Use Of Mining Tailings in The Manufacture of Ecological Bricks to Encourage the Construction of Sustainable Housing

Abstract

This work aimed to manufacture ecological bricks using mining tailings, by-products of mining activity, to contribute to sustainable housing development. The Peruvian technical standards E.060 and E.070 are used as a reference framework to achieve this. The study focuses on various aspects, such as mineralogical analysis, particle size distribution, plasticization, workability, and rheology. The research methodology adopted is deductive, with an applied and quantitative approach. A retrolective data collection instrument and descriptive, explanatory, correlational, and descriptive level approaches are used. The results obtained from this research reveal significant findings. It was observed that including 20% of an alkaline binder based on calcined clay improves the development of bricks in areas with severe climatic conditions. In addition, incorporating lime fibers reduces thermal conductivity and increases bricks' compressive and bending strength. Blocks containing 30% clay cork reinforce the bricks' bulk density, thermal conductivity, and strength. On the other hand, it was verified that tailings with lead-zinc sulfide, reduced by 47%, comply with the carbonization and contraction coefficient. Shale, fly ash, and cement tailings achieved a compressive strength of 26 MPa and a water absorption rate of 14.32%. The addition of steel filings by 3% improves compressive strength. Likewise, incorporating plastic waste increases the compressive strength to reach 37.5 MPa. As for geopolymers, it was observed that viscosity recovery is in a range between 65% and 82%. Finally, recycled aggregates, with a maximum nominal size of 3/8" and 1/4", meet the standard requirements, providing a compressive strength of up to 8 MPa. Finally, this study demonstrates the potential of using mining tailings and other recycled materials to manufacture ecological bricks for sustainable housing development in mining communities, offering viable solutions from an environmental and construction point of view.