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By Soseol Kim

A high-performance Emulsion-based booster explosives has been developed that can be used as a booster for bulk explosives. Currently, Pentolite booster, which is mainly used as a booster for bulk explosives, has a high risk of accidents due to the sensitivity of its raw materials PETN and TNT, and has a low melting point, making it impossible to use it in high-temperature ground. The Emulsion-based booster was developed to maximize the Velocity of Detonation (VOD) while elimination the shortcomings of the Pentolite booster. The VOD of the Emulsion-based booster is about 6,500m/s, so it can maximize the performance of the bulk explosive. In addition, it can be used in high-temperature ground and does not cause accidental detonation due to the external environment. In this article, the performance of the Emulsion booster was verifies through comparative test blasting of the developed Emulsion-based booster and Pentolite booster.

Feb 6, 2023

1974 The Society of Explosives Engineers officially formed to “advance the art and science of explosives engineering” on August 20, 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Jan 1, 2010

By Robert Cefalo

Drill and Blast Engineer Abstract In 2019, the Bingham Canyon Mine, owned by Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper Company, mined through the active underground that dewaters the pit. The active underground required the limitation of vibrations to avoid catastrophic damage or damage that would require work to the shotcrete and additional roof support. The surface design of the current sector next to and through portions of the active underground. The drill and blast group was required to test site law vibration parameters to ensure that vibration limitations were lower than limits set by the underground management team. Seismographs were used to validate the vibration prediction model and check performance of blast in areas of the underground. The bench conditions and limited pounds-per-delay created large obstacles for the blasting team, making it difficult for them to accurately load the pattern with the number of decks in the blast. Methods were used to improve the loading instructions and ensure that each hole achieved pound requirements based off of the distance to the underground that it was designed to protect. The project evolved from start to finish, and the process to estimate distances and loading improved to make the blast a more repeatable process for the size of the project.

By Angelina Anani, Seffit Aderuyi, Sylvester Avane, Joseph Wilson-Sey, Amatus Niminye

The Edikan mine in Ayamfuri, Ghana, faces economic challenges and community resistance due to its proximity to residential areas, particularly concerning blasting operations. Controlled blasting trials using air deck applications were conducted to address community concerns by minimizing environmental impacts and explosive costs. This method involves utilizing an air gap within blast holes to prolong the action of shock waves on the rock mass, enhancing crack formation and reducing rock movement. The trial project at the Edikan open pit gold mine aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of air deck blasting in reducing ground vibrations and overpressures, and to assess its impact on blast performance and economics in the prevailing geological conditions of meta-sediment and hard granite rocks. Results indicated lower Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) and Peak Sound Pressure Levels (PSPL) values in the air-decked blasts. Additionally, more uniform rock fragmentation and enhanced blast economics were achieved. Explosive costs were reduced by 20–24%, saving $0.97 to $2.24 per hole depending on the rock type. Overall blasting costs per volume decreased to $0.54 in granite and $0.48 in meta-sediment compared to conventional methods.

Jan 21, 2025

By K. Best, D. Conn

The US Army Corps of Engineers KY Lock Project in western Kentucky presented the blasters and vibration consultants with a set of unique challenges. The blasters on this project were faced with difficult geology and joint set orientation and sequencing of blasts opposite from what the explosive engineer/blasting specialist had recommended. Combining these issues with strict vibration and air overpressure specifications, blasting as close as 7 feet (2.1 meters) from a new lock wall, site topography that influenced the air overpressure, limitations on seismograph geophone placement that led to anomalies in seismograph recordings; surprising lessons were learned by everyone involved in the project and it is the authors’ goal to share this valuable information with everyone in the blasting industry.

Jan 1, 2024

By Robert Hopler

Blasting powder is a slow-acting, black, granular explosive made of sulphur, charcoal and either potassium nitrate (saltpetre) or sodium nitrate. The blasting powder containing potassium nitrate is known as “A” blasting powder; that containing sodium nitrate, as “B” blasting powder. “A” blasting powder is a little denser, a little stronger and a little less hygroscopic than “B” blasting powder.

Jan 1, 2014

By Robert Hopler

RBH Note: The Illinois Powder Manufacturing Company was established in 1907 and was acquired in 1957 by American Cyanamid. The latter company left the explosives business in 1969.

Jan 1, 2010

By P D. Katsabanis, K Steeves, D Dombrowski

Accurate electronic detonators with firing time accuracy within 100 microseconds of the nominal have been used to control blast results in terms of fragmentation, vibrations and wall control. Axisymmetric experiments and experiments utilizing small benches have been conducted in order to calibrate a numerical model under development and examine the influence of delay interval on wall control, fragmentation and vibrations. The results obtained so far indicate definite advantages of precise timing in reducing back break and wall damage. Fragmentation is affected by the delay interval and high speed film observations and measurements indicate that the delay interval should allow the damage zone from each blasthole to be fully established prior to the detonation of the next borehole. Studies on vibration control demonstrated that vibration synthesis work using signature shots can only be of use if accurate delays are employed.

Jan 1, 1995

By Samir Garcia, Alain Mestanza

This technical work was carried out in an open pit copper mining unit, located in central Peru, which has a daily production of 440 thousand tons per day. Currently the pit consists of three mining phases, however, in phase 05 north, there is the construction of a shaft with a height of 375 meters, the function of this structure is to collect and drain the water coming from the pit, there is the importance of preserving its stability and keeping it operational, guaranteeing the sustainability of the operation. For this, a controlled blasting plan was developed that goes from level 4530 to level 4455 to place the central well on a bench, reactivating the pools.

Jan 21, 2025

By Catherine L. VanOmmeren

Emulsion quality characteristics such as shelf life, handling, and sensitivity are critical to the end-user. It is therefore important that the consumer be prepared to ask his suppher specific questions. To do so, he needs to have a basic understanding of what an emulsion is and how emulsion properties can affect safety, performance, and environmental impact. The criteria to be covered include: energy, velocity, sensitivity, minimum priming, shelf life, pumpability, effect of AN quality, over-the-road handling, and formulation. The consumer will learn how each of these properties can directly affect him. The information will enable him to set minimum standards in product selection, blending, and application.

Jan 1, 1992

By Brent Coleman, Wade Hutchison

The Montgomery Bell Academy project is a parking garage structure topped by a soccer field. This project included expanding parking and moving the present tennis courts. The project is located adjacent to an affluent historic neighborhood that posed some special public relations challenges.

Jan 1, 2012

By Wilfrid Comeau

Vibrograms, which last significantly longer than the actual blast (say 10 to 15 cycles or more), may be signalling an elastic response, which is not uniquely blast related. For example, geophones mounted on a part of a structure, which can elastically resonate at a frequency included in the seismogram, may not show the structure’s real reaction to the blast. This resonance usually amplifies the ground vibration. This contribution examines one particular case where blasting excited and amplified a resonant ground response, and the method used to significantly reduce or eliminate this undesirable condition.

Jan 1, 2007

By D. Scott Scovira, Remi Proulx

The Meikle Mine is a high grade, underground gold mine utilizing primary-secondary longhole open stoping with delayed backfill to produce 3000 stpd of ore. Hot and reactive ground conditions were encountered early on in the mine life. Ground temperatures up to 330” F were measured. In the early stages of mining, the mine experienced premature detonations using different explosives. The learning curve to safely mine this high-grade gold deposit in hot and severely reactive ground was indeed very steep. Currently, the Meikle Mine uses a special buffered bulk emulsion in all blasts to address hot and reactive ground concerns. In addition, exacting procedures are also followed to ensure safe work with explosives. The combination of new explosives technology and strict loading procedures permits high mine productivity with the highest degree of safety.

Jan 1, 2000

By Aaron Nickoli, Brad Clark, Thomas Horan E. I. T.

The Canal Road Dip Slide is an active landslide located on South Pender Island, British Columbia. The effects of the fall 2021 atmospheric river prompted the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to initiate an emergency response project to realign Canal Road out of the active landslide zone for safe traffic passage. The work was tendered in a bidding process and included blasting and rock excavation work at the project site. Tetra Tech Canada Inc. was retained by the contractor to be their Blast and Vibration Specialist. The close proximities of an active landslide, a Canadian National Park, and other segments of construction posed stringent constraints to blasting. The governing constraints to blast design included a Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) limit of 3 mm/s (0.12 in/s) along the adjacent landslide centerline and a slide movement constraint. Sixteen blasts were executed throughout the scope of work to remove 2595 m3 (3394 yd3) of meta-sedimentary rock. Blast designs adhered to the constraints by utilizing up to quadruple decking in 50+ blast holes which lead to complex timing schemes. Several blasts were over 4 seconds in duration, with one at nearly 8 seconds. The landslide area was monitored with Shape Accel Arrays (SAA) throughout the scope of work that tracked geohazard slide movement during construction. The SAA data is presented, and the effect of blasting is discussed. Site specific parameters for PPV estimation were calculated and are presented. Collaboration and communication between the stakeholders allowed the project team to successfully overcome the technical challenges posed by the Canal Road Dip Slide.

Jan 26, 2026

By Roland Alford

The ballistic pendulum is a well-established piece of test equipment originally developed for estimating the velocity of bullets and projectiles. When trying to understand the effects of different tamping methods on explosive performance, the ballistic pendulum is an excellent tool allowing calculation of explosive charge impulse. Most ballistic pendula for this application are limited to narrow impulse ranges as the pendulum mass determines the angle of swing; and a mass capable of being moved by a small charge would be far too small for a larger charge. This paper describes a modular design (the Alford Modular Ballistic Pendulum) which overcomes this problem.

Feb 6, 2023

By Roger G. Sprague

With the passing of time, changing marketplaces and years of hard service, coupled with new machines, increased productivity, rapidly improving technology, equipment which used to be the latest in modern mining have now slipped into obsolence. Mining companies need reliable, productive equipment in order to compete in today's market. In Western coal mining, as coal seams become deeper, older equipment must be replaced with that which can do the job more efficiently.

Jan 1, 1998

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 Frederick Kuhnow

In open pit blasting, energy is released and transmitted through the geology. Negative effects can impact operations and can affect mine production. This paper presents recommendations for blast design to prevent damage due to ground motion from blasting on adjacent concrete structures of underground operations. It includes a case study describing a problem regarding an open pit mine expansion and asks whether production blasting will damage concrete shaft structures due to blast stress waves and blast-induced ground motion.

Jan 1, 2014

By H. R. Maggard, C. M. Bollinger

Solving the problem of detecting underwater explosions from "dynamite fishing" can be done by using a system of sonobuoys programmed to detect the acoustic waves from underwater explosions. The system includes three anchored sonobuoys, which have radio communication to a central station. Each sonobuoy will detect the direction the blast occurred, and then send the magnitude of the acoustic waves and the blast direction to the central station where the blast distance will be calculated. The central station can the send the coordinates to the authorities who can find the location using GPS systems onboard their boats.

Jan 1, 2004

By J. P. Remi Proulx, Areli Rodriguez, Ruilin Yang

Historically, presplitting has been considered effective in reducing the impact of blast vibrations on highwalls. However, it remains a debated topic: how significantly can it protect highwalls, and is it worth the cost and effort to implement presplit blasting techniques? In hard rock, presplit blasting can leave half-barrels on the highwalls, clearly demonstrating its usefulness. However, in a fractured rock mass, the half-barrels from presplit blasting may not appear in most cases, leading to questions about its role in protecting highwalls. Previous studies in the literature used geophones to measure blast vibrations at far distances and could not ascertain the significant benefit of presplit blasting in reducing the impact of blast vibrations on highwalls. Additionally, no studies in the literature address the role of presplitting in alleviating blasting-released gas pressure that could penetrate joints and open new fractures in highwalls. Yang & Proulx (2019) and Yang et al. (2022) using near-field blast vibration monitoring of signature hole blasts have revealed that the peak particle velocity (PPV) of blast vibrations at a scaled distance of 1 m/kg^0.5 can be reduced by 50% or more for presplit-filtered vibrations. These results have been confirmed for both hard rock and fractured ground. In addition to summarizing the reduction in blast vibrations due to presplitting for both hard rock and a fractured rock mass, this paper demonstrates the relief of subsequent blasting gases after the detonation of blastholes. This is shown through video recordings of gas ejections from a row of empty previously fired presplit blastholes located 6 to 9 meters away from the detonation edge or final buffer row of a blasthole pattern. The results clearly show that presplitting not only lowers blast vibration PPV’s but also reduces the entry of the gases produced by the detonation process into rock fractures and or open joints.

Jan 21, 2025