Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
The increasing global demand for pavement infrastructure has intensified the consumption of non-renewable construction materials, particularly natural aggregates and soils, raising significant environmental and resource sustainability concerns. In response, there is a growing need to explore alternative materials that can reduce reliance on these finite resources. Mine tailings, generated in large volumes from mining operations, have emerged as a promising substitute due to their potential to enhance asphalt concrete performance while mitigating environmental impacts associated with their disposal. This study presents a comprehensive review of the application of selected mine tailings in asphalt mixtures. It critically examines their physicochemical properties and evaluates their influence on key performance characteristics of asphalt pavements. The review further highlights the various applications, benefits, and limitations associated with their use. Despite increasing research interest, the field remains relatively underdeveloped, with limited experimental validation for practical pavement applications. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the sustainable utilisation of mine tailings and identify key research gaps, offering direction for future experimental and field-based investigations in pavement engineering. The study observed that the performance of asphalt mixtures incorporating mine tailings from aluminium, copper and iron by-products is largely dependent on the physicochemical and mineralogical characteristics of these materials. The particle size, specific area and presence of reactive oxides are essential ingredients for improved interaction with the bitumen content of the mixture.
Keywords
asphalt mixture, copper tailings, iron tailings, mine wastes, red mud, sustainability
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
9-1-2026
Article Number
54
E-ISSN
26736489
Volume
6
Issue
3
Publication Title
Mining
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Engineering
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Oguntayo, D., Awolusi, T., Arowolo, S. G., & Adeke, P. T. (2026). Application of tailings from aluminium, copper, and iron extraction as asphalt mixture materials: A review. Mining, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/mining6030054