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SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF UNDERUTILIZED QUARRY MATERIALS

Abstract

Pond screenings, a by-product of aggregate production, represent a large amount of underutilized material with potential for sustainable cement mortar applications. This study aims to evaluate pond screenings as supplementary cementitious materials. These quarry fines were collected from various quarries across Georgia with different mineralogical and geological backgrounds. To characterize these materials, the Aggregate Image Measurement System (AIMS) was used to assess angularity and surface texture, while X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses determined their mineralogical and chemical compositions. Initial characterization indicates that pond screenings have a chemical composition similar to that of Class F fly ash, suggesting their potential as a pozzolanic material. To test pond screenings as pozzolanic materials, Portland Cement mortar cubes were prepared with mixtures containing varying percentages of pond screenings and Class F fly ash (5%, 10%, and 15%) as partial cement replacements. Unconfined compressive strength tests were performed on these cubes to evaluate the effects of replacing cement with pond screenings and to determine whether this material exhibits a similar pozzolanic reaction to Class F fly ash. Additionally, this study examines how the mineralogical and geological backgrounds of the different pond screening materials influence the compressive strength of these cement mortar cubes. The goal is to characterize pond screenings from various quarries across Georgia and compare their properties with those of Class F fly ash when used as partial cement replacements in mortar applications. Ultimately, this research could lead to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and locally sourced supplementary cementitious material suitable for future cement mortar production.

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