LAUSR

Abstract This paper investigates the characteristics of nine different wastes from phosphate extraction mines and their potential applications. These materials are generally extracted and landfilled in dumps as they do not present any added value. Therefore, it is aimed to highlight the potential uses of these materials based on their chemical and mineralogical compositions as well as their thermal behavior. Based on the obtained results, those waste materials turn out to offer a great potential for various industrial applications: traditional ceramics, cement industry, geopolymer, alkali activated materials, and acid mine drainage control. Their high content in carbonates could be exploited to produce light weight ceramic products with good acoustic and thermal insulation. Also, due to the high content of CaO, SiO2 and Al2O3, some samples could be mixed with some additives to serve as clinker raw materials or as supplementary cementitious materials. Additionally, high carbonates content provides high neutralization potential to stabilize acid generating tailings. The valorization of such raw materials will allow to decrease the consumption of natural resources in the construction sector as well as resolving the environmental problems linked to these materials.