The effects of mixing time and curing temperature on the uniaxial compressive strength （UCS） andmicrostructure of cemented hydraulic fill （CHF） and sodium silicate-fortified backfill （Gelfill） wereinvestigated i...The effects of mixing time and curing temperature on the uniaxial compressive strength （UCS） andmicrostructure of cemented hydraulic fill （CHF） and sodium silicate-fortified backfill （Gelfill） wereinvestigated in the laboratory. A series of CHF and Gelfill samples was mixed for time periods rangingfrom 5 min to 60 min and cured at temperatures ranging from 5 C to 50 C for 7 d, 14 d or 28 d.Increasing the mixing time negatively influenced the UCS of Gelfill samples, but did not have a detectableeffect on CHF samples. The curing temperature had a strong positive impact on the UCSs of both Gelfilland CHF. An elevated temperature caused rapid UCS development over the first 14 d of curing. Mercuryintrusion porosimetry （MIP） indicated that the pore size distribution and total porosity of Gelfill werealtered by curing temperature.展开更多
In this paper, the mechanical properties of sodium silicate-fortified backfill, called Gelfill, were investigated by conducting a series of laboratory experiments. Two configurations were tested, i.e. Gelfill and ceme...In this paper, the mechanical properties of sodium silicate-fortified backfill, called Gelfill, were investigated by conducting a series of laboratory experiments. Two configurations were tested, i.e. Gelfill and cemented hydraulic fill（CHF）. The Gelfill has an alkali activator such as sodium silicate in its materials in addition to primary materials of mine backfill which are tailings, water and binders. Large numbers of samples of Gelfill and CHF with various mixture designs were cast and cured for over 28 d. The mechanical properties of samples were investigated using uniaxial compression test, and the results were compared with those of reference samples made without sodium silicate. The test results indicated that the addition of an appropriate amount of an alkali activator such as sodium silicate can enhance the mechanical（uniaxial compressive strength） and physical（water retention） properties of backfill. The microstructure analysis conducted by mercury intrusion porosimetry（MIP） revealed that the addition of sodium silicate can modify the pore size distribution and total porosity of Gelfill, which can contribute to the better mechanical properties of Gelfill. It was also shown that the time and rate of drainage in the Gelfill specimens are less than those in CHF specimens made without sodium silicate. Finally, the study showed that the addition of sodium silicate can reduce the required setting time of mine backfill, which can contribute to increase mine production in accordance with the mine safety.展开更多
Quantitative mineralogy has seen significant developments from the combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with automatic image analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The mining industry is...Quantitative mineralogy has seen significant developments from the combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with automatic image analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The mining industry is one of the fields that has benefited from this progress. In this paper, the authors present a newly developed quantitative method based on SEM-EDS and image analysis (IA), which is used to determine the mineralogical and environmental characteristics of mine tailings. The main objectives of the method are to be able to characterize sulphides and carbonates as monomineral particles, which control the acid generation from the tailings. Pure sulphides, calcite and quartz were blended to make mineralogical standards that represent typical mine tailings environmental behavior. The SEM-EDS-IA method achieved good mineralogical precision for medium (1-20 Wt%) and abundant (> 20 Wt%) minerals, with a relative error below 10 %. However, some corrections had to be applied to account for typical stereological effects (apparent particle diameter from polished surface) and preparation modes (particle segregation during resin hardening). Particle size analysis was used to calibrate the method and identify the corrections to be applied. Since mineralogical quantifications are based on the area of the observed particles, the most reliable particle size analyses (also obtained from particle area) typically lead to the best mineralogical characterization. However, the SEM based techniques may show some limitations for fine-grained particle quantification (< 10 μm), which required additional corrections. In this article, the technique is described, and it is applied to characterize fine-grained mine tailings with a size-by-size mineralogy (with sulphides and carbonates content). These results have been used by the Authors to propose an environmental management strategy for acid generating tailings using desulphurization by flotation.展开更多
基金the financial support given by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)and Valesupport of National Silicate Inc.
文摘The effects of mixing time and curing temperature on the uniaxial compressive strength （UCS） andmicrostructure of cemented hydraulic fill （CHF） and sodium silicate-fortified backfill （Gelfill） wereinvestigated in the laboratory. A series of CHF and Gelfill samples was mixed for time periods rangingfrom 5 min to 60 min and cured at temperatures ranging from 5 C to 50 C for 7 d, 14 d or 28 d.Increasing the mixing time negatively influenced the UCS of Gelfill samples, but did not have a detectableeffect on CHF samples. The curing temperature had a strong positive impact on the UCSs of both Gelfilland CHF. An elevated temperature caused rapid UCS development over the first 14 d of curing. Mercuryintrusion porosimetry （MIP） indicated that the pore size distribution and total porosity of Gelfill werealtered by curing temperature.
基金the financial support given by NSERC and Valesupport of National Silicate Inc.
文摘In this paper, the mechanical properties of sodium silicate-fortified backfill, called Gelfill, were investigated by conducting a series of laboratory experiments. Two configurations were tested, i.e. Gelfill and cemented hydraulic fill（CHF）. The Gelfill has an alkali activator such as sodium silicate in its materials in addition to primary materials of mine backfill which are tailings, water and binders. Large numbers of samples of Gelfill and CHF with various mixture designs were cast and cured for over 28 d. The mechanical properties of samples were investigated using uniaxial compression test, and the results were compared with those of reference samples made without sodium silicate. The test results indicated that the addition of an appropriate amount of an alkali activator such as sodium silicate can enhance the mechanical（uniaxial compressive strength） and physical（water retention） properties of backfill. The microstructure analysis conducted by mercury intrusion porosimetry（MIP） revealed that the addition of sodium silicate can modify the pore size distribution and total porosity of Gelfill, which can contribute to the better mechanical properties of Gelfill. It was also shown that the time and rate of drainage in the Gelfill specimens are less than those in CHF specimens made without sodium silicate. Finally, the study showed that the addition of sodium silicate can reduce the required setting time of mine backfill, which can contribute to increase mine production in accordance with the mine safety.
文摘Quantitative mineralogy has seen significant developments from the combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with automatic image analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The mining industry is one of the fields that has benefited from this progress. In this paper, the authors present a newly developed quantitative method based on SEM-EDS and image analysis (IA), which is used to determine the mineralogical and environmental characteristics of mine tailings. The main objectives of the method are to be able to characterize sulphides and carbonates as monomineral particles, which control the acid generation from the tailings. Pure sulphides, calcite and quartz were blended to make mineralogical standards that represent typical mine tailings environmental behavior. The SEM-EDS-IA method achieved good mineralogical precision for medium (1-20 Wt%) and abundant (> 20 Wt%) minerals, with a relative error below 10 %. However, some corrections had to be applied to account for typical stereological effects (apparent particle diameter from polished surface) and preparation modes (particle segregation during resin hardening). Particle size analysis was used to calibrate the method and identify the corrections to be applied. Since mineralogical quantifications are based on the area of the observed particles, the most reliable particle size analyses (also obtained from particle area) typically lead to the best mineralogical characterization. However, the SEM based techniques may show some limitations for fine-grained particle quantification (< 10 μm), which required additional corrections. In this article, the technique is described, and it is applied to characterize fine-grained mine tailings with a size-by-size mineralogy (with sulphides and carbonates content). These results have been used by the Authors to propose an environmental management strategy for acid generating tailings using desulphurization by flotation.
