Production of cement-tailings bricks with artisanal gold mining waste

Artisanal gold mining (AGM) in Suriname accounts for nearly half of the country's total gold exports but also leads to environmental issues, including landscape degradation and potential contamination from unmanaged mining waste. This study evaluates the feasibility of producing cement-tailings bricks using mining tailings from an AGM site in the Pamaka region as a sustainable construction material. The analyses included gold and mercury assessments, with concentrations of 0.03–0.10 mg/kg for mercury and 0.01–0.09 mg/kg for gold, indicating economic and environmental safety for reuse. Various mixture ratios of tailings with Ordinary Portland Cement were tested, resulting in bricks that meet international standards for non-loadbearing masonry units, with compressive strengths between 5.02 ± 3.76 and 13.3 ± 2.55 MPa and water absorption rates averaging 9.36 ± 11.2 %. This approach provides a dual benefit: reducing environmental degradation by repurposing waste and lowering construction material costs in remote areas. The initiative promotes a circular economy, supporting rural development and offering new income opportunities for local communities. • Cement-tailings bricks were produced using artisanal gold mining (AGM) waste. • Total mercury in samples was within safe environmental limits (0.03–0.10 mg/kg). • Waste samples presented no economically recoverable gold grades (0.01–0.09 mg/kg). • Produced bricks met international standards for non-loadbearing masonry units. • Reuse of AGM waste materials in remote areas may support a circular economy.