A Geotechnical Approach in Sustainable Reuse of Mine Tailings: A Case Study of Tin Mine Sites in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the geotechnical properties of tin mine tailings for its potential use, using particle size analysis, oedometer consolidation test, quick undrained triaxial test, compaction test and permeability test. The results showed that tailings from Caha1 and Kantoma1 have higher percentage of coarse than fine grains, lower moisture and optimum moisture content and higher coefficient of permeability. The most well graded materials of the mine tailings is CahaC. KantomaC and CahaC showed higher percentage of fines, high plastic, liquid and shrinkage limit, high plasticity index, high moisture content and optimum moisture content, higher shear strength, and lower coefficient of permeability. However, compression and swelling index of all the tailings are of low plastic clay and have very low swelling potential. Based on degree of plasticity, all the mine tailings in the study area are below the range of 1-5 hence, they are non-plastic material.