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By Malcolm Mellor

Practical procedures that have been developed for pre-split blasting and smooth blasting in common rocks are reviewed systematically. Topics covered include shothole spacing, charge weight per unit length of shothole, decoupling ratio, adjustments for explosive type and rock type, and weight of explosive per unit face area. Relevant properties of frozen rocks, frozen soils, and ice are compared with those of common unfrozen rocks, and appropriate adjustment of blast design is discussed. Interim relationships for the design of controlled perimeter blasting in frozen soils and massive ice are put forward, recognizing that additional experimentation is required. Special problems in controlled blasting of ice are discussed. These include effects of wet holes, delayed removal of burden, and submerged burden. Special attention is given to the cutting of ice islands and icebergs. An Appendix describes an operation in which the face of an ice wharf at McMurdo Sound was trimmed by pre-split blasting.

Jan 1, 1976

By J R. "Dick" Daniel

One of the more common tasks in blast management is the adjustment of: shot geometry, explosive energy, and shot timing parameters to achieve changes in blast outcomes and costs. Many of these shot parameters, once a delayed blast is initiated, are modified by the development of new free faces which change the original or static input values to dynamic values. These newly generated dynamic values are easily calculated and find use in fine tuning shot adjustments and in rationalizing blast outcomes in a systematic manner.

Jan 1, 1996

By Greg Mclellan, Mark Johnson, John Pepper

In this paper, the measured vibrations are plotted in terms of the individual PPV components versus Scaled Distance (SD) on logarithmic scales. The maximum PPV is pIotted on a separate graph and equations are presented to predict the maximum PPV based on sealed distance and prediction level usmg power fits. The prediction levels include a 99.9% curve, which encompasses the data points and provides an envelope formula for determining the maximum PPV at South Florida sites. The dominant frequency distribution is established for the PPV components.

Jan 1, 2001

By Trevor Garbutt, Peter Bellairs, Jason Sander, Glenn Shaw

The Yarrie Iron Ore mine is located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia some 200km eastsoutheast of Port Hedland, the closest large regional centre. The mine is owned by BHPIO who has contracted a large Australian mining contractor Roche Bros to be responsible for the total mining, crushing and trainloading functions. This paper describes a drill and blast optimisation program, resulting from the introduction of a new emulsion matrix called Titan@ Red used to manufacture both HANFO and pumped emulsion ANFO blends.

Jan 1, 1999

By Zoltan Susanszky

Technical development in blasting requires improvement of industrial explosion techniques in two fields. One is to apply increasingly exact and economical solutions with more effective explosives, the other is to restrict as much as possible the environmental effect of explosions.

Jan 1, 1978

By John A. Franklin, Norbert B. Maerz, D Linn Coursen

Accurate measurement of blast fragmentation is important in mining and quarrying operations, to monitor blasting and optimize blast design. A new digital photoanalytical method to measure the block size is presented here. Photographs of the broken rock are digitized, apparent size distributions measured, and corrections made for overlapping blocks, by means of an empirically derived correction function. The method was tested during recent full-scale blasting tests in Virginia, USA. It shows great potential as a practical aid to predicting, monitoring, and controlling the quality of the fragmented rock.

Jan 1, 1987

By Kevin Dunfield

The Deltadet System is composed of: The Deltadet II electronic Detonator. A Field Terminal to create, modify or simply execute an existing blasting sequence. The radio remote controlled option is composed of a Base Station to program, calibrate and initiate the EDDs plus a Blasting Box to send commands to the Base Station. Blasting lines to connect the EDDs to the Base Station (100m) and Visual Blast software to create or modify a blasting sequence.

Jan 1, 2004

By Duane A. Houkom

Explosive demolition of concrete has been accepted as a safe and economical means of concrete removal for many years. I imagine that the early concrete blasters were experienced rock blasters who applied their knowledge to just another formation. Since a concrete foundation is generally located in a congested area, the owner is willing to accept the higher costs of mechanical removal,rather than promote "a new idea" to his management. This attitude is rapidly changing,making it possible to use the advantages of explosives in more congested locations.

Jan 1, 1982

By J R. "Dick" Daniel

One of the more common tasks in blast management is the adjustment of: shot geometry, explosive energy, and shot timing parameters to achieve changes in blast outcomes and costs. Many of these shot parameters, once a delayed blast is initiated, are modified by the development of new free faces which change the original or static input values to dynamic values. These newly generated dynamic values are easily calculated and find use in fine tuning shot adjustments and in rationalizing blast outcomes in a systematic manner.

Jan 1, 1996

By W. Reisz

The fear of heights is a natural defense against performing a dangerous and unnatural act such as standing on the edge of a hundred foot wall. Yet through familiarity, a casual attitude often exists. Those of us, who work near highwalls on a daily basis, may become overly comfortable in our surroundings, losing sight of the disaster which may often rest a single misstep away. And this is where the hidden dangers lie.

Jan 1, 2009

By Mark S. Stagg, Rolfe E. Otterness, Stephen Rholl

The Bureau of Mines is engaged in research to develop and test high explosive fracturing and rubblization techniques that will enhance ore body permeability and thus increase recovery during in situ mining. The natural permeability of many ore bodies is too low to allow successful in-place leaching. These deposits could be profitably mined if flow rates of leach solutions could be increased. Blasting represents a potentially low-cost and effective permeability enhancement technique.

Jan 1, 1991

By Charles H. Dowding

This paper describes NUVIB, analytical software to digitize, analyze, display, and plot time histories generated by blasting and construction vibrations. It is available in conjunction with a new book on Construction Vibrations (Dowding, 1996) through internet procedures described at the end of the chapter on analytical software These internet based procedures eliminate the need for inclusion of disks in the book and take advantage of the growing electronic communications network. Perhaps more importantly this procedure allows the software to be updated more often than the book is reprinted.

Jan 1, 1997

By Daniel Roy, Chris J. Preston, Ron J. Elliott

This paper discusses the use of pressure transducers in water filled boreholes in conjunction with surface mounted geophones to gather field data for in-situ dynamic rock properties determinations. A high speed collector is used to capture the data in the field. The calculated P and S wave velocities and rock density measurements are used as input into the Blastcalc program where the values of Young`s Modulus and Poissons Ratio are calculated. The rock properties information is used along with geological structural data and explosives properties in a 3-D blast modelling program to calculate predicted fragmentation distribution and other blast performance criteria based on the proposed blast design.

Jan 1, 1996

By T Davids, O J. Jordaan, M D. J Bonneau

As in most other parts of the world, the surface coal mining industry in South Africa is introducing emulsion explosives as the primary bulk blasting agent for use in wet borehole conditions where AN/FO cannot be used. Most of the emulsion products presently in use are gassed to provide sensitivity. The intimate mix between the fuel and oxidizer in the emulsion has been shown to produce a highly efficient explosive. However, a major difference between emulsion and the previous slurry products is its relatively low physical strength. This prompted Rand Mines' Duvha Opencast Mine, a major South African Escom power colliery, to conduct test work to illustrate the effect of emulsion physical consistency on blasthole loading. This paper presents the results of test work conducted at Duvha to investigate the problems associated with loading both AN/FO and emulsion in water filled holes, stemming emulsion holes, and in particular, to illustrate the difficulty in correctly introducing a stemming deck into the emulsion column. Time dependent behavior of the loaded emulsion holes is investigated. Velocity of detonation measurements for freshly manufactured emulsion, and for emulsion after loading through water with sleep times of up to 10 days, are presented.

Jan 1, 1987

By Richard L. Ash, Calvin J. Konya

Proper selection of the spacing distance between blastholes is fundamental to successful blasting. Its value directly affects the profitability of an operation. It also exercises control over adverse effects such as airblast, flyrock, generation of ground vibrations, and overbreak. One of the more significant factors influencing the spacing's specific value is the initiation firing time intervals used between blastholes. Examples are described to illustrate some of the problems that result when spacing and timing are not compatible.

Jan 1, 1979

By Braden Lusk, Kyle Perry

Recent events and MSHA actions have resulted in discussion and reevaluation of the practice of sealing abandoned coal mine workings. In the past, MSHA has approved alternative seals based on a pass/fail system that required minimal engineering. Disasters involving fatalities led MSHA to impose higher seal pressure requirements based on research and experiments. Impending new MSHA seal regulations will force manufacturers and industry to obtain a high level of engineering expertise. The expertise necessary is in the field of blast resistant design, which is not easily accessible due to the limited number of experienced individuals within the mining industry.

Jan 1, 2008

By Larry R. Fletcher, John W. Kopp

The safety record for explosives in U. S. mining is excellent considering that over 4 billion pounds of explosives are now being used each year. However, blasting accidents remain one of the most serious concerns based on the number of injuries, the injury severity rate and the disaster potential. The Bureau of Mines has been analyzing blasting accident data obtained from the Mine Health and Safety Administration (MSHA) to determine the most frequent causes of mine blasting accidents and to examine trends in blasting accidents. This accident analysis is an update of two previous blasting accident studies conducted by the Bureau and published in 1983 and 1987.

Jan 1, 1991

By Dale Ramsey

Located in the Chestnut Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Casparis mine named for the founder Kenneth Casparis operated from 1916 until the early 1950. producing crushed stone for construction and railroad ballast. The rock was transported by aerial buckets to a railroad tipple nearly 1000’ (304.80 meters) below the mine. The mine property is now owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and is located in the Loyalhanna limestone seam with 4 primary entries that are approximately 40’ (12.19 meters) high by 30’ (9.14 meters) wide and extend over 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) into the mountain.

Jan 1, 2006

By B. K. Rath

The Industrialization of a country depends on its mining activities to a great extent. In mineral production, India has a top rank not only in South Asia, at the global level too. Quantum of mineral production is almost directly proportional to the quantum of explosive production. Mining sector consume more than 80% of country’s explosive production. Due to rapid growth of mining activities in the country, the explosives industry has been developing very fast in terms of quantity, quality and types. , In this paper, India’s post independent chronological date regarding use of explosives, their types, their constraints and a profile of well-known manufacturers has been meticulously presented. A production figure for three years with system analysis has been presented. The paper also deals with present consumption pattern while making a futuristic forecast. In view of the anticipated changes that are to take place in mining industries in near future, the manufacturers of explosives have to pay a vital role. The paper highlights some concrete and valuable suggestions and recommendations. Small scale Companies have to limit their production to Slurry and Emulsion types of Cartridged explosives whereas the large manufacturing units have to concentrate on Bulk explosives, specialized explosives and better initiating systems. The large manufacturing units have also to make all concerted efforts to compete with global market for significant export. The Country for its rapid growth needs basic raw materials like Coal, Iron Ore and Limestone. So, the extraction of these minerals is of prime importance. The more we produce and consume, the more will be Industrialization. The Industrial growth rate has been around 6% during the last few years. As the Industrial growth rate is moderate, there is moderate increase in mineral extraction in the Country. Additional mineral extraction demands additional explosive production (Annexure-1).

Jan 1, 2000

By Ronald L. Sanders

The prevailing view of the coal mining industry by government officials is: "Tell everyone you're coming - Don't let anyone know you're there - And remove all evidence you have ever been there". Now the irony is that the government inspectors are just enforcing the law. The coal mine operators seem more interested in genuine reclamation than the inspectors.

Jan 1, 1979