Engineering geological characteristics of gypsum-containing waste from sulphuric acid neutralisation with limestone

One of the urgent problems of engineering geology is justification of safe and rational storage of mining and processing industry wastes. The paper presents an engineering geological characteristic of gypsum-containing wastes of sulfuric acid neutralisation by limestone, considered as weak technogenic dispersed soils, on the basis of complex studies of their composition and physical and mechanical properties. The object of study is a monomineral material — bi-aqueous gypsum, obtained by the chemical reaction of CaCO₃ and H₂SO₄ with the participation of water. The investigations included granulometric, X-ray phase, chemical analysis, microscopy, as well as a set of studies of mechanical properties. Dependences of strength and filtration properties on density and humidity of the material were established. It is shown that this type of gypsum-containing wastes has specific properties that distinguish them from natural soils, which requires taking into account when using standard methods for their study. It is established that sulfuric acid neutralisation gypsum-containing wastes have high compressibility and low filtration capacity. Taking into account these features, recommendations on design of gypsum storages and handling of such wastes are offered. The obtained data can be used to substantiate engineering solutions for storage, reclamation and utilisation of gypsum-containing wastes, as well as for development of regulatory requirements for assessment of their properties.

Pospehov G. B., Izotova V. A. Engineering geological characteristics of gypsum-containing waste from sulphuric acid neutralisation with limestone. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(11-1):131—148. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_111_0_131.

The authors would like to thank the staff of the Scientific Center for Geomechanics and Mining Problems of St. Petersburg Mining University, teachers and graduate students of the Department of Engineering and Environmental Geology of Lomonosov Moscow State University, as well as colleagues from the AIRIZ Research Center of the IGDD RAS for their advice and assistance in conducting research.

Pospehov G. B., PhD (geological-mineralogical sciences), Head of the laboratory of modelling, research centre of geomechanic and mining issues, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9090-5150,199106, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, St. Petersburg, 21st lin. V. O., 2, Russia, e-mail: pospehov@spmi.ru;
Izotova V. A., postgraduate student, Engineering geology and hydrogeology department, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4202-4767, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, St. Petersburg, 21st lin. V. O., 2, Russia, e-mail: s185021@stud.spmi.ru.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Izotova V. A., email: s185021@stud.spmi.ru.

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