Review of Research on Physical and Mechanical Properties and Engineering Application of Metal Tailings

Abstract

Processing and storage requirements for metal residues are becoming stricter to achieve the carbon neutralization target. The physical and mechanical properties of tailings affect the stability of tailing dams. Metal tailings can be used as secondary resources, and it is easy to pollute the environment under poorly managed conditions. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to reuse these deposits such as iron tailings, copper tailings, zinc tailings et al. This article discusses the current research on the mechanical properties of metal tailings and its engineering application. Based on previous research, it is pointed out that there still needs more attention on the mechanical properties of metal tailing sands, especially under different conditions like dry-wet, freeze-thaw, dynamic loads and large-scale application. In the future, research on the filling of metal tailings as roadbed and new building materials will be one of the directions to solve the problem of tailing pond accumulation.