Track: Undergraduate Student Paper Competition

Abstract

The study addressed the negative impact of mining tailings on the environment and the high storage costs in the Peruvian mining industry. The objective was to evaluate the technological and environmental feasibility of replacing traditional sand in concrete with polymetallic tailings within the framework of the circular economy. Concrete mixtures with polymetallic tailings were prepared and evaluated for properties such as workability, unit weight, temperature, air content, and strength. It was demonstrated that polymetallic tailings can partially replace sand in conventional concrete for basic structural applications such as floors, walls, and pedestals. The tests indicated that the concrete temperature remained within acceptable limits, averaging 20.2°C, and the air content was low, favoring material strength. The unit weight of all mixtures corresponded to normal-weight concrete, with values exceeding 2300 kg/m³. The compressive strength of concrete with 40% sand replacement by tailings reached 164.6 kg/cm² after 28 days of curing, demonstrating its suitability for plain concrete applications. These results validate the feasibility of using polymetallic tailings in concrete production, contributing to reducing environmental impact and storage costs associated with mining tailings.