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A study on compressibility and permeability of tailings with different particle sizes under high pressure

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Abstract

Mine tailings are stored in tailings storage facilities (TSF), normally in the form of tailings dams. High-stacked tailings dams (HTD) are failure-prone for several reasons, such as overtopping, seepage failure, and strength deterioration. The investigation of compressibility and permeability of tailings material with different particle sizes under high pressure is essential for safety stability. By self-developed high-pressure consolidation permeability apparatus (HCPA), the laboratory conjoined consolidation permeability tests are carried out on tailings with different particle sizes at the maximum consolidation pressure (σ’v) of 5 MPa. For compressibility of tailings in the high-pressure stage (σ’v > 2 MPa), the void ratio e of tailings with different particle sizes has a new linear relationship with σ’v. Coarse-grained tailings have a “secondary- compression-like property” due to particle breakage under high pressure. The hydraulic conductivity of tailings under high pressure presents a piecewise linear k-σ’v relationship. With the decrease in particle size and the increase of σ’v, the seepage pattern of tailings changes from channel seepage to micropore seepage. σ’v = 2 MPa is regarded as the critical value for high-pressure compression of tailing, and the corresponding microscopic critical value of the average particle spacing is 1.2–1.8 nm. This research explored useful information on the compressibility and permeability of tailings with different particle sizes under high pressure that can provide a reference for improving the stabilization of HTD.

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Funding

The research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (NO. 2017YFC0804601), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51741410), and Natural Science Foundation for Innovation Group of Hubei Province, China (No. 2016CFA014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Changkun Ma, Chao Zhang, Xiaogang Guo & Xueting Li

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Changkun Ma

  3. State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Ruixin Li

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  1. Changkun Ma
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  2. Ruixin Li
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Correspondence to Chao Zhang.

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Ma, C., Li, R., Zhang, C. et al. A study on compressibility and permeability of tailings with different particle sizes under high pressure. Bull Eng Geol Environ 82, 106 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03117-3

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