Utilization of Iron Ore Tailings in Construction Materials
Summary
Iron ore tailings represent one of the largest solid waste streams generated by mining operations worldwide. Comprising finely ground silicate and oxide minerals, these residues pose both an environmental liability and a potential resource. Recent efforts have focused on diverting tailings into construction applications, principally as partial replacements for cement, fine aggregates or raw feed in clinker manufacturing. When employed as a supplementary cementitious material, finely milled tailings can contribute to hydration reactions and the formation of calcium silicate hydrates, although their slow reactivity often demands activators or higher curing temperatures. As a fine aggregate substitute, tailings have delivered comparable compressive strength to natural sand concrete at replacement levels up to around 35%, with acceptable workability and durability in terms of impermeability, frost resistance and carbonation resistance. Life-cycle assessments consistently highlight reductions in embodied carbon—often on the order of 3–12%—and improvements in heavy-metal immobilisation when tailings are encapsulated in a cementitious matrix. Key challenges remain in addressing variability in mineralogy, ensuring long-term durability, controlling shrinkage and meeting regional standards. Optimisation of mix design, pretreatment methods and curing regimes are central to unlocking the full technical and environmental benefits of iron ore tailings in sustainable construction.
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Utilization of Iron Ore Tailings in Construction Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in utilization of iron ore tailings in construction materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Iron ore tailings: Finely divided waste generated during the beneficiation of iron ore, composed mainly of silicates and oxides.
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs): Mineral additives that react with calcium hydroxide in cement to form additional binding phases, enhancing concrete properties.
Pozzolanic activity: The capacity of a siliceous or aluminous material to react with calcium hydroxide in the presence of water to form cementitious compounds.
Fine aggregates: Particulate materials, such as sand, used in concrete to fill voids between coarse aggregates and contribute to the mix’s workability and strength.
References
- A comprehensive review on properties of tailings-based low-carbon concrete: Mechanical, environmental, and toxicological performances. Developments in the Built Environment (2024).
- Comparative mechanical properties of conventional concrete mixture and concrete incorporating mining tailings sands. Case Studies in Construction Materials (2022).
- Utilization of Iron Ore Tailings as Raw Material for Portland Cement Clinker Production. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (2016).
- Experimental Study on the Properties of Concrete Mixed with Iron Ore Tailings. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (2016).
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