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By Tristan Worsey

This work was performed during the summer of 2008 during the junior year of a BS in Mining Engineering. It was observed that the mine was having a problem with back break during the blasting of development drifts. The unwanted back break was causing the mine extra costs in ventilation, ore dilution, ground support, back fill, explosives and man-hours. The blasting practices were observed for four weeks and the problems and their solutions were defined. In this paper the reasons and causes of the problem are explained with the proposed solutions to eliminate back break.

Jan 1, 2010

By Tristan Worsey, John Henchion, Nathan Rouse, Yannick Lauras

"This paper presents an approach used to plan and evaluate drill and blast trials for a mine that currently mechanically excavates in-situ rock. The document presents the approach used to plan the trials, the key performance indicators (KPIs) that were necessary to evaluate the mining methods, the test matrix used during the trials, and the results of the trials. The trials, which occurred as part of an overall drill to mill optimization project at this site, helped to evaluate various blast designs using fragmentation results,drilling and blasting costs, and downstream costs. This project was unique in that (1) drill and blast methods were trialed on multiple rock types and various bench heights using a range of blasthole diameters and powder factors and (2) the load and haul costs were evaluated using a range of loading equipment, from 66 tonne (73 ton) excavators up to 250 tonne (276 ton) excavators. A ten year net cost financial evaluation of the material extraction alternatives was also prepared for the site management. Ultimately, the process of evaluating the drill and blast trials helped the management decide whether to continue extracting using mechanical methods or to introduce drill and blast methods to extract the rock."

Jan 1, 2017

By Jonathan D. Aubertin

The unique nature of rock salt blasting is compared to traditional hard rock practices. Rock salt geomechanical nature is discussed in the context of rock blasting events. A cratering mechanism prevalent in soft rocks is presented and exemplified through a series of single hole blast tests performed in salt deposits.

Feb 1, 2020

By Robert Hopler

RBH Note: At the time of this price list the handwriting was already on the wall regarding the ultimate breakup of the company under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The brand names Atlas and Hercules, noted on page 3 of this pricelist, would become the names of the new companies created from du Pont.

Jan 1, 2012

By Klaus G. Hinzen

Seismic observations offer the only possibility for remote sensing of physical processes like shock-front spreading, material crushing and ground movement. A better understanding of these processes will help to increase the economy of blasting. We developed a digital seismic monitoring system for research purposes. The system can simultaneously record up to 64 channels with a maximum sampling rate of 31 kHz per channel. A software package for rigorous analysis of blast induced seismic waves has been developed.

Jan 1, 1989

By Robert Hopler

Torpedoing Wells. – On the completion of the drilling, or when the production is found to decrease, it is usual to “torpedo” the well to increase the flow. This process was patented in 1862 by Colonel Roberts, who believed, with many others, that the oil was contained in crevices in the rock, which might not have been tapped by the bore-hole. He therefore proposed the use of nitroglycerine, gunpowder, or other explosive, to break up the rock at the bottom of the well, so that these rich “pockets” might be brought into communication with the well.

Jan 1, 2007

By Bilegt Batbold, Bayu Saputra, Chris Batten

The ability to fire multiple blasts simultaneously can provide significant benefits to any open pit mining operation. Reduced blast-related downtime by reducing blast events can increase equipment utilization and maximize material movement. Significant sequencing benefits can also be delivered, associated with reduced equipment relocation. This paper describes the work completed in partnership between Orica and Oyu Tolgoi to successfully demonstrate that combined production-trim and midsplit blasting could be implemented successfully while successfully managing the risk of increased damage to the final walls. The paper details the methodology used to assess key performance measures linked to final wall damage and compares the performance between the following blasting methods. • Free face trim blasting vs. combined production-trim blasting • Presplit blasting vs. midsplit blasting. The results of the initial trial blasts are presented, along with the method agreed by the key site stakeholders for ongoing application. The method used to keep the risk of final wall damage to an acceptable level is explained, along with the benefits delivered to Oyu Tolgoi operations associated with the initial 12 months of application.

Jan 21, 2025

By M Sampara, W Comeau

The introduction of large-diameter holes to underground mining has made possible the development of new mining methods such as the Vertical Crater Retreat (V.C.R.) method. It is not only the safest underground excavation system but also provides mass production at a lower cost than any conventional mining method (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

Jan 1, 1981

By Nicholas Matthews, Vilem Petr

This project will report findings on the establishment of a new surface test site at the Colorado School of Mines Edgar Mine. Concerns over the blast effects on site neighbors prompted the study to be conducted. The current maximum charge weight of 20-lb was studied to ensure that all environmental effects were within the range prescribed by state and federal regulations. Geophone locations were surveyed using GPS and monitored using Instantel Minimate Plus instruments. Distances and orientation of measurement sites to the test site were varied according to the local geography and geology. Weather conditions were also observed and recorded during all tests. Neighbor complaints were recorded and taken into account during analysis. Current results show that the current charge limit results in a safety factor of over 200 for all blasting activities at the site. Data collection is ongoing and a review is to be conducted annually. These results will be presented in the future. Results are presented and discussed in the following paper. Copyright

Jan 1, 2010

By Dale S. Preece, Ruilin Yang

"Air-decking has been used frequently in blasting for many decades. It has been asserted that an air-deckcan alleviate excessive shock pressure from the detonation of a charge thereby producing better energy distribution in a blast overburden, for example. Research on air-decking has been active and various theories have been postulated that mostly support the effectiveness of air-decking for improved blast efficiency."

Jan 1, 2017

By Tassilo Baur

In the motion picture/television industry and to some extent in the entertainment industries in general, there is often a need to use energetic materials to create special effects as part of a production which travels, generally by truck. This can in certain instances create unique compliance challenges given that a production may change its filming location daily or even more often

Jan 1, 2009

By Bruce R. Leland, Steven H. Smith, John D. Paulson

The USDA - Wildlife Services has been removing beaver dams with explosives for over 30 years. This paper will discuss the history of the explosives program, summarize how we've evolved, and highlight our work removing beaver dams in unique locations.

Feb 1, 2020

By Ran Tamir

"This document introduces the use of drone generated aerial photography to collect and analyze fragmentation data for both muck piles and post crusher stockpiles in order to support the continuousimprovement process. In tandem with photo analyses software, drone imaging gives mines and aggregate sites a fast, accurate and economical method of benchmarking and optimizing the process of size reduction to spec."

Jan 1, 2017

By Douglas R. Simms

O & G Industries, Inc. owns and operates a number of rock quarries within the State of Connecticut. These rock quarries are surrounded by residences and commercial neighbors who have concerns related to blasting. In addition, local commissions which issue the mining permits to O & G are required to hold public hearings, prior to issuing the annual permits each year.

Jan 1, 1994

By Dale Preece, Mike Stern, Steve Piercey, Ayman Tawadrous, GC Zhao

The McArthur River uranium mine in Saskatchewan, Canada is the world’s largest high-grade uranium mine. It has employed a freeze-wall system consisting of multiple freeze pipes to control the large quantities of water encountered during mining.

Jan 1, 2011

By Robert Hopler

SECTION 9.---BORING AND BLASTING.*155. Blasting is the operation of bringing down and detaching from its bed or position masses of material by means of explosives.

Jan 1, 2011

By Andrew Theobald, Peter Dare-Bryan, Trevor Byers

The use of advanced modelling techniques and the timing flexibility of electronic initiation systems allows for unprecedented control over blast outcomes as shown in several complex blasting problems experienced by the open pit operation Xstrata Ernest Henry Mine (EHM) in north-west Queensland, Australia.

Jan 1, 2010

By S. S. Bud Jenkins

I went to an underground limestone mine recently to demonstrate the use of borehole liners. The liners were for horizontal holes in a normal “V” cut tunnel round. I hadn’t been in this mine for about 40 years. What a change. Way back they used cap and fuse and lit each fuse individually with a blowtorch. The face was about 40 feet wide and 14 to 16 feet high. They used ladders to get to the upper holes. The rounds were mostly slab rounds. I never saw this happen but had heard several times that the first holes were going off before the last holes were lit. I guess if this was true the use of slab rounds was a plus for safety. As far as I know they never had an accident but it was a scary procedure. There were a lot of scary procedures in the past and thankfully things have changed.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. Schoonover, A. Moore

In the explosives industry, individuals face a multitude of hazards while working in mines, quarries, and construction sites. Safety becomes an ever-present driver as companies attempt to control costs, promote quality service and products, and grow business all while ensuring employees return home safely every day. One of the most challenging hazards that threatens the goal of absolute safety is flyrock. Ensuring that a blast does not result in rock leaving the blast area, thereby creating a danger for personnel in the vicinity, can be complicated due to the multitude of factors. Shot design, geology, operational procedures/techniques, explosive products, security plans, communication methods, and drilling practices can all adversely affect the safety of individuals helping execute a blast through an increased risk of flyrock. Flyrock can also pose a major threat to the public and other non-blasting personnel in proximity. Like many other industries encountering various challenging hazards, the explosives industry has recently adopted innovative technologies to help mitigate the risk of complex hazards such as flyrock. Specific applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, employed in the explosives industry can help reduce the likelihood and severity of a flyrock incident. This paper explores a case study and theories of how the integration of drone technology within blast security plans, mine planning, blast design, design auditing, and blast area clearance procedures can help to decrease the risk of a flyrock event through the provision of data and information previously unavailable. Multiple opportunities exist during a blasting operation to gather data using drone technology. It is these data-gathering opportunities that can be leveraged to be maximally equipped for the mitigation of flyrock. Better data from drones can be sourced and used in security plans and clearance measures as well as utilized during mine planning and blast design. Increases in the quality and quantity of information during these crucial steps of blasting has proven to be an effective way to increase the peace of mind for explosive end users. This peace of mind, along with design flexibility and adherence to performance, is why the integration and utilization of drone technology is key for effective flyrock risk reduction

Jan 1, 2024

By Zhang Shixun, Wang Xuguang, Zhong Yinting

The Mongol-Russian Joint Mining and Processing Cu-Mo Corporation Erdenet signed a contract with BGRIMM for building a plant to produce 10,000 t/y multitype emulsion explosives by using BGRIMM emulsion explosives manufacturing technology. In order to ensure the realization this contract, we have done a series of studies on the design of technological process and the selection, layout of the production equipment, and made a success.

Jan 1, 1997