A Study on Copper Mine Tailings to Be Used as Precursor of Alkali-Activated Materials for Construction Applications

Simple item page
dc.catalogadorjlo
dc.contributor.authorMorales Castro, Luis Felipe
dc.contributor.authorLoyola Fernández, Estefanía Francisca
dc.contributor.authorCastro Quijada, Matías Daniel
dc.contributor.authorVargas, Felipe
dc.contributor.authorNavarrete Leschot, Iván Ignacio
dc.contributor.authorEugenin Soto, Claudia Andrea
dc.contributor.authorMarquardt Román, Carlos Jorge
dc.contributor.authorVidela Leiva, Álvaro Rodrigo
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-28T18:45:25Z
dc.date.available2025-08-28T18:45:25Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractThis research presents a novel methodology to classify copper tailings according to their potential as alkali-activated materials (AAMs) for construction applications. The methodology includes geochemical and mineralogical characterization via QEMSCAN and X-ray fluorescence, with mechanical performance evaluation through compressive strength test (UCS). A three-phase diagram based on Al2O3, Fe2O3, and CaO-MgO-K2O is proposed for a fast screening of copper tailing potential to be used as a construction material. In this paper, three copper tailings were chosen to test the methodology, and a set of five samples for each tailing have been geopolymerized for testing. Copper tailing samples were mixed with 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% by mass of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to evaluate the effect on performance when a chemical co-activator is used to improve material reactivity. Compressive strength testing was applied on 2 cm3 cubes after 28 days of curing at 60 °C, yielding values from 6 to 26.1 MPa. The best performing sample featured a Si/Al ≅ 3 ratio and a mineralogy with significant presence of reactive species such as plagioclase and K-feldspar (≅42%). In contrast, high levels of Fe2O3 (≥12%), clay (≥7%), and pyrite (≥4%) were associated with reduced mechanical performance.
dc.format.extent14 páginas
dc.fuente.origenORCID
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/min15090895
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3390/min15090895
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/105336
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Morales Castro, Luis Felipe; S/I; 1064873
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Loyola Fernández, Estefanía Francisca; S/I; 236319
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Castro Quijada, Matías Daniel; S/I; 148238
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Navarrete Leschot, Iván Ignacio; S/I; 185578
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Eugenin Soto, Claudia Andrea; S/I; 223113
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Marquardt Román, Carlos Jorge; 0000-0002-8571-5931; 1012334
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Videla Leiva, Álvaro Rodrigo; 0000-0002-6785-5818; 10225
dc.issue.numero895
dc.language.isoen
dc.nota.accesocontenido completo
dc.revistaMinerals
dc.rightsacceso abierto
dc.subjectGeopolymers
dc.subjectTailings
dc.subjectCopper mine tailings
dc.subjectAlkali activation
dc.subjectMineralogy
dc.subjectTernary diagrams
dc.subject.ddc550
dc.subject.deweyCiencias de la tierraes_ES
dc.titleA Study on Copper Mine Tailings to Be Used as Precursor of Alkali-Activated Materials for Construction Applications
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen15
sipa.codpersvinculados1064873
sipa.codpersvinculados236319
sipa.codpersvinculados148238
sipa.codpersvinculados185578
sipa.codpersvinculados223113
sipa.codpersvinculados1012334
sipa.codpersvinculados10225
sipa.trazabilidadORCID;2025-08-22
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
minerals-15-00895.pdf
Size:
1.22 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Artículos de revistas