ISC7

Characteristics of the Electroresistivity of a compacted Iron Ore Tailing

  • Marinho, Fernando (University of São Paulo)
  • Hora, Michelli (University of São Paulo)
  • Dos Santos, Bianca (Uiversity of são Paulo)
  • Delgado, Bruno (University of São Paulo)
  • Da Silva, João (Vale S.A.)

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With the new legislation regarding the disposal of mining waste, the technique of stacking filtered iron ore tailings has been receiving more attention and usage. The need to maintain the compacted structure in an unsaturated condition to minimize the risk of liquefaction requires knowledge of the hydraulic characteristics of the material to evaluate the long-term performance of the embankment and to design an adequate monitoring system. One way to track the material's behavior in the field is through electrical resistivity techniques. Using an electrical resistivity measurement system at various frequencies and current levels, we evaluated the behavior of compacted iron ore waste. The examined tailings have been deposited in filtered tailings piles, which are intended to exceed a height of 100 meters. Our research focuses on post-construction monitoring of these piles to assess the effectiveness of different monitoring techniques for measuring structural behavior. This study aims to investigate the material's response to different measurement conditions, including varying levels of compaction and degrees of saturation. We will establish correlations between electrical resistivity and factors such as suction, degree of saturation, and moisture content.