Sains Malaysiana 41(3)(2012): 303–312

Influence of Amang (Tin Tailing) on Geotechnical Properties of Clay Soil

(Pengaruh Amang Timah Terhadap Sifat Geoteknik Tanih Lempung)

A.R. Zulfahmi*, W.Y. Wan Zuhairi, M.T. Raihan, A.R. Sahibin, I. Wan Mohd Razi,

L. Tukimat, Z. Siti Nur Syakireen & A. Noorulakma

School Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600 Selangor D.E. Malaysia

Received: 28 October 2010 / Accepted: 24 August 2011

ABSTRACT

Amang or tin tailing is commonly found in the vicinity of disused mining area and responsible in downgrading the water quality, landscape and mechanical behaviour of soils. It was generated from extraction process of separating valuable metal from particular ore. This paper presents the geotechnical characteristics of amang-contaminated clay soil. The geotechnical properties of uncontaminated soils were studied in order to compare to that of amangcontaminated soils. The base soil used in this study represents completely weathered horizon of metasedimentary rock. Meanwhile, tin tailing sample was taken from the disused mine at Sungai Lembing, Pahang. The geotechnical characterisations of base soil and contaminated soils were determined based on consistency index, compaction behaviour, hydraulic conductivity and undrained shear strength (UU tests). Contaminated soil samples were prepared by adding 5, 10 and 20% of tailing, based on dry weigh of the studied base soil. The results from the particle size distribution analysis showed that residual soil from metasedimentary rock comprised 42.6% clay, 32.2% silt and25.2% sand whilst tailing was dominated by 98% of sand fraction. XRD analysis indicated the presence of quartz, kaolinite and muscovite minerals in the studied soil. The specific gravity of soil used is 2.67 and the pH is 3.88. Tailing found to have higher specific gravity of 3.37. The consistency index of contaminated soils showed that liquid limit, wL and plastic limit, wP decreased with the increase in the percentage of tailing added to the soil samples. The value of maximum dry density, ρ dry max increased while optimum moisture content decreased due to the increase in tailing content in soil sample. The permeability of contaminated soil also increased with the increase in tailing contents ranged from 19.8 cm/hr to 23.8 cm/hr. The undrained shear strength, Cu, of contaminated soil decreased from 646 kPa (5% of tailing) to 312 kPa (20% of tailing) suggesting that the presence of tailing has influenced the geotechnical properties on the studied soil.

Keywords: Amang (tin tailing); compaction; geotechnical characterisation; residual soil; shear strength

ABSTRAK

Amang atau tahi lombong biasa ditemui di sekitar kawasan lombong terbiar dan bertanggungjawab dalam menurunkan kualiti air, lanskap dan sifat mekanik tanih. Ia terhasil daripada proses pengekstrakan bagi memisahkan logam bernilai daripada sesuatu bijin. Kertas ini membentangkan sifat-sifat geoteknik tanih lempung tercemar amang. Ciri-ciri geoteknik tanih tidak tercemar telah dikaji bagi membandingkan dengan tanih-tanih tercemar amang. Tanih asas yang digunakan dalam kajian ini mewakili bahagian tanih yang terluluhawa sepenuhnya bagi batuan metasedimen. Sementara itu, sampel amang telah diambil dari kawasan bekas lombong di Sungai Lembing, Pahang. Pencirian geoteknik tanih asas dan tanih tercemar ditentukan berdasarkan indeks ketekalan, kelakuan pemadatan, keberkonduksian hidraulik dan kekuatan ricih tak bersalir (ujian UU). Sampel-sampel tanih tercemar telah disediakan dengan menambahkan 5, 10 dan 20% amang berdasarkan berat kering tanih asas yang dikaji. Keputusan daripada analisis taburan saiz partikel menunjukkan tanih baki daripada batuan metasedimen terdiri daripada 42.6% lempung, 32.2% lodak dan 25.2% pasir manakala amang didominasi oleh 98% pasir. Analisis XRD menunjukkan kehadiran kuarza, mineral kaolinit dan muskovit dalam tanih yang dikaji. Graviti spesifik tanih yang digunakan adalah 2.67 dengan pH 3.88. Amang mempunyai graviti spesifik yang lebih tinggi iaitu 3.37. Indeks kekonsistenan tanih tercemar menunjukkan had cecair, wL dan had plastik, wP berkurangan dengan peningkatan dalam peratusan penambahan amang kepada sampel tanih. Nilai maksimum ketumpatan kering ρ dry max telah meningkat manakala kandungan lembapan optimum menyusut akibat daripada peningkatan dalam kandungan amang dalam sampel tanih. Ketelapan tanih tercemar juga bertambah dengan peningkatan dalam kandungan amang berjulat daripada 19.8 cm/j hingga 23.8 cm/j. Kekuatan ricih tak bersalir, Cu tanih tercemar berkurangan daripada 646 kPa (5% amang) hingga 312 kPa (20% amang) mencadangkan bahawa kehadiran amang mempengaruhi sifat-sifat geoteknik tanih yang dikaji.

Kata kunci: Amang (tahi lombong); pencirian geoteknik; pemadatan; kekuatan ricih; tanih baki

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*Corresponding author; email: zarah1970@ukm.my