Modeling and characterization of mine pit backfilling/reclamation materials around Gyel’A’ and Kantoma areas of Plateau state using integrated method

Abstract

Tin (Sn) mining has disrupted some part of Gyel’A’ and Kantoma ecosystem with characteristic mine tailings, deep pits, abandoned mine excavations, mine ponds, deforestation, etc. To permit continual mining of tin, protection and subsequent beneficial use of the mined land, there is need for backfilling/reclamation. Hence, accurate modeling of backfilling materials is required. In this study, possible backfilling materials such as normal soil and mine tailings samples were modeled by integrating geotechnical parameters with statistical tools. The result revealed that; normal soil samples (Gyel’A’C and KantomaC) have more percentage of fines and well graded than the mine tailings (Gyel’A’1 and Kantoma1). Quick undrained triaxial result showed that kantoma C (18.344) and Gyel’A’C (16.26) have higher shear strength than Kantoma1 (12.657) and Gyel’A’1 (0.9935). Mine tailings have lower coefficient of compressibility but more permeable than normal soils. Statistically, strong positive correlation exist between the geotechnical parameters moisture content (M/c), void ratio (e), porosity (η), undrained cohesion (∁\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\complement$$\\end{document}), angle of internal friction (φ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\varphi$$\\end{document}), optimum moisture content (OMC %), maximum dry density (MDD) and shear strength. Non-significant strong correlation exists between shear strength and all the parameters except angle of internal friction (φ)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\varphi )$$\\end{document}. Principal component analysis showed that apart from permeability and particle size distribution; moisture content, void ratio, porosity, angle of internal friction, optimum moisture content, maximum dry density and shear strength are the dominant parameters that determines the suitability of the choice of backfilling material unlike undrain cohesion.