Gold Mine Tailings as a Construction Material: A Case Study of the Klein Letaba Gold Tailings Dam, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The Giyani greenstone belt is known for gold deposits in South Africa mining industry. The cluster of gold mines located in the Giyani generates a significant amount of mine tailings, which have adverse effects on the environment and ecological systems. In addition, disposal costs are very high. The exponential population growth in the Giyani area has resulted in pressure on the reserves of traditional building materials. Quarrying for natural construction material is very expensive and damages the landscape. This work therefore examines the use of gold mine tailings in the production of bricks. Atterberg limits tests were conducted, Different mixing ratios of gold tailings, clay, coal waste were used and the bricks were then tested for compressive strength. Size distribution analysis revealed that tailings composed of silt, sand and gravel, but are devoid of clay. Consequently, the use of tailings to produce bricks would require an addition of clay material and coal waste at a ratio of 22% tailings, 60% clay, and 18% coal waste and the average of compressive strength were 9,36 N/mm2. Overall, the results indicated that gold mine tailings have a high potential to substitute for the natural materials currently used in brickmaking with additional of clay and coal wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]