Integrated porosity estimation of partially saturated sand–hematite mixtures using electrical resistivity and elastic wave velocity
Abstract For effective maintenance and failure prevention of mine tailing in geo-resource field, it is essential to assess porosity in both partially and fully-saturated tailing dams. This study aims to evaluate sand-hematite mixtures’ porosity, considering various hematite content (HC) and saturati...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14475-1 |
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| Summary: | Abstract For effective maintenance and failure prevention of mine tailing in geo-resource field, it is essential to assess porosity in both partially and fully-saturated tailing dams. This study aims to evaluate sand-hematite mixtures’ porosity, considering various hematite content (HC) and saturation levels, using electrical resistivity and elastic wave velocity as geophysical methods. Hematite powder is mixed with sand particles in a weight ratio of 0 to 30%. The experimental setup includes a specially designed cell equipped with a bender element (BE), piezo disk element (PDE), electrical resistivity probe (ERP), and time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe at the top and bottom. Additionally, a porous stone disk connected to a silicon tube regulates the water level in the cell. Test results reveal significant variations in dielectric constant and electrical resistivity within the water level range of 0.250 m to 0.200 m. Elastic waves show changes at the water level of 0.200 m due to hematite and capillary effects. For porosity evaluation, the electrical resistivity-based method proves more reliable than the elastic wave-based method, considering error norms influenced by various factors. This integrated experimental framework provides an effective tool for assessing porosity in tailing materials, contributing to enhanced geotechnical monitoring and sustainable resource management. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |