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By William Wilkinson, Vladisla Kecojevic

Current three-dimensional (3D) computer design technology leveraged into drill and blast planning and operations is changing the way engineers and operations approach drill and blast design. Additionally, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology that is now readily available to the civilian population is being implemented into the mining sector with a variety of new products specifically designed for drill and blast operations. The objective of this article is to discuss the steps involved with 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) of drilling and blasting, and the benefits such a design can provide in conjunction with GPS and drill monitoring systems.

Jan 1, 2004

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

In recent years, high-speed motion picture photography has become a powerful diagnostic tool and technique to study, analyze, evaluate, and aid in blast designs. Production blasting, typically lasting less than two seconds, requires an extended time base for observation and clarification of short-lived phenomena. Information obtained from high-speed photographic analysis is categorized into two main groups.

Jan 1, 1989

By Robert B. Hopler

Explosives, originally used only in fireworks and warfare, became legitimate contributors to human progress when miners in Eastern Europe began using them to break rock in the early 1600%. Since that time these powerful materials have had a dual role in the world: as agents of destruction in war, and as irreplaceable tools necessary to advance civilization. In the latter role, they serve as agents to enable mankind to produce metals, build roads, and drive tunnels. In other words, to provide those materials, services, and infrastructure without which the modern world could not exist.

Jan 1, 1997

By Peter Moser, A. Gaich, E. Grasedieck Zechmann

In The SMX Blast Controller is a novel tool for precisely controlling the geometry of a blast based on the technology of 3D imaging. It enables to derive precise information about the geometry of the face of a bench in a quarry from a pair of stereoscopic images taken from the bottom level of a bench with a calibrated standard digital camera. Apart from staking out the blast position with delimiters that mark the area to blast and taking then two images (freely), no further actions are required which allows performing the data acquisition without requiring any surveying skills. The 3D image generation and blast planning does not require special computer. It is estimated, that every blast foremen is able to work with the system after a one-day training as the system includes a high grade on automatism. The software package allows the blast foreman to design and stake out a blast, based on provided geometric values, such as burden, side spacing, hole inclination, sub-drilling, row number & distance and drilling pattern. The software connects these values with the 3D information acquired by the digital images. All the drill & blast information can be used also for blast documentation. The SMX Blast Controller overcomes also the problem of doing the back transfer from maps derived by surveying into nature as the resulting 3D image and all the information associated to it (hole position, etc.) can be correlated with the nature by visual comparison and the help of a single reference line, defined by two points. The system is designed to be used also in small to medium quarries. It can help, that the control of the geometry of the bench face and the precise design of the charge of the blast on a borehole per borehole basis will become an accepted daily routine.

Jan 1, 2006

By Tristan Worsey, Nathan Rouse

The Florida legislature allocated funding for the Florida State Fire Marshal (FSFM) to review the applicability of the United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) Report of Investigations (RI) 8507 blast vibration limits with respect to Florida and its soils. The study also discusses whether the current blasting vibration limits set by statute are still appropriate, including a review of measured vibration amplitudes and frequencies, structure responses, and theoretical analyses of material strength and strains.

Jan 1, 2019

By E. McCullough, D. Preece, M. Ortel

Geophysical explosive charges are used in mineral resource exploration. They are detonated subsurface and radiate sonic waves into ground monitors, which detect the vibration waves and their interaction with underlying geologic strata. Geophysicists perform computer analyses of the waves reflected from the strata to determine their depth and thickness (Strobel, Berger & Schaefer, 2012). The purpose of this research is to determine how the detonating explosive charge interacts with the adjacent ground and how the induced waves propagate through the surrounding medium. Furthermore, it is necessary to optimize the location of the initiation point within the charge. Establishing both the direction and intensity of the waves will allow geoscientists to refine and optimize geophysical studies that employ explosive charges.

Jan 1, 2013

By Dale S. Preece, J Paul Tidman, Stephen H. Chung

A discrete element computer program named DMC-BLAST (Distinct Motion code) has been under development since. 1987 for modeling rock blasting (Preece & Taylor, 1989). This program employs explicit time integration and uses spherical or cylindrical elements that are represented as circles in two dimensions (2-D). DMC-BLAST calculations compare favorably with data from actual bench blasts (Preece et al, 1993).

Jan 1, 1998

By Brian Carr

This workshop will display all of the existing products that are available as stemplug devices and discuss the general concept of the use of them. Actual results will be discussed along with several case histories. There will be adequate time for questions and answers.

Jan 1, 2000

By W. J. Birch, L. Bermingham

Air overpressure is becoming an increasingly problematic issue within the quarrying industry. With blasting operations moving ever closer to residential properties, the number of complaints about air overpressure is beginning to increase. It is therefore important for operators not only to have a greater understanding of the blasting parameters that give rise to air overpressure but also the factors which have an effect on air overpressure levels as it attenuates with increasing distance from the location of the blast.

Jan 1, 2013

By David Harrison, Edward J. Walter, Meitra Ferek

Agreat tool in the prevention of blasting complaints and subsequent damage claims. In today’s highly competitive industry, we are always looking for ways to become more cost effective. This article investigates the importance of pre-blast surveys-not just for regulatory compliance, but as an overall long term cost cutting and public relations tool.

Jan 1, 1995

By Don McCarthy

Modern mining has been dominated by the drill-and-blast method for more than a century. There have been steady improvements in drilling technology, explosive products, methods of initiation and integration of the two techniques but the essential cyclical nature of drill-and-blast rock excavation naturally limits continuous improvements in cost and productivity. Dynamite and safety fuses, compressed-airdriven tools, and most of the crushing and grinding machinery in use today were all developed before 1900. Moreover, virtually every mechanized mining system used today was in use by the late 1950’s.

Jan 1, 1998

By Matt Slezak, Tristan Worsey, Nathan Rouse, Kyle Hall

As everyone knows, blasters are required to file blast reports of every blast for regulatory purposes. To this day, the authors see many handwritten blast reports. Handwritten blast reports are notorious for containing errors or omissions. This is not because the blaster intends to misreport information. It is because blasters have many tasks to complete in a day, are sometimes in a rush, and could accidentally miscalculate data, omit items, or record incorrect data. In most cases, blasters do not suffer consequences to these errors because blast reports are seldom reviewed in detail. In some cases, such as when a blasting operation undergoes some sort of litigation process, the reports are reviewed in detail and the blaster is ultimately held responsible. If the reports contain errors, the blaster can be fined, have his/her license revoked, or worse. Electronic blast reporting and centralized data management can help reduce or eliminate the potential for accidental blast reporting errors to occur. This paper presents many ways that electronic blast reporting can reduce or eliminate blast reporting errors, decrease time and extra costs spent reporting, and improve efficiencies in the field and the office.

Jan 1, 2018

By Brad Bulow

Blasting is an essentially violent process aimed to disrupt and loosen rock for productive excavation. Some dilution of any ore present is the inevitable result. This makes blasting a dirty word to most geologists, particularly in narrow vein gold mines. A 1% increase in gold recovery may be worth $1 M extra revenue to a large mine.

Jan 1, 2000

By Douglas Rudenko

Have you ever had a neighbor complain about a blast one day, but says the next day’s blast was better, even though the Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) increased? How about neighbors that complain about a small trimming shot, but don’t complain about a big production shot? Have you ever reduced the pounds/delay and gotten more complaints? Mine operators are often bewildered when trying to correlate blast design parameters to homeowner complaints.

Jan 1, 2002

By N/A N/A

Aw a rd winners from the University of MissouriRolla. Back row from left: Seok Bin Lim, Chris B o l l i n g e r, Adam Kre s l e r, Scott Geer, Joseph Cohn, and James (Buck) Hawkins; Front ro w f rom left: Dr. Worsey, Trish Robertson, and Fio G i a n a

Jan 1, 2004

By Jeffrey L. Dean

Now in its twenty-fifth year, the ISEE has grown to more than 4000 members representing 75 countries. The Society and its 35 chapters in the US, Canada and Australia work to educate the public about our industry, provide forums for the exchange of explosives technology, serve as a repository of explosives information, offer expert help to governments, develop standardized methods and terminology, and promote research and education by, creating and conducting certificate and trainktg programs and encouraging the teaching of the safe and controlled use of commercial explosives.

Jan 1, 1998

By Tom Treleaven, Andrew Williams

Several contracts were let in Greenwich, Connecticut, for the installation of a sanitary sewer. The majority of the excavation was in rock and involved numerous challenges due to the following conditions:

Jan 1, 2003

By Randall S. Marks

Bonneville Dam, completed in 1938, included the smallest and busiest lock on the Columbia and Snake River Navigation System. To expedite barge traffic through this restriction, a new larger lock was designed and contracted by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Jan 1, 1997

By David Reddick

The mining industry is in the midst of dramatic change. Mining activities are moving from industrialized first world countries (Canada, Australia, and the United States) to the third world. This shift is occurring due to depleted reserves, tough environmental standards, and expensive labor in traditional mining countries. During a recent trip to South Africa, I was asked, owing to my educational background in economics and an international involvement in drilling and blasting, what changes could be anticipated in third world blasting practices as labor costs increase. It is from that beginning that this presentation has evolved.

Jan 1, 1997

By Luis Valentim, Terry Cousins

The goal of a mine is to produce ore at the lowest possible cost with due regard to safety of pemonnel and equipment. The mining process consists of a number of discrete operations such as planning, drilling, blasting,excavation, transportation and crushing. These processes are interrelated and cannot be considered as separate activities when optimising output and minimising cost. In order to optimise the global costs it may therefore be necessary to increase cost in one area such as blasting design and management beyond the norm.

Jan 1, 1998