RCC - Roller-Compacted Concrete with hematite aggregate

Abstract RCC using hematite as an aggregate has interesting characteristics for use in massive structures or structures for radiation shielding. In Brazil, there is a considerable amount of hematite ore tailings without practical use, which makes this material an environmental problem and a matter of public safety. Thus, the search for alternatives to use these tailings is a priority environmental concern. An RCC containment dam with hematite aggregate was constructed to protect the basin of the Barao de Cocais River, including the city of Barao de Cocais in the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil, from a possible rupture of the Sul Superior tailings dam in the Congo Soco iron mine. Approximately 150,000 m3 of RCC was deposited in three months. In this article, the results of the technological control tests during the construction of the containment are presented and compared with the results of the cores extracted after the construction, showing their coherence and strength performance compared with RCC using conventional aggregate. Also, studies related to the performance of radiation shielding of this RCC are presented. An attenuation of 10% of 1.6 MeV gamma radiation in relation to conventional concrete was observed.