On the Use of Bench Construction to Improve the Stability of Unsaturated Waste Rock Piles

Maknoon, Maryam; Aubertin, Michel

doi:10.1007/s10706-020-01567-0

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This heterogeneity is the main challenge in WR piling [9]. For instance, the main factors influencing the piles' physical (geotechnical) instability are the geometric configuration, the properties of the materials, the topography of the site, the construction method, and the climatic and hydrological conditions [9][10][11]. The stability analysis of WRPs must consider all these factors for the optimal design selection and determination of the probable risks [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geological and Geomechanical Characterization of Phosphate Mine Waste Rock in View of Their Potential Civil Applications: A Case Study of the Benguerir Mine Site, Morocco

Chlahbi,

Belem,

Elghali

et al. 2023

Minerals

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Sedimentary phosphate extraction in open-pit operations generates large volumes of waste rock (WR), which are mainly overburdens and interburdens. Traditionally, the WR is mixed and stored on the surface in waste rock piles (WRPs). This paper presents a case study of the Benguerir mine site in Morocco. It investigates the potential valorization of each WR lithology based on the geological and geomechanical properties to reduce their environmental footprint and create added value to “waste.” The WR samples (soils and rocks) were collected from drill cores and mining trenches in the Benguerir mine. The geological characterization results using petrographic descriptions indicate the presence of nine phosphate layers and, in addition to the overburdens, eight interburdens. Four types of WR are identified: carbonate, siliceous, marly clay, and phosphate. The geomechanical characterization of soil-like samples showed an average plasticity index (PI) of 50% according to the methylene blue value (MBV) of 7.1, classifying them in the A3–A4 categories as plastic and clayey marl soils. The hard rock samples have excellent mechanical properties in terms of their uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Los Angeles abrasion value (LA), and micro-Deval value (MD). The average compressive strength is 104 MPa for the flint, 35 MPa for the phosphate flint, 32 MPa for the silexite, 26 MPa for the limestone, 11 MPa for the indurated phosphate, and 8 MPa for the marly limestone. Based on the obtained results, these WRs can be considered as an excellent alternative secondary raw material for use in civil engineering applications, ceramics, and cement industries.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%