Mine backfill is a well-established and proven practice within the underground mining industry. The wide application of backfill technology in mining engineering helps to convert resource into reserve, reduce ore dilution, and improve underground working conditions.

Due to the complex structures and various properties of backfill aggregates, binders, and backfill slurries, and the complexity of mechanical testing methods and the optimisation and design of backfill recipes, there is a need to better understand and investigate the fundamental issues of mine backfill. Backfill masses in mine stopes usually have potential stratification and segregation under high hydrostatic pressure and variable physical and chemical conditions. Therefore, an improved evaluation of the properties of backfill masses is of great importance, including the evolution characteristics from backfill slurry to solid state, the stress and strength characteristics of backfill, and the interactions between backfill and rock masses.

This Special Issue will collect high quality original research articles and review papers reflecting advances in research into mine backfill world-wide, including mechanical behaviours, parameter optimisation, and alternative backfill materials. These articles can be based on theoretical analysis, numerical modelling, laboratory experiments, and field applications in mines.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Aggregate characterisation for mine backfill
• Cementitious materials and alternative binders for mine backfill
• Tailing performance in the process of thickening and filtration
• Rheological properties of mine backfill slurry
• Strength characteristics and testing methods of mine backfill
• Stress distribution and evaluation of backfill in mine stopes
• Strength requirement calculations and design for mine backfill
• Recipe optimisation for mine backfill
• Consolidation and liquefaction of backfill masses
• Other mechanical problems of backfill in mining engineering