Experimental Analysis on Permeability Characteristics of Iron Tailings

Abstract

The permeability characteristics of iron tailings are one of the important factors affecting the stability of the tailings dam. The permeability properties of undisturbed iron tailings and disturbed iron tailings were analyzed from various aspects such as FC value, gradation, particle size, specific surface area, and interparticle void ratio with water head test in laboratory. The results show that the permeability coefficients of undisturbed iron tailings and disturbed iron tailings are affected by the fine particles content (FC). The threshold of fine content is about 40%. The traditional formulas for calculating the permeability coefficient are applied. But the results are inaccurate. The relationship between permeability coefficient of the iron tailings (undisturbed iron tailings and disturbed iron tailings) and the nonuniform coefficient (Cu), the curvature coefficient (Cc), the average particle size, the weighted average particle size, the specific surface area, and the skeleton void ratio (es) is nonlinear. It is difficult to characterize the change of permeability coefficient when the fine content is large. However, the relationship between permeability coefficient of the iron tailings (undisturbed iron tailings and disturbed iron tailings) and the effective particle size and silt particles void ratio (ef) is linear. A formula was developed for the determination of permeability coefficient of iron tailings by analyzing the effective particle size and silt particles void ratio. And it is more accurate. The permeability coefficients of disturbed samples are slightly larger than the permeability coefficients of undisturbed sample. This is due to the destruction of the sedimentary structure of the tailings and increasing e. Maybe the R in the new formula is affected by the structure of iron tailings. This requires further research.