Micro-structure and morphology of tailings sand under different oxidation and acidification degree

The tailings pond is a dangerous source of man-made debris flow with high potential energy. The oxidative acidification of tailings may cause the instability of the pond and induce serious safety accidents. The influence of oxidation and acidification degree on macro mechanical properties of tailings is discussed from the aspects of mineral composition and microstructure. The results show that as the degree of oxidation and acidification of tailings sand increases, the overall structural performance and load-bearing capacity decrease, and its cohesion (c) and internal friction angle (phi) show a decreasing trend. In fact, the engineering properties of tailings with different oxidation and acidification degrees are dominated by the physicochemical composition and structural characteristics. On the one hand, as the degree of oxidation increases, acidic substance will neutralize with CaCO3 and CaMg(CO3)(2), resulting in the loss of cemented substance and the decrease of cementation force between tailing sand particles as well as the gradual destruction of the integrity of tailing sand. On the other hand, the increase of oxidation and acidification degree of tailing sand leads to a gradual reduction of outline (2D) fractal dimension and gray surface (3D) fractal dimension of surface laminated structure as well as the obvious reduction of laminated structure and its roughness of tailings sand.