{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T18:28:13Z","timestamp":1786645693545,"version":"build-2736575974"},"posted":{"date-parts":[[2022]]},"group-title":"SSRN","reference-count":0,"publisher":"Elsevier BV","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>This work aims at mitigating the sampling bottleneck for fine-grained waste streams through a new integrated sampling and laboratory analyses procedure which delineates sampling, sub-sampling and analytical uncertainties. The developed procedure consists of a balanced replicated sampling design (BRSD) coupled with a three split levels ANOVA data processing. The paper provides the readership with the mathematical backgrounds of the three split level ANOVA analysis (3L-ANOVA) and an Excel algorithm for its implementation. Also, the paper presents an example of implementation of the developed methods in the case of an Romanian iron ore tailings (IOT) old pond.The findings of the paper consist of:a) argues, based on OM, SEM-EDS, XRFS and XRD observations, that TOS is ineffective for fine-grained waste deposits;\u00a0b) BRSD in conjunction with 3L-ANOVA analysis is the only approach fit for reliable characterization of the fine-grained stockpiles;\u00a0c) sampling uncertainty is the critical factor of the uncertainty budget of the analyte concentration;d) Lilliefors approach is adequate for the hypothesis testing where or not the measurand is normal distributed;\u00a0e) BRSD&amp;3L-ANOVA delineates sampling, sub-sampling and analytical uncertainties that quantify the distribution heterogeneity of the targeted mineral across the tailings yard.\u00a0f) The outcomes of the BRDSD&amp;3L-ANOVA investigations carried on Teliuc tailings, estimated at circa 5.5* 106 m3, let us consider that this IOT can be upcycled as minerals for cement and ceramic industries as well as for geopolymer manufacture. Also, IOT can be downcycles as filler in road construction and mine closure. Finally, the Teliuc yard can be rehabilitated with zero-waste left behind.\u00a0 The data exactness provided by this procedure can be increased to any desirable level through increasing the number of collected items, but the cost of sampling and analyses increases proportionally. In such circumstances, the posted approach can be tailored at the stakeholder request as to safely underpin the decision to turn fine-grained by-products into valuable secondary resources, facilitating a greater circularity of the mining industry.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.4255042","type":"posted-content","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,22]],"date-time":"2022-10-22T08:40:23Z","timestamp":1666428023000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["A Cost-Effective Approach for Preliminary Screening of the Old Tailings Ponds Aiming Zero-Waste Valorization. A Romanian Case Study"],"prefix":"10.2139","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6066-6280","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Ion","family":"Pencea","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3137-7479","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Ramona  Nicoleta","family":"Turcu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alina  Cristina","family":"Popescu-Arges","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrei  Lucian","family":"Timis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8134-139X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Adrian","family":"Priceputu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Constantin","family":"Ungureanu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8387-2562","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Elena","family":"Matei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liviu","family":"Nedelcu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mircea  Ionut","family":"Petrescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5416-0251","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Florentina","family":"Niculescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"78","container-title":[],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T17:31:52Z","timestamp":1786642312000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ssrn.com\/abstract=4255042"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2139\/ssrn.4255042","relation":{},"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022]]},"subtype":"preprint"}}