ORIGINAL PAPER
The effect of particle size distribution of tailings on rheological characterization of paste
1
Istanbul University – Cerrahpaşa
2
Istanbul University
Submission date: 2025-05-14
Final revision date: 2025-10-14
Acceptance date: 2025-12-01
Publication date: 2026-09-28
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2026;42(3):47-66
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The rheological behavior of paste, particularly regarding pumpability and in-situ dispersion, is critical for the safe and efficient disposal of mine tailings using paste technology. Therefore, when designing paste mixtures, both rheological and physical mechanical properties must be well defined. The flow behavior of paste is mainly governed by the physical and chemical characteristics of the tailings, among which the particle size distribution (PSD) plays a decisive role. In this study, process tailings from six different mines, iron, boron, silica, gold, marble, and copper were characterized, and the rheological behavior of pastes prepared with each tailings type was examined. The results revealed a clear relationship between the curvature coefficient (Cc), which reflects PSD, and the rheological parameters of the paste. Mixtures containing tailings with Cc values between 1 and 3 (classified as well-graded) exhibited superior rheological performance and pumpability despite having higher solid contents. In contrast, tailings with Cc < 1 or Cc > 3 showed reduced flowability and higher viscosity. For example, the packing density of gold tailings with Cc < 1 was approximately 25%, whereas that of iron tailings with Cc ≈ 1.9 reached nearly 55%. These findings confirm that variations in PSD, as represented by the curvature coefficient, have a significant impact on the pumpability and flow behavior of paste mixtures, offering practical insights for sustainable tailings disposal design.
FUNDING
This study was funded by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, grant numbers: 36443.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Wpływ rozkładu wielkości cząstek odpadów kopalnianych na właściwości reologiczne pasty
pasta odpadowa, właściwości reologiczne, właściwości pompowania, gęstość upakowania, rozkład wielkości cząstek
Właściwości reologiczne pasty, zwłaszcza jej pompowalność i dyspersja in situ, mają kluczowe znaczenie dla bezpiecznego i wydajnego usuwania odpadów kopalnianych przy użyciu technologii pastowej. Dlatego podczas projektowania mieszanek pastowych należy dokładnie określić zarówno właściwości reologiczne, jak i fizyczno-mechaniczne. Zachowanie pasty podczas przepływu zależy głównie od właściwości fizycznych i chemicznych odpadów, wśród których decydującą rolę odgrywa rozkład wielkości cząstek (PSD). W niniejszym badaniu scharakteryzowano odpady procesowe z sześciu różnych kopalń żelaza, boru, krzemionki, złota, marmuru i miedzi oraz zbadano właściwości reologiczne past przygotowanych z każdego rodzaju odpadów. Wyniki wykazały wyraźny związek między współczynnikiem krzywizny (Cc), który odzwierciedla PSD, a parametrami reologicznymi pasty. Mieszanki zawierające odpady o wartościach Cc pomiędzy 1 a 3 (sklasyfikowane jako dobrze uziarnione) wykazywały lepsze właściwości reologiczne i pompowalność pomimo wyższej zawartości substancji stałych. Natomiast odpady o Cc < 1 lub Cc > 3 wykazywały zmniejszoną płynność i wyższą lepkość. Na przykład gęstość upakowania odpadów złota o Cc < 1 wynosiła około 25%, podczas gdy gęstość upakowania odpadów żelaza o Cc ≈ 1,9 osiągnęła prawie 55%. Wyniki te potwierdzają, że zmiany PSD, reprezentowane przez współczynnik krzywizny, mają znaczący wpływ na pompowalność i właściwości przepływowe mieszanek pastowych, dostarczając praktycznych informacji przydatnych przy projektowaniu zrównoważonych systemów utylizacji odpadów.
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