Search Documents

By Yong Pan, Purushotham Tukkaraja

It has been well understood that blasting is the cost-effective method for breaking rocks as compared with the mechanical systems. However, vibrations induced by blasting in open-pit mines could pose problems to the structures surrounding the mine site. Blast-induced ground vibration has been the subject of research for several studies in the past; because of the complex nature of blasting mechanism, it is difficult to predict blast-induced vibrations. Even though there are several approaches proposed by the previous researchers, traditional regression analysis is still playing an important role in predicting blast-inducedgroundvibrations.

Jan 1, 2019

By (Journal for the Fields of Gunpowder and Explosives) Germany (1914 Issues)

RBH Note: The following items are a deviation from the usual content of these articles, but I thought they were kind of interesting from an historical point of view (other than just explosives-history historical.) The interesting things to me are the military-related products, keeping in mind that World War I didn’t start until August, 1914, and then it was kind of an accident of political alliances gone awry. Obviously companies in Germany saw it coming. Of course, all the ads also included dynamite and safety explosives for mining and tunneling as well as the military items.

Jan 1, 2015

By Paul Worsey, Yasutaka Dote

The choreography of large fireworks displays dictates electric initiation for precise timing. It has been common practice to pre-squib products before transportation for reducing set up time. A number of fatal accidents transferring pre-squibbed product during transportation suggests that there is a problem with impact sensitivity. The aim of this paper is to quantify the impact sensitivity of the various configurations of initiating materials used in display fireworks.

Jan 1, 2009

By C. T. Aimone-Martin, V. L. Rosenhaim

The response of two structures to blast-induced ground vibrations were evaluated and compared in order to quantify the impact of different blasting operations, hard rock and soft rock blasting, upon the structures movements. The first instrumented structure was a residential type, located in the operational area of a coal mine, were blasting is conducted in soft rocks, such as siltstone and coal, with compressive strength ranging from 20 to 50 MPa. Blasting is characterized by low benches, with hole lengths averaging 5.5 m (18 ft) and low powder factors, 140 to 210 g/m3 (0.236 to 0.354 lb/yd3), resulting in very little horizontal movement of the rock during the blast. The second structure was a commercial building, located in a basalt quarry (compressive strength between 109 and 180 MPa), where blasting is conducted in 12 m (39.4 ft) benches with powder factors ranging from 200 to 350 g/m3 (0.337 to 0.590 lb/yd3). Velocity sensors were placed on the structure walls to measure wall displacements and calculate blast-induced strains in the walls, and these results were compared with the driving ground excitations. The calculated strains were compared with the limits of rupture of the cement grout used as mortar between bricks and as wall coating, considered to be the weakest material in the structure composition. The blast-induced response of existing cracks in the structures were also measured using displacement gages and compared to the daily influence of weather fluctuations, such as changes in temperature and humidity, on crack movement. The results show that for the same levels of ground motions the structures present different movement, resulting in distinct levels of induced strains on the walls depending on the geology. The influence of long-term temperature and humidity variations on crack movements on both structures is very similar, during the same seasons of the year. Crack response to long-term weather changes is 2.5 to 3.5 times greater than blast influences.

Jan 1, 2015

By Raúl Mondaca Aracena

Mantoverde mine requires increasing its production level to double. EMTS - Projects performs far and near field vibration studies to make changes to the D&B design and sequences, in order to equalize the current vibration levels, applying massive blasting in its process.

Feb 1, 2020

By Scott G. Giltner, Terry Millar, Ben Bringhurst

"Kennecott Utah Copper (KUC) Smelter scheduled a rebuild of their flash smelting furnace forSeptember, 2014. KUC’s goal in this project was to reduce the rebuild time from 65 to 55 days by using explosives to break the matte and brick layers of the uptake shaft and hearth sections of the furnace. Previous rebuilds had employed the slower technique of mechanical breakers to remove the matte and brick layers which took 22 days. KUC has many years of experience in removing slag from the uptake shaft, but they had never used explosives to remove the hearth. As far as KUC was aware, no other smelter operation had attempted a hearth removal in this way."

Jan 1, 2016

By Ewan Selers, Gary Cavanough

Drilling automation technology is well advanced and automated drill rigs are in use at a number of operating mines. This is not the case for the other drill and blast processes due to significant technical challenges to overcome. These challenges, with regard to the current “on bench” practices, include placing the initiators, loading the explosive and connecting up the initiation system. Although difficult, these challenges will be solved with engineering advances.

Jan 1, 2016

By Joshua Hoffman, Rob Farnfield, Catherine Johnson, Braden Lusk, Morgan Lane

IMESAFR (IME Safety Analysis for Risk) is a quantitative risk assessment software tool developed by the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) and A-P-T Research, Inc. It is used for managing risk in the commercial explosives industry, the newest version of the software was completed in 2012. This paper discusses the use of this software package in conjunction with data collected for a television series on the reenactment of the ‘London Blitz’, a 57-day bombing of the City of London in 1940. In this reenactment, purpose built structures using period design and materials were constructed at a test facility in the North of England. Five devices ranging in size from 20 kg (44 lb) to 1100 kg (2400 lb) were detonated at varying distances from the structures; each blast was monitored by EPC-UK and the resulting structural damage was analyzed. Data recorded from the blasts included high-speed videos, photographs before and after each event and air overpressure readings. The same data was inputted into the IMESAFR software package to assess the risk imposed on the residents of London during this time. The appropriateness of this tool for evaluating structures built using historical practices is discussed. Data from the full scale tests is compared to effects predicted by IMESAFR. Further analysis of the risk recommendations produced by IMESAFR is compared to the actual damage assessed during the large scale tests.

Jan 1, 2014

Prepare ATF Report of Theft or Loss (ATF Form 5400.5). A Report of Theft or Loss - Explosives Materials must be prepared when it is discovered that explosive materials are missing from inventory. Submit the original to the U.S. Bomb Data Center and keep a copy for your records. The form can be obtained from the ATF Distribution Center or from www.atf.gov. Although the U.S. Bomb Data Center should be notified as soon as possible, Federal law requires notification within 24 hours of the discovery. A full inventory check is also highly recommended (but not required) to locate missing explosives and to prevent future losses.

Jan 1, 2008

By Jorge Cárdenas, Luis Huaroc, Máximo Cari, Nestor Delgado

In Peru, after four years of pandemic, some mining companies have chosen to install integrated operating centers in central offices where through network technology and video surveillance it allows them to carry out their activities remotely, this has become a disruptive strategy to promote a safer and smarter mining industry. Our fundamental value is to improve the quality of life, safety and well being of our collaborators, that is why we have created the remote blasting engineering control center " Core" that allows us to humanize mining. Core is an integration of experience, security, technology, quality of life and artificial intelligence; it has media technology connected directly to the mining operation, specialist engineers and technical assistants in team they seek to create optimal proposals of drilling and blasting designs remotely that generate added value to customers. In the planning process the team suggests drilling meshes, in the loading process there are optimized, digitized designs and efficiency in the factory trucks finally in the safety process allows us to identify inadequate pipes within the blasting project, deviation of procedures, remote inspections, identify operating conditions to prevent future risks that may arise in the blasting process. The remote communication systems allow you to monitor mining operations remotely to identify and alert any operational or security deviation that was not identified by the personnel present in the operation, as well as to store images in case investigations are required. The results obtained have allowed us to reduce the exposure of personnel to any risk of the mining operation, to optimize times in the activities of our engineers who are in the mining operations since there is the permanent support of centralized specialists to face every challenge that arises in the operation, for the engineers who are in the offices of Core can be very close to the family and do not lose it, and for our customers it is to meet their needs with engineers specialists in the drilling and blasting process, as well as in safety to be able to proactively cope with any deviation that arises.

Jan 21, 2025

By Shazad Hosein, Bill Birch, Catherine Johnson, Toby White, Liam Bermingham

Air overpressure (AOP) from blasting can give rise to a significant number of blasting complaints from residents living adjacent to blasting operations from mines, quarries or civil engineering projects. High amplitudes of AOP are usually associated with the lateral movement of a vertical free face, but it can also be caused by the upward lifting and the venting of gases through the surface of the blast area.

Jan 1, 2018

By Thomas M. Keevin, Gregory L. Hempen

A user-friendly model for environmental effects from underwater explosions is presently available. The model by Munday et al. (1986) is effective for determining fish mortality radii from underwater shooting. The IBLAST program (Coastline Environmental Services 1986) from this model includes estimates for both borehole-loaded explosives for demolition or rock removal purposes and midwater shots. Midwater shots may be used for fish population assessments or some seismic surveys. The program produces approximate mortality distances for planning purposes. IBLAST does have serious shortcomings of which users should be aware.

Jan 1, 1995

By P J. Dailey, S L. Burchell, R F. Chiappetta

High-speed motion picture photography and its application to the mining, quarry, construction, and explosive industries has proven to be a valuable diagnostic tool. The techniques developed allow one to evaluate blasting performance, compare explosive efficiencies in relation to burden velocity, and estimate optimum delay times to provide adequate forward relief.

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert L. Martin, Brian W. Stump

"The Black Thunder Mine is located in the Powder River Basin of Northeastern Wyoming. Over 39.2million tons of coal were produced at the Black Thunder Mine in 1996. Just over 100 million pounds ofANFO/Emulsion blend were consumed in that same year. Currently around 30% of the overburden is cast to final with the use of explosives. With plans for a mine expansion, explosives will continue to play a very vital roll well into the future."

Jan 1, 1997

By David Jones, Jeff Bregar, Damien Bell

We have analyzed overpressure and ground vibration measurements for construction blasting for a large pipeline project. These field-measured levels have been compared to existing prediction curves in the literature and new curves have been proposed for overpressure and ground vibration for pipeline construction blasting activities.

Feb 1, 2020

By Chanhwi Shin, Hyeongmin Kang

Mine optimization is a key strategy in the mining industry that focuses on improving the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of mining operations. To achieve mine optimization, digitalization is essential for modernizing mining operations and attaining optimal performance. Due to the importance of mine digitalization, various software and platforms have been released to support this effort. Furthermore, by integrating these advanced technologies, mines can enhance processes, leading to significant economic and operational benefits. However, integrating data from various sources and collaborating across different platforms remains a significant challenge in the mining industry. Generally, data for mine optimization, such as mapping, smart drilling, FMS (Fleet Management Systems), fragmentation analysis, or vibration analysis, are collected and analyzed separately on different platforms. This separation makes it difficult to aggregate and utilize data comprehensively for overall mining process optimization. During the digitalization process, obstacles arise due to these complexity, variability, and sharing issues of data across different maker, sources, and methods. These challenges highlight the need for seamless integration to achieve optimal mining operations. Thus, this study applied a total solution that can cover the entire Drilling and Blasting (D&B) processes. The blast design was performed using actual terrain mapping data, and drilling and charging were conducted following a guide based on the blast design plan. After blasting, loading and hauling distances and fuel consumption were measured, and fragmentation for each blast was evaluated. All measurement tasks were automated to minimize human error. By collecting all data in one server, it became possible to perform an overall evaluation for each blast, allowing the identification of optimal values. In conclusion, to evaluate the optimization effects for each mining process, one month of integrated data collected on a single server was used. Compared to the period before the Total solution was implemented, there were notable improvements: a 25% enhancement in hole spacing, a 60% improvement in floor flatness, a 23% reduction in average fragment size, and a 19% improvement in fragment uniformity. Regarding cost savings per blasting volume, the improvements were 11.7% in drilling, 9.3% in explosives, 7.6% in loading, and 17.5% in hauling.

Jan 21, 2025

By Sean Paterson

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a method of delaying and loading a shot. Since entering the construction industry, I have learned that cover is needed on a lot of blasts. When in close having to cover shots was new to me and it seemed time consuming and wastefull. Until I really needed it and didn’t have it. So What To Do??? Remember that safety comes first, if you have concerns cover it. Even if you have to sit on your shot all night to wait for cover. This method is not a replacement for cover, but it will help keep your rock down. Do not bet your life, others lives or your career on it.

Jan 1, 2001

By Galetakis M., Deligiorgis B., Xiroudakis G.

Fragmentation prediction is important in surface mining to optimize downstream processes such as loading, hauling, comminution, and beneficiation processes. Traditional approaches, such as the Kuz-Ram model, image-based fragmentation analysis, and numerical simulations, rely heavily on large datasets acquired after blasting. Moreover, due to the inherent limitations in each method there is an underestimation of fine and coarse fragment sizes, when applying these models without prior knowledge regarding the fragmentation distribution. These drawbacks are restricting their use only in post-blast parameter prediction. In response to these inefficiencies, this study presents a deterministic fragmentation prediction methodology based on a single-blasthole model. The model simulates the formation of the damage zones around a blast hole based on the number of cracks within a distance from the centre of the blast-hole and correlates them with an estimated fragment size in each domain. A fragmentation distribution from the literature is employed to validate the proposed approach and the results are compared with those generated using a modified Kuznetsov model. This approach aims to enhance blast design decisions by enabling pre-blast fragmentation prediction. Based on this, blast designs could be estimated depending on the desired fragmentation before blasting, giving the opportunity for a tailored to local rock properties optimization.

Jan 26, 2026

By Stephen Chung

The quality of a blast design can be evaluated in many ways. It may involve fragmentation, muck profile, environmental effects in terms of vibration and the excavation of the blasted material. To assist and ensure an achievable cost effective design, numerical modeling techniques are often applied as part of the operating procedure. While excavation is one of the mining operations which has a direct influence on the bottom line cost of productivity, the characteristics of a pile of blasted material deserves a closer look in terms of diggability. This paper reviews the current diggability techniques available for application to the blasting operation. To help better understand the involvement in digging, this paper also introduces an evaluation approach based on a discrete element method. The model presented in this paper deals with many variables that are considered to directly affect digging. They are the density and cohesion of material, fragment shape and size distribution as well as the swell of a muck pile. To help visualize the analysis approach, sample runs and animations are given in the paper to show the setup of muck piles produced in bench blasting as well as in sub-level caving. The computed forces experienced by the bucket during each mucking cycle are also discussed.

Jan 1, 2008

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