Challenges for the Destiny of Iron Mining Tailings in the Iron Quadrangle of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Banded iron formations are exploited in the Iron Quadrangle of Minas Gerais, Brazil. To produce the iron ore concentrate these iron formations are processed by a physicochemical process. Huge amounts of tailings are generated and stored in dams. After two major collapses of dams in 2015 and 2019 with severe loss of lives and environmental impacts, the storage in new dams was prohibited. The storage of tailings in piles or exhausted open pits and their utilization as raw materials to produce several products are being considered. The huge amount of tailings and their characteristics, especially the fine granulometry, are the challenges that scientists and engineers must face to develop applications for them. Research and developments carried out to address the issue of these tailings in the region of the Iron Quadrangle are presented in this paper.