This research investigates the feasibility of incorporating mine-overburdened materials into low-volume road construction, particularly in subbase and base layers, through small-scale laboratory testing. Mine overburdened materials, typically considered as waste, have the potential to serve as cost-effective alternatives in road construction. However, these materials often fail to meet the stipulated criteria of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) specifications. The study focuses on enhancing the mechanical properties of the overburdened materials that are obtained to meet the standards. Laboratory experiments, including modified proctor tests and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) testing, were conducted to assess the engineering characteristics of the mine-overburdened materials. The results indicated that, in their natural state, these materials do not conform to MoRTH (2013) standards.
The experimental results reveal a notable improvement in the engineering properties of the mine's overburdened materials when combined with coconut coir geotextiles. The modified proctor tests demonstrate enhanced compaction characteristics, while CBR testing indicates 1.84 times improvement when compared with the unreinforced mine overburdened materials. Using coconut coir geotextile effectively improves the suitability of mine overburden materials for low-volume road construction, promoting sustainable and cost-effective practices.

Mine-overburdened materials; Coconut coir; Low-volume roads; Sustainable Construction