêa Galhardo, Antônio Carlos Rodrigues Guimarães, Camila Antunes Martins, Murilo Miguel Narciso, Sergio Neves Monteiro, Lisley Madeira Coelho

Institution: Military Institute of Engineering

Language: English

Topic: Geotechnical and construction materials studies

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Responsible consumption and production, Sustainable cities and communities, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,728