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By Ron Woolf, Corry Goumans

With increasing traffic volumes experienced thro u g hout North America, a common goal for Highway officials is to keep traffic flowing as much as possible and to keep disruptions to the flow to a minimum. Our experience throughout the US and Canada has shown that all Departments of Transportation are under extreme pressure from the private sector to keep highways open for various reasons, convenience and revenue being the most common. For example, on Highway 99, from Vancouver, BC to the Whistler resort area, local merchants, homeowners and ski hill operators exert extreme pressure on the Ministry of Transportation to keep the highway open, and in Pennsylvania, the Turnpike Commission requires traffic to flow on a continual basis. Loss of revenue in these two cases is the main impetus to keep the traffic moving.

Jan 1, 2003

By Joel Chipana, Roberto Laredo, Benjamin Cebrian

Ring blasting is a common production method in underground metal mines. As a drill and blast process, it presents particular features that do not correspond with bench blasting in open pit or underground mining.

Jan 1, 2017

By Martti Hagfors, Mervi Hokkanen

The Finnish Defence Forces has destroyed obsolete and spoiled ammunition in open surface mass detonations at Hukkakero fell, in municipality of Kittilä, in Lapland since 1988. The de-struction method was learned from Sweden in 1987. The disposal camp is organized every au-tumn and it lasts four to six weeks. A gross weight of an average charge varies from 150 to 250 tons and the net weight of explosives from 15 to 25 tons. As a booster there have been used 2 to 3 tons of emulsion explosives. The explosives mainly consist of trinitrotoluene (TNT) containing smaller a mounts of amatol and hexotol. The Finnish Defence Forces Tech-nical Research Centre (PVTT) has studied the environmental effects of these mass detona-tions since they began in 1988.

Jan 1, 2011

By J Lyall Workman, Peter N. Calder

Large hole rotary drilling is one of the most common methods of producing blastholes in open pit mining. Large hole drilling generally refers to diameters from 9 to 17 inch (229 to 432 mm), however a considerable amount of rotary drilling is done in diameters from 6½ to 9 inch (165 to 229 mm). These smaller diameters are especially prevalent in gold mining and quarrying.

Jan 1, 1996

By Enrique Munaretti, Cathy Aimone-Martin, Vitor Rosenhaim, Jair Koppe

Production blasts at one of Copelmi’s coal mine operations will be carried out 100 m (330 ft) from a neighborhood located in the town of Butiá, southern Brazil. Mine management is concerned about the possibility of damages and complaints due to blasting operations at close distances to structures of substandard construction. Blasting in the area is characterized by the use of very low powder factor resulting in confined shots in which movement is restricted to a point of almost undershooting the rock. Over the past year, tests were conducted mainly in the overburden area to determine the best approach to be implemented when blasts move closer to the town. Mine management wants vibration levels to be reduced lower than the damage limits proposed by Brazilian regulations to ensure a safety margin and mitigate perception by the community hoping to reduce the number of complaints.

Jan 1, 2013

By Enver Alan

This Research & Development (R&D) study was conducted in the field of applied blasting engineering in Ethiopia, within the AKH Railway Project, which was built in Girena, within the boundaries of the province of Mersa, in the Basalt Quarry at km 346, Ashangi Formation, occured in Eocene geological time in the aphanitic trachibasalt.

Feb 1, 2020

By Lon Santis, Bill Evans, John Tatom

Debris data from the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board’s Project ESKIMORE full-scale explosives event test program are compared to quantity-distance (Q/D) standards and quantitative risk analysis (QRA) methods. The ESKIMORE test program involved quantities of explosives ranging from 1,000 to 60,000 pounds detonated in typically sized structures made of metal and concrete. Debris from these events was extensively surveyed and catalogued. The debris patterns from these events show varying degrees of directionality normal to the walls of the structures. These density patterns are overlaid an existing explosives storage site that is comparable to the test conditions. Analysis of the debris patterns in relation to Q/D standards shows that exposures located beyond the Q/D arc but along the normal to walls of potential explosion sites (PES) may have much higher debris density than exposures at the same distance on the corners of the same PES. Analysis of the debris patterns shows that predicted patterns using the QRA tool IMESAFR v2.0 closely match actual patterns. Additionally, IMESAFR based QRA methods are able to quantify the different risk levels of being exposed along the wall’s normal as compared to being exposed on the structure’s corner. Methods and decision making criteria to mitigate risk based on the directionality of PES debris are presented. Copyright ©

Jan 1, 2015

By Harry Verakis, Thomas Lobb

Blasting accident data over a 30-year period (1980-2010) are summarized and presented for all types of surface and underground mining operations in the USA. The historical record of injuries from blasting accidents in all types of mines continues to show a significant decline. The overall decline in mine blasting injuries in the U.S.A. has resulted from advancements in blasting technology, training and improvements in blasting products and blasting processes. Some of the technology advancements such as safer blasting agents and computerized bulk vehicle loading, electronic detonators and remote operated blasting systems, and computerized blast design have and continue to significantly contribute to improvements in the historical blasting safety record. Also, the progress of significantly improving the safety of mine blasting has resulted from the combined efforts of miners, mine companies and operators, miners, unions, explosive and blasting product manufacturers, associations such as the International Society of Explosives Engineers and the Institute of Makers of Explosives and various government agencies.

Jan 1, 2012

By Khiva Haidar Shauma Tassno, Zulham Ahmad, Farhan Harist Maharesi, Abdullah Badawi Batubara

Blasting operations can use a bulk emulsion explosive (EE) with a formulation based on used oil as a replacement for refined fuel oil. The most commonly employed used oil for making EE is a mineral based used engine oil that passes an impurity content standard. It is known that not all types of used oil are easily incorporated into EE formulations. Impurities in used oil can disturb EE stability resulting in crystallization and phase separation and consequently led to poor detonation quality. In 2024, a poor blast result occurred at an Indonesian mine due to utilization of used oil that was not within specification. A research project conducted from February to April 2025 found that used transmission oil differs from used engine oil in hydrocarbon composition. Transmission oil contains more additives that affect EE stability due to polarity differences and the disruption of colloidal state stability. Lab tests including stress testing and crystal growth observation aided the development of a stable EE formulation based on used oil and used transmission oil. In mid-April 2025, blast evaluations were conducted using the EE that was formulated using used engine oil and used transmission oil. Measurements of velocity of detonation, fragmentation, and digging time, demonstrated high quality EE was produced. Application of used oil in EE revolutionized the capability of mining operations to improve blast sustainability and cleanliness. Through comprehensive research, robust testing, and effective supply chain management, it is possible to replace some portion of refined fuel oil with used oil without compromising blasting performance. The inclusion of used transmission oil broadens the overall used oil specification and increases the volume of recycled used oil available for blasting. The increased volume of used oil available can reduce the amount of waste generated by mining projects while maintaining operational efficiency.

Jan 26, 2026

By Weiying Zeng, Shouwei Wang, Jinbei Zhong, Xiangdong Meng, Lingtian Meng

"Due to a drainage problem, the Lanzhou to Chongqing high-speed rail line had been out of service during the 2015 wet season, so a drainage tunnel is to be constructed for the line and required to be accomplished before the 2016 wet season. This drainage tunnel is only 5 meters below the line which is in service, therefore blasting vibration needs to be strictly controlled. This paper introduces all theapplied blasting methods, parameters and detonation throughout the entire project, finally bringing in the electronic detonator stagger phase technique and corresponding time difference for detonation."

Jan 1, 2017

By Agung Wibowo

The incident of Ammonium Nitrate explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020, became a wake-up call to Ammonium Nitrate stakeholders for mining and construction regarding the deadly risks associated with explosives management. This is a very expensive a lesson learned for all parties involved in the storage of explosives.

Feb 1, 2020

By Catherine Johnson, Kelly Williams

Advances in high-speed video imaging make it possible to see the refraction of light due to the high-density gradient at the shock front without the need for parabolic mirrors or additional light sources necessary for Schlieren or shadowgraph imaging. The average shock front velocity between two points can be calculated by dividing the change in position by the elapsed time between the images. Using the Rankine-Hugoniot relationship demonstrated by Swisdak the peak overpressure of the shock wave can be calculated from its velocity eliminating the interference of the gage and mount

Feb 1, 2020

By Gustavo Huerta Valer, Jorge Cárdenas Miranda, Johan Salas Flores

One of the challenges of mining is the optimization of the blasting process, which has an important impact downstream in the processing of crushed ore in the plant, that is why mining companies ensure the results of granulometry obtained from the blasting process through a joint work with companies specialized in the process of loading with explosives.

Feb 6, 2023

By S. Hosein, W. Birch, C. Johnson

The widespread adoption of electronic detonators has given rise to the development of linear superposition to control the environmental impact on both third-party properties and residents resulting from blast induced vibrations. Linear superposition has become a very effective tool in the hands of blasting engineers and has enabled aggregate reserves to be accessed that once had to be abandoned. This in turn has resulted in more and more complex blasting pattern to be developed that contain multiple rows and multiple decks all with different maximum instantaneous charge weights of explosives. This is then made more complex by having to consider multiple sensitive locations often with different Peak Particle Velocity vibration limits. This paper is a case study of what did happen when a blast was designed that “pushed the boundaries” of environmental blast vibration design and control, without taking fully into account the fundamental geophysical properties of seismic waves. The resulting blast design caused a greatly enhanced s-wave to be created in a critical direction from the blast pattern. The root cause being the s-waves from earlier detonating decks in the blast pattern arriving within 2 milliseconds of decks detonating later in the blast pattern. 209 individual decks were fired in the blast pattern of which 41 pairs of decks arrived at the observation location less than 2 milliseconds apart when taking into account the s-wave speed and direction. The lesson to be learned when using electronic detonators to limit ground vibrations from complex blasting patterns, is that it is just not good enough to look at the planned firing times, a professional blasting engineer must also understand the likely interaction of the various seismic wave types created and their combined impact on any given monitoring location.

Jan 1, 2024

By Joshua Calnan, Braden Lusk, Kyle Perry

This paper presents detailed information and data regarding the load transfer characteristics of Blast Resistant Glazing Systems utilizing two different thicknesses of polycarbonate. A series of triaxial load cells, along with surrogates of identical stiffness characteristics, were placed around the glazing perimeter to directly measure the load transferred to the support system from explosions of varying degrees. The blast loads were developed using an explosive driven shock tube administered by the University of Kentucky Explosives Research Team (UKERT) in Georgetown, KY. Results presented include distribution of loading, maximum load transferred to connections, blast pressure-time data, glazing system deflection-time data, and final performance results of each system. The two glazing systems respond differently to the applied blast loading. Differences and similarities in the load transfer characteristics are discussed. The experimental results are then compared to a commonly used blast resistant glazing system analysis software tool utilizing a Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) method of analysis for each system. Preliminary results show that currently used models do not correspond well with experimental data.

Jan 1, 2014

By Norman Paley

A blasting project was undertaken at the Teck Alaska Red Dog Mine in 2005 to 2007 to determine the extent that using electronic detonators could increase Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mill throughput. The results of that project were reported at the 2010 ISEE Annual Conference. This paper is a postscript to that project and provides the fragmentation resulting from the implementation of a 15% pattern expansion using electronic detonators.

Jan 1, 2012

By Robert Hopler

Your petitioner further alleges that at various times, to wit, from 1872 until June 30, 1895, during the existence of the combination and conspiracy in restraint of trade among the various States herein- before described, there were organized under the laws of various of the several States of the Union various corporations having for their object the manufacture and shipment and sale of a high explosive commonly known as dynamite, which said explosive is commonly used for the same purposes as those for which blasting powder is used;

Jan 1, 2013

By R. Jacob Cefalo, Miguel Valenzuela

The modern drill and blast engineer operates in an environment often rich with data from drilling data and blast designs vs. actuals to fragmentation distributions and vibration records. Despite this abundance, much of the information generated remains underutilized, often collected as a matter of routine rather than for a means to an end. This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can bridge that gap, transforming raw operational information into actionable insights that lead to more consistent and optimized blasting outcomes. Through AI-driven analysis of drilling logs, burden and spacing measurements in design vs. actual, fragmentation distributions, and vibration records, we can identify hidden patterns and correlations that traditional analytics overlook or that we may not be aware of. These insights enable engineers to proactively adjust designs and loading strategies, ultimately improving performance aspects such as improving fragmentation, minimizing ground vibration, and lowering overall operational costs. The paper examines the industry's reliance on lagging indicators, such as post-blast fragmentation surveys or actual powder factors, and suggests the need to shift toward leading indicators like real-time drill data monitoring and predictive fragmentation modeling. Utilizing AI to forecast outcomes before a blast is carried out allows engineers to take corrective actions early in the process, thereby creating a feedback loop that continuously improves performance. This integration of AI into drilling and blasting practices marks a pivotal opportunity for the explosives engineering field to evolve from reactive to predictive methodologies unlocking a new level of operational intelligence and value creation.

Jan 26, 2026

By Steve Linehan, John Toedter, Kelly Williams, Mark Herman, Laura Connor, Catherine E. Johnson

Minimum safe distance (MSD) calculations are used widely in military applications to determine safe standoff distances for breaching personnel. Accurate safe distances and an understanding of blast wave propagation are critical to preventing traumatic brain injury. These calculations are often based on spherical charges in open air. However, applications including explosive breaching use planar charges rather than spherical. Previous studies analyzed the shock propagation of a square planar charge of sheet explosive and concluded the anisotropic pattern conflicted with the Kingery Bulmash (KB) and MSD spherical models. It has been determined that these predictions do not adequately predict the realistic pressures in all directions and the trend has shown to be consistent across multiple charge geometries. In this series of experiments, pressures were collected from reference spheres and rectangular geometries of detonating cord and sheet explosive commonly used in breaching and improvised demolition for this comparison. This common configuration showed pressure differences at varying angles to the charge with the highest pressures measured at the 90° position perpendicular to the “door” to be breached. Lower pressures were found at the 0° and 15° positions where the breachers would normally be standing. The reflected shock from a surface such as a door was incorporated in a semi-confined situation and added to the shock observed by the breachers. Urban environments include many surrounding structures for these reflections to occur and further testing is necessary in such an environment to determine the full-scale impact. These findings may be useful to develop improved MSD calculations for breaching applications based on charge geometry, orientation to the blast, and nearby structures.

Feb 6, 2023

By C. Morel, P. Fredes, L. Rojas

This article presents a comprehensive study on the development and application of the specific module called "Exclusion Zone" created by Orica to determine blast evacuation exclusion zones. This module, integrated into the "SHOTPlus™ (blast design software)" software, has been used in the context of optimizing equipment evacuation exclusion zones in a northern Chile mine. The main objective has been to reduce the travel times of extraction equipment without compromising the safety of individuals. The module considers various factors such as the explosive charges used, stemming, sector topography, and detonation sequence to determine the rock projection generated by the blast. Furthermore, it utilizes information collected by drones and support tools such as Groundprobe and BlastVision™. The results obtained demonstrate that the use of this technology has allowed the optimization of blast evacuation distances in the northern Chile mine, generating significant economic benefits for the client.

Jan 1, 2024