Evaluación de escombreras de mármoles para su aprovechamiento como agregado en una estructura de pavimento, Córdoba, Argentina

In this contribution, 10,000 tonnes of marble waste dumps have been characterized in order to define the physico-mechanical and mineralogical parameters and determine their feasibility to be applied as main components in road bases and sub-bases. The Los Angeles abrasion values obtained (41-53%) exceeded those permitted for the standard technical specifications. However, particle-size distribution, plasticity and California Bearing Ratio (C.B.R.)(76, 83, 100% at 97, 98 and 100% of maximum density, respectively) satisfied, marginally, those specifications. Therefore, with a simple screening, these waste dumps would be applied as granular materials in roads. This is an alternative: a) environmentally sustainable, since future crushed stone exploitations would be reduced and removed a potential environmental passive; b) technically feasible, because the carrying capacity of the granular layers would not be affected; and c) economically profitable, because adds value to a currently non useful material and reduces the extraction and transportation costs.