Environmental effects of using copper mine tailings in various geotechnical applications

Abstract

On the basis of the available literature, this paper evaluates the environmental effects of copper mine tailings (CMT) when used as a structural fill material in various geotechnical applications. Leaching of heavy metals from the CMT is considered as the vital factor hindering its wider acceptability among researchers and engineers. Therefore, apart from physical and chemical characteristics, due consideration was given to assess the leachability of CMT when used as structural fill in various geotechnical applications such as subgrade, embankment, fill and reclamation. From the literature review, it was found that CMT seems to be satisfying the criteria meant for structural fills. Results of leachability tests show that only a very few elemental concentrations exceeded the limits in un-stabilised form. Stabilised CMT performed better by bringing down the concentration well below the permissible limits in all the application types. This encourages the utilisation of CMT in structural fills and shows that environmental impacts are within the limits prescribed in standards.