Quartzites from Taquaral Hill at Ouro Preto - in the State of Minas Gerais - have been exploited for construction and ornamental purposes for decades. Until now, the rudimentary way to exploit and refine these weatherized rocks has produced, a large amount of residuals distributed in a broad size distribution range. This work aimed to characterizes the sand and debris from the mining operation, which are deposited downhill. Three samples were studied and it became evident that this debris can be used as sand in the civil construction and foundry industries. Also, after removing the impurities (F2O3, Al2O3 e TiO2) by high intensity magnetic separation and froth flotation, it can be used in the glass industry, which is of social, economical and environmental interest.
Waste technological characterization; quartzite sands
