Experimental Study on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Iron Tailing Materials

The physical and mechanical properties of tailing materials are important for the design and construction of tailings dams. In the present study, laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the geotechnical properties of two different iron tailing materials (coarse and fine). Compared to the coarse tailings, the fine tailings showed greater coefficients of compressibility and smaller permeability, shear strength. With the decrease in void ratio, the oedometric modulus increased and the permeability decreased. The relationships between void ratio and coefficient of compressibility, as well as hydraulic conductivity, can be fitted with logarithmic functions. Moreover, we found the coefficient of consolidation C-v, gradually increased for both the coarse and fine tailings during the compression process. The shear strength of the two tailing materials were measured though direct shear tests and triaxial tests. The results of friction angle and cohesion obtained from the two test methods were in accordance with each other. This study provided useful information to understand the geotechnical behaviors of mine tailings and fundamental data for the scientific design and safety evaluation of tailings dams.