Analysis of Coal Combustion By-Products (CCBs) in Mongolia in Consideration of the Characteristics to be suitable for Backfilling and Securing of abandoned Small Scale Coal Mines

Abstract

The research aimed to evaluate the possibility to use CCBs and industrial wastes for backfilling material for underground mines. Hundreds of thousand tons of CCBs in Mongolia is being landfilled despite its economical and beneficial properties. Following tests and analyses were made to evaluate CCBs and industrial wastes: sieve analysis, SEM analysis, radioactivity detection, moisture content analysis, XRF chemical content analysis, uniaxial compression test, elution test and FTIR analysis. Total of 9 CCBs and 1 electric-arc furnace slag from 7 different location/plant have been evaluated to represent Mongolian CCBs. Backfill mix designs were designed to compare the materials and to choose the best suited material for backfilling purpose.