• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.425-435
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• 2023

Granite and marble are widely produced and utilized in the construction industry, resulting in significant waste production. It is essential to manage this waste appropriately and repurpose it in recycling processes to ensure sustainability. The utilization of waste materials such as marble and granite waste (MGW) has become increasingly important in geotechnical engineering to improve the physical and mechanical properties of weak soils. This study investigated the applicability of utilizing MGW and cement (C)-MGW mixtures to improve clayey soil. A series of model plate loading tests were carried out in a specialized circular test tank to assess the influence of MGW and C-MGW mixing ratios on clayey soil samples. The samples were prepared by blending MGW and C-MGW in predetermined proportions. It is found that the bearing capacity of clay soil increased by approximately 71% when using MGW and C additives. Moreover, the consolidated settlement values of the clay soil decreased up to 6 times compared to the additive-free case.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.333-344
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• 2022

The quarrying and utilization of natural building stones such as granite and marble are rapidly emerging in developing countries. A huge amount of wastes is being generated during the processing, cutting and sizing of these stones to make them useable. These wastes are disposed of in the open environment and the toxic nature of these wastes negatively affects the environment and human health. The growth trend in the world stone industry was confirmed in output for 2019, increasing more than one percent and reaching a new peak of some 155 million tons, excluding quarry discards. Per-capita stone use rose to 268 square meters per thousand persons (m²/1,000 inh), from 266 the previous year and 177 in 2001. However, we have to take into consideration that the world's gross quarrying production was about 316 million tons (100%) in 2019; about 53% of that amount, however, is regarded as quarrying waste. With regards to the stone processing stage, we have noticed that the world production has reached 91.15 million tons (29%), and consequently this means that 63.35 million tons of stone-processing scraps is produced. Therefore, we can say that, on a global level, if the quantity of material extracted in the quarry is 100%, the total percentage of waste is about 71%. This raises a substantial problem from the environmental, economical and social point of view. There are essentially three ways of dealing with inorganic waste, namely, reuse, recycling, or disposal in landfills. Reuse and recycling are the preferred waste management methods that consider environmental sustainability and the opportunity to generate important economic returns. Although there are many possible applications for stone waste, they can be summarized into three main general applications, namely, fillers for binders, ceramic formulations, and environmental applications. The use of residual sludge for substrate production seems to be highly promising: the substrate can be used for quarry rehabilitation and in the rehabilitation of industrial sites. This new product (artificial soil) could be included in the list of the materials to use in addition to topsoil for civil works, railway embankments roundabouts and stone sludge wastes could be used for the neutralization of acidic soil to increase the yield. Stone waste is also possible to find several examples of studies for the recovery of mineral residues, including the extraction of metallic elements, and mineral components, the production of construction raw materials, power generation, building materials, and gas and water treatment.