The use of natural pozzolans in concrete applications is gaining more attention because of the associated environmental, economic, and technical benefits. In this study, reference cemented mine backfill samples were prepared using Portland cement, and experimental samples were prepared by partially replacing Portland cement with 10 or 20 wt.% fly ash as a byproduct (artificial) pozzolan or pumice as a natural pozzolan. Samples were cured for 7, 14, and 28 days to investigate uniaxial compressive strength development. Backfill samples containing 10 wt.% pumice had almost a similar compressive strength as reference samples. There is strong potential for pumice to be used in cemented backfill to minimize costs, improve backfill properties, and promote the sustainability of the mining industry.

Sea ice is composed of columnar-shaped grains. To investigate the influence of the loading direction on the uniaxial compressive strength and failure processes of sea ice, field experiments were performed with first-year level ice. Loads were applied both horizontally (parallel to the grain columns) and vertically (across the grain columns) with various nominal strain rates. Two failure modes have been observed: a ductile failure mode at low nominal strain rates, and a brittle failure mode at high nominal strain rates. However, the failure pattern of sea ice was clearly dependent on the loading direction. At low nominal strain rates (ductile failure mode), the sea-ice samples yielded due to the development of wing cracks under horizontal loading and due to splaying out at one end under vertical loading. When sea ice fails in the ductile mode, the deformation is driven by grain boundary sliding under horizontal loading and by grain decohesion and crystal deflection under vertical loading. At high nominal strain rates (brittle failure mode), the sea-ice samples failed in shear faulting under horizontal loading and in cross-column buckling under vertical loading. The nominal strain rate at the brittle–ductile transition zone is about ten times higher under vertical loading.