Experimental Behavior of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete with Partial Replacement of Gold Mine Waste for Fine Aggregates

Climate change is a global issue that requires urgent action for sustainable development with minimal carbon footprint. The cement industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions and is second only to water in terms of global usage. India’s construction industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources. As part of efforts to reduce the environmental impact of concrete production, researchers have explored the potential of gold mine waste as a substitute for fine aggregates in concrete. In particular, the tailings from the Kolar Gold Field in Karnataka, India, have been investigated. The study assessed the mechanical characteristics of concrete that substituted various amounts of gold mine waste for fine aggregates. After curing for 7, 14, and 28 days, the concrete’s compression and split tensile strengths were evaluated. The results indicated that the strength of the concrete increased with increasing replacement of fine aggregates with gold mine waste up to 25%. The study highlights the potential of using gold mine waste as a sustainable alternative to traditional fine aggregates in concrete production.