Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction

The Department of Antioquia, Colombia, produces 47% of the mining tailings linked to national gold extraction. These residues, stored in dam-like deposits, contain toxic substances such as heavy metals, posing serious risks to the environment and public health. Due to their high silica and alumina...

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Main Authors: Marllory Isaza-Ruiz, Magali Restrepo-Posada, Harold Cardona-Trujilo, Maryory Astrid Gómez-Botero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2025-06-01
Series:Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia
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Online Access:https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/358696
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author Marllory Isaza-Ruiz
Magali Restrepo-Posada
Harold Cardona-Trujilo
Maryory Astrid Gómez-Botero
author_facet Marllory Isaza-Ruiz
Magali Restrepo-Posada
Harold Cardona-Trujilo
Maryory Astrid Gómez-Botero
author_sort Marllory Isaza-Ruiz
collection DOAJ
description The Department of Antioquia, Colombia, produces 47% of the mining tailings linked to national gold extraction. These residues, stored in dam-like deposits, contain toxic substances such as heavy metals, posing serious risks to the environment and public health. Due to their high silica and alumina content, these tailings could be repurposed as alternative cementitious materials. Hybrid cements, formed by combining Portland cement with alkaline-activated materials, offer a lower environmental impact and support circular economy practices. In this study, the potential use of Antioquia’s mining tailings as precursors for hybrid cement production was evaluated. Sodium carbonate and sodium silicate were used as alkaline activators, and curing was performed at room temperature. The tailings’ chemical composition showed suitable levels of silica and alumina for geopolymer synthesis. Concrete specimens were prepared using hybrid cement and three types of aggregates: sand, coarse tailings, and recycled polymer. After 28 days of curing, the highest compressive strength was 568.6 kN ± 6.1 with coarse tailings, followed by 550.3 kN ± 7.9 with sand, and 325.3 kN ± 7.5 with recycled polymer. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using mining residues in sustainable construction applications.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Universidad de Antioquia
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series Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia
spelling doaj-art-0b6d41411138485ca4dfca484e98fd162025-08-20T02:09:04ZengUniversidad de AntioquiaRevista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia0120-62302422-28442025-06-0110.17533/udea.redin.20250673Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in constructionMarllory Isaza-Ruiz0Magali Restrepo-Posada1Harold Cardona-Trujilo2Maryory Astrid Gómez-Botero3Universidad de AntioquiaUniversidad de AntioquiaUniversidad EAFITUniversidad de Antioquia The Department of Antioquia, Colombia, produces 47% of the mining tailings linked to national gold extraction. These residues, stored in dam-like deposits, contain toxic substances such as heavy metals, posing serious risks to the environment and public health. Due to their high silica and alumina content, these tailings could be repurposed as alternative cementitious materials. Hybrid cements, formed by combining Portland cement with alkaline-activated materials, offer a lower environmental impact and support circular economy practices. In this study, the potential use of Antioquia’s mining tailings as precursors for hybrid cement production was evaluated. Sodium carbonate and sodium silicate were used as alkaline activators, and curing was performed at room temperature. The tailings’ chemical composition showed suitable levels of silica and alumina for geopolymer synthesis. Concrete specimens were prepared using hybrid cement and three types of aggregates: sand, coarse tailings, and recycled polymer. After 28 days of curing, the highest compressive strength was 568.6 kN ± 6.1 with coarse tailings, followed by 550.3 kN ± 7.9 with sand, and 325.3 kN ± 7.5 with recycled polymer. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using mining residues in sustainable construction applications. https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/358696Alkaline Activated CementsHybrid CementsConstruction MaterialsMine TailingsGeopolymers
spellingShingle Marllory Isaza-Ruiz
Magali Restrepo-Posada
Harold Cardona-Trujilo
Maryory Astrid Gómez-Botero
Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction
Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia
Alkaline Activated Cements
Hybrid Cements
Construction Materials
Mine Tailings
Geopolymers
title Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction
title_full Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction
title_fullStr Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction
title_full_unstemmed Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction
title_short Hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction
title_sort hybrid cements from mining tailings for possible uses in construction
topic Alkaline Activated Cements
Hybrid Cements
Construction Materials
Mine Tailings
Geopolymers
url https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/358696
work_keys_str_mv AT marlloryisazaruiz hybridcementsfromminingtailingsforpossibleusesinconstruction
AT magalirestrepoposada hybridcementsfromminingtailingsforpossibleusesinconstruction
AT haroldcardonatrujilo hybridcementsfromminingtailingsforpossibleusesinconstruction
AT maryoryastridgomezbotero hybridcementsfromminingtailingsforpossibleusesinconstruction