Recycled Mineral Raw Materials from Quarry Waste Using Hydrocyclones

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Circular Economy
• Waste Valorization

Background:

• Quarrying and mining generate substantial fine-grained tailings with variable mineralogy, hindering direct reuse.
• The circular economy paradigm necessitates finding applications for such secondary raw materials.
• Current waste management often overlooks the potential of these fine particle fractions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a process for valorizing fine particle tailings from aggregate production.
• To evaluate the suitability of processed tailings as raw materials in the building and construction sectors.
• To demonstrate the economic viability of using mining waste in new applications.

Main Methods:

• Sampling of tailings from aggregate production plants.
• Characterization of mineral composition and particle size distribution.
• Processing to remove clayey components and isolate quartz fractions.
• Validation testing for applications in cement and ceramics production.

Main Results:

• A feasible process was developed to treat fine particle tailings.
• Processed tailings, primarily quartz, showed suitability for cement and ceramics.
• The valorization process does not require complex or costly technologies.
• The study confirms the potential of mining tailings as a secondary raw material.

Conclusions:

• Fine particle tailings from quarrying can be effectively valorized.
• The developed process enables the use of these tailings in the building and construction industry.
• This approach supports circular economy principles by transforming waste into valuable resources.