Obtaining resistance parameters in iron ore tailing from field (SPT and CPTu) and laboratory tests

Abstract

Understanding the behaviour of materials resulting from mineral exploration is important in the current scenery of exploration and processing, with high mining waste generation and consequent catastrophic disasters. In this context, this paper presents the results of a geotechnical investigation carried out at an iron ore tailing in Minas Gerais – Brazil aimed at obtaining the shear strength parameters. The methodology is based on a large bibliographic review of field and laboratory tests, and based on obtaining geotechnical correlations, followed by both field and laboratory data analysis resulting from CPTu, SPT and laboratory tests (triaxial). Geotechnical parameters of the presented iron ore tailing enhance knowledge of this material disposed in dams, whose stability and integrity are directly related to the effect of these parameters interaction and mobilization.