Dynamics of backfill compressive strength obtained from enrichment tails for the circular waste management

At the current stage of development, the transition to a circular economy is a single option to achieve sustainable\r\nmining. Purpose was to identify a direction for mining tailings usage based on the circular waste management.\r\nThe novelty of the author’s approach lies in regulation of mechanical treatment of slag to optimize the backfill\r\ncomposition. The methodology involved a study of mining waste (slag) obtained from major (eight) metallurgical\r\nplants in Russia. For mathematical processing primary data, smoothing and deterministic three-dimensional\r\ninterpolation methods were used. As a result, for the first time it has been established that the ultimate uniaxial compressive strength after mechanical treatment of slag increases by logarithmic laws. As the curing time\r\nincreases from 10 days to 90 days (with the addition of Ca or Si) the strength increases by 21 % (7 % and 23 %).\r\nThe possibility of completely replacing the traditional cement binder with metallurgical slag in the backfill\r\ncomposite has been proven. It has been established that the use of activation treatment (both mechanical and\r\nchemical) makes it possible to increase the strength characteristics of backfill samples after their curing. The\r\nprinciple of organizing mining production has been implemented, which provides for the use of intermediate\r\nproducts (blast furnace granulated slag), previously classified as technogenic waste, in a closed production cycle.\r\nThe introduction of this principle will eliminate (minimize) the formation of man-made waste. The scientific\r\nmerit of replacing traditional cement binder with technogenic waste (blast furnace granulated slag) allows\r\nimplementation of circular economy in mining