Quartzite tailings in civil construction materials: a systematic review

The inadequate management of waste from the mining industry can lead to several environmental problems. For instance, the extraction of quartzite, an ornamental stone, generates quartzite waste (or residues or tailings) (QTZ), which is commonly deposited in the environment, causing landscape degradation, contamination by dust, and silting of rivers. To mitigate this scenario and stimulate the circular economy, this literature review focuses on the use of quartzite tailings in construction materials. A systematic search was carried out in the Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, including articles in English and Portuguese published between 2007 and 2022. The results showed that the use of QTZ as aggregate in cement-based composites is viable, as this waste has physical, chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural characteristics similar to conventional natural aggregate. Quartzite waste has been successfully adopted in precast concrete, cladding, and laying mortars, soil–cement bricks, and interlocking pavements. Many works brought the physical and mechanical characterization of the proposed construction materials, with gaps being observed mainly in terms of durability and performance. In conclusion, the use of QTZ in construction materials is a promising alternative, especially in cement-based composites. An important advantage is that this material requires little or no prior processing. However, the reuse of quartzite tailings is still limited, showing that more academic studies, private initiatives, and public policies are required.