CHARACTERIZATION OF GRANITE CUTTING SLUDGE FOR GEOTECHNICAL PURPOSES

Abstract

The industry of extraction and rock processing generates a large volume of waste, being the most pronounced harm caused by the sludge from cutting and polishing processes. This work deals with the characterization of the granites cutting sludge of a sawmill in the northeastern part of the state of São Paulo (Brazil), related to its environmental and geotechnical characterization, chemical and mineralogical aspects, analysis of resistance of pure material and with increments of cement in addition to their classification by the MCT Methodology, in order to use this residue in geotechnical purposes. The results showed that the residue is classified as not dangerous, showing a low plasticity index containing about 58% of quartz (SiO2). The pure residue has unconfined compression strength of 0.4 MPa, cohesion of 54 KPa and the friction angle of 35º. The unconfined compression strength reached 1.2 MPa with an increase of 2% of cement and 2.4 MPa with 5% of raising. The MCT classification resulted in a NS' (non lateritic behavior soil - silts, sandy silts) of low permeability. Potentially applications of the residue are soil mixtures for paving and waterproofing coatings. Keywords: Granite sawing, abrasive sludge, geotechnical tests, MCT classification.