Effects of puzzolanic materials in surface paste disposal by pilot-scale tests: observation of physical changes

There are only a few pilot schemes, especially among scientific studies carried out to solve numerous environmental and ecological problems created by water during tailing storage on the surface. It is extremely important to establish precautions that can be taken, especially in the tailing storage process by examining the physical, chemical, mineralogical, and geotechnical changes that develop due to the effect of moisture in the tailing and surface water. In this study, 2 different pilot-scale designs of storage with no additions (reference) and with binder additions (cement and fly ash) to some layers were observed in field conditions for about 1 year to determine the effects of seasonal changes on paste material. The results of the measurements revealed that the water content of the reference design was ~ 10% higher than that of the design with cement addition at the substrates that provide stability and sudden temperature changes at the top layer of the reference design was found to be ~ 35 °C. Maximum sudden temperature changes in layers with cement addition and layers with cement and fly ash addition were observed to be ~ 15 °C. As a result, the use of cement has made the material more resistant to external factors. However, the study also revealed that fly ash could be used instead of cement with a substitute rate of 50% to reduce the cost for long-term storage in terms of industrial applications.