- Antonio Clareti Pereira*
- PhD in Chemical Engineering Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG, Department of Chemical Engineering Belo Horizonte – MG – Brazil.
- DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17682185
The ongoing production of mining
waste worldwide presents significant environmental and technical challenges due
to the large quantities of tailings, overburden, and fine residues generated
during mineral extraction and processing. These by-products threaten soil and
water quality while taking up extensive land areas. However, they also hold
potential as secondary raw materials for the construction industry, promoting
resource efficiency and circular economy practices. This systematic review,
spanning from 2010 to 2025, examines the potential of mining waste as input for
construction materials using data from Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct,
and SciELO databases, based on keywords such as “mine tailings,” “construction
materials,” “valorization,” “geopolymer,” and “circular economy.” The reviewed
studies—including peer-reviewed articles, theses, technical standards, and
government reports—show that iron, bauxite, coal, and phosphate tailings are
the most studied, mainly used as aggregates, pozzolanic binders, and
geopolymeric precursors. Overall, results indicate that these materials have
comparable mechanical performance to traditional materials, although concerns
about durability and leaching behavior remain. The review emphasizes the
growing integration of low-carbon and circular strategies within the
construction sector, while also identifying ongoing research gaps related to
large-scale feasibility, standardized testing, and policy alignment. Addressing
these issues through life cycle assessments, regulatory frameworks, and
long-term monitoring is vital to ensure the safe and sustainable reuse of
mining residues in construction applications.
