Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes
Urbanization has caused an increase in demand for building materials, some of which requires mined natural resources. These materials produce large volumes of mining wastes (also known as tailings) which have environmental and economic implications. This research investigates the potential of recycl...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Department of Civil Engineering
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613142548217856 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Gani, Saajidah Abdool Rehman |
| author2 | Beushausen, Hans-Dieter |
| author_browse | Beushausen, Hans-Dieter Gani, Saajidah Abdool Rehman |
| author_facet | Beushausen, Hans-Dieter Gani, Saajidah Abdool Rehman |
| author_sort | Gani, Saajidah Abdool Rehman |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Urbanization has caused an increase in demand for building materials, some of which requires mined natural resources. These materials produce large volumes of mining wastes (also known as tailings) which have environmental and economic implications. This research investigates the potential of recycling gold mine tailings from the Witwatersrand region as a substitute for fine aggregates in concrete. Laboratory experiments were used to determine the physical properties, such as density and particle size distribution (PSD) and compare these physical properties with the other conventional fine aggregates used in this research, as well as the impact on the fresh and hardened properties of concrete mixes made using Gold mine tailings, focusing on the compressive strength. Gold mine tailings were found to have comparable PSD and fineness modulus to Philippi dune sand, although they contained a higher proportion of fine particles. Concrete mixes using varying replacement ratios of Philippi dune sand with Gold mine tailings were tested. Results indicated that at 28 days, all mixes achieved at least 76% of the reference mix strength. However, higher replacement ratios consistently reduced compressive strength due to increased water demand and resulted in a reduced cohesiveness at the cement-paste interface. Oxygen Permeability Index tests showed excellent results, suggesting low permeability. While the research confirms that replacing fine aggregates with Gold mine tailings results in decreased compressive strength and workability, literature suggests that a partial replacement of fine aggregate with other mine tailings may be possible. Further studies are recommended to determine the chemical composition of other mine tailings, the environmental impacts of using mine tailings in this manner, legislative frameworks, and economic viability to optimize the use of mine tailings in construction. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42238 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:31:26.417Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Department of Civil Engineering |
| publisherStr | Department of Civil Engineering |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42238 The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes Gani, Saajidah Abdool Rehman Beushausen, Hans-Dieter Simon, Jaziitha gold mine tailings Urbanization has caused an increase in demand for building materials, some of which requires mined natural resources. These materials produce large volumes of mining wastes (also known as tailings) which have environmental and economic implications. This research investigates the potential of recycling gold mine tailings from the Witwatersrand region as a substitute for fine aggregates in concrete. Laboratory experiments were used to determine the physical properties, such as density and particle size distribution (PSD) and compare these physical properties with the other conventional fine aggregates used in this research, as well as the impact on the fresh and hardened properties of concrete mixes made using Gold mine tailings, focusing on the compressive strength. Gold mine tailings were found to have comparable PSD and fineness modulus to Philippi dune sand, although they contained a higher proportion of fine particles. Concrete mixes using varying replacement ratios of Philippi dune sand with Gold mine tailings were tested. Results indicated that at 28 days, all mixes achieved at least 76% of the reference mix strength. However, higher replacement ratios consistently reduced compressive strength due to increased water demand and resulted in a reduced cohesiveness at the cement-paste interface. Oxygen Permeability Index tests showed excellent results, suggesting low permeability. While the research confirms that replacing fine aggregates with Gold mine tailings results in decreased compressive strength and workability, literature suggests that a partial replacement of fine aggregate with other mine tailings may be possible. Further studies are recommended to determine the chemical composition of other mine tailings, the environmental impacts of using mine tailings in this manner, legislative frameworks, and economic viability to optimize the use of mine tailings in construction. 2025-11-17T13:28:37Z 2025-11-17T13:28:37Z 2025 2025-11-17T13:27:10Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MSc (Eng) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42238 en eng application/pdf Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | gold mine tailings Gani, Saajidah Abdool Rehman The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes |
| title_full | The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes |
| title_fullStr | The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes |
| title_short | The viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes |
| title_sort | viability of using gold mine tailings as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes |
| topic | gold mine tailings |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42238 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ganisaajidahabdoolrehman theviabilityofusinggoldminetailingsasasubstituteforfineaggregateinconcretemixes AT ganisaajidahabdoolrehman viabilityofusinggoldminetailingsasasubstituteforfineaggregateinconcretemixes |