Development of a Process for Utilization of Mining Wastes with Fly Ash for the Production of Bricks

Sustainable management of iron ore tailings is a high concern to all stakeholders who are into iron ore mining. This study seeks to add value to the tailings by using them as a substitute for bricks for civil manufactory. The iron tailings were mixed in varied proportions with different combinations of cement and fly ash for use in the construction industry. Bricks were made using a variety of compositions of iron tailings, Ordinary Portland cement and fly ash, in cuboid mould( 9 ″ X 5 ″ X 3 ″). The bricks were dried for 24 hours. Mechanical features such as water absorption, compressive strength, and efflorescence are tested. The maximum compressive strength order of11.82 N/ mm2 was recorded with rates of 721( Iron trailing, flyash and cement). The properties of the iron ore tailings similar as plasticity, continuity, density, compressive strength, XRF, XRD, SEM tests were conducted. Water absorption for the proposed bricks are lower than that of burnt complexion bricks. The lower capillary cavity can help the formation of efflorescence. This process, with the same parameters, can be changed commercially, and a large number of wastes of iron ore can be used to make bricks. thus, the technological processes linked in this paper can convert large quantities of unsafe waste into the surroundings into value- added products. Iron trailing can be seen as a stable addition to clay soils, its use when confined to making bricks.