STATE-OF-THE-ART USE OF MINING TAILINGS IN PAVEMENTS

Abstract

Mining activity, in Brazil, plays an important social and economic role on the country. Allied to this fact, the mining activity produces a large quantity of mining tailings, which destination are an economical and environmental challenge to mining companies. The mining tailings are been studied as an alternative material source for different applications, and amongst them, for pavement construction. This article presents the research development related to the use of mining tailings in pavements. Publications related to iron ore bauxite (red mud), copper and tungsten tailings were found. The iron ore tailings presented the majority of publications, and, consequently, a wider range of themes explored, when compared to the others. The mining tailings were studied in asphalt mixtures, cement mixtures for rigid pavements, concrete interlocked pavement, and, in base, subbase and subgrade layers.