Experimental study on mechanical characteristics of copper tailing materials with sulfur content

There is a huge demand for tailing ponds in China due to the vast distribution of tailing materials. The physical and mechanical properties of tailing materials are strongly affected by mineral component, treating process, depositing method and external surroundings, leading to significant difficulties in choosing the basic property index of tailing materials. Two types of tailing materials with high and low sulfur contents, obtained from an under-construction tailing pond in western China are tested, and the physical and mechanical properties, including specific gravity, hydraulic conductivity, shear strength or consolidation parameters, are measured. The effect of two saturating methods, capillary saturation method and soil-boiling method, on the mechanical characteristics is investigated through laboratory experiments. The results show that stoving or boiling will change the component of tailing materials. The hydraulic conductivities of capillary saturation samples are two to five times those of the samples saturated by the soil-boiling method, while the shear strength is lower by 25%. This study leads to a better understanding of tailing materials and provides fundamental data for the design and construction of tailing ponds.