International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

R. L. Shreekant ¹, M. Aruna ¹, Harsha Vardhan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mining Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore-575025, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Mining of iron ore invariably produces lot of waste which significantly damages the environment in different ways. To reduce this environmental damage to a certain extent, iron ore waste can be utilized for making bricks in the construction industry by way of mixing it with some additives. In this investigation, an attempt was made to investigate the impact of major chemical composition of prepared iron ore waste (IOW) bricks on its compressive strength. The chemical compositions like total percentage of Al₂O₃, SiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ present in a brick were observed through the output of Java program for different mix ratios. Based on the available data, results of investigation on the impact of chemical composition of bricks on its compressive strength revealed no appropriate relationship with total percentages of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ present in a brick. However, with increase in total percentage of Fe₂O₃ present in a brick, its compressive strength was found to decrease gradually. Hence, it is suggested to prepare non-fired bricks from iron ore waste fines containing low percentage of Fe₂O₃, which is also desirable from the point of view of mineral conservation. It is suggested to take up detailed investigation in future to study exclusively the influence of different types of chemical constituents which are present in IOW brick and correlate it with compressive strength and water absorption by carrying out regression analysis and arrive at some useful conclusion.

Keywords

Iron Ore Waste (IOW), Fly-Ash, Compressive Strength, Chemical Composition, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃.

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R. L. Shreekant ¹, M. Aruna ¹, Harsha Vardhan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mining Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore, IN

Abstract

India is one of the major iron ore producers and exporters in the world. Previous studies have estimated that around 10-15% of the iron ore mined in India is unutilized, and is discarded as waste/tailings due to lack of cost effective technology in extracting low grade ores in the country. The waste thus produced in the form of slimes has remained a major unsolved and challenging task for the Indian iron-ore industry. Many investigators in the past have worked in this regard for comprehensive utilization of such waste so as to reduce its impact on the environment. There is a significant demand for building materials in India and it is therefore imperative to use the mining and mineral wastes in the production of bricks, concrete blocks and any other value added products. In the present paper an attempt has been made to prepare modular bricks using iron ore waste with fly ash and cement as aggregates. Bricks were prepared as per IS standards and tested for its viability for usage in construction industry. The results of the study reveal that a mixture with 70% iron ore waste, 15% cement and 15% fly ash meets the IS standards.

Keywords

Iron Ore Waste, Aggregates, Bricks, Compressive Strength, Water Absorption.

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R. L. Shreekant ¹, M. Aruna ¹, Harsha Vardhan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mining Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore, IN

Abstract

The exploitation of mineral resources would promote the development of economy and society, but it will also generate massive waste/tailings that may pollute the environment significantly (in the form of spreading of waste in and around the mines, siltation of soil/slimes in nearby water bodies, air pollution etc.) Therefore, developing comprehensive utilization of waste fines/tailings in large scale is the need of the day in order to improve the surroundings and for sustainable development of resources. Manufacturing of non-fired bricks is one of the options for utilization of waste generated in mines along with reduction of CO₂ emission. If the waste material is improperly dumped in mine site, the flow of material during rainy season may reduce the fertility of nearby agricultural land. Hence, waste utilization plays a vital role in natural resource conservation. Further, building blocks/bricks from mine waste is eco-friendly as it utilizes waste and reduces air, land and water pollution. It is energy efficient and also cost effective as reported by various investigators in the past. Hence, it is very much necessary to find alternative for making use of iron ore waste material (fines)/tailings as an aggregate in construction materials like bricks or paving blocks. This paper provides a critical review of the utilization of mine waste for brick making in the construction industry.

Keywords

Exploitation, Bricks, Iron Ore Waste, Tailings, Aggregate, Overburden, Sustainable Development.

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