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By Virgil L. Lewis

On September 7, 1994, a Burlington Northern coal train crashed into a parked train in the downtown Gillette, Wyoming rail yard. I would like to address two issues in regards to this accident. One, a slide presentation of the damage created by the accident and the resulting required clean-up and two, a simulation of "what if" had there been an explosion during the course of the crash.

Jan 1, 1996

By A. Lindo, M. Held

The formation of NOx fumes is an undesired occurrence and is dependent on a variety of variables. Methods for detection of such fumes with blast analysis tools are available using color schemes for grading, but no quantification tools to measure concentration and cloud totals exist today. In cooperation with DIRS (Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory) at RIT in Rochester, NY, Austin Powder has been looking for methods and techniques to identify and quantify total amounts of NOx by capturing cloud activity via a video feed from a drone in combination with measuring NOx and subsequent cloud modeling (i.e., plume segmentation). To accurately measure fume events, Austin Powder and the RIT team have been collaborating in performing small scale blasts at an Austin test facility and then transferring knowledge learned to full scale blasts at customer sites. The collected data will allow to identify any relationships between the total amount of explosives used and the quantity of NOx produced. The analysis of the total amounts of NOx and identification of blast areas those fumes originate from will help to better understand key factors that contribute to their occurrence as well as to quantify the severity of such events. By quantifying the magnitude and concentration of fumes generated by non-ideal detonations, the blasting technique can be optimized to minimize unwanted environmental effects and improve public perception of blasting as a necessary component of societal progress

Jan 1, 2024

By W. Boas, R. Silva, D. Yumi, L. Steffen

The continuity of the flow and stages within the mining process is essential to achieve success in its operation and results, especially when it comes to a gold mine. During the first seven months of 2022, crushing at the Morro do Ouro Mine had 19 stops in the primary crusher due to equipment blockage/obstruction, this could be due to the size of the material that was blasted with explosives and fed. The feeding of coarse material to the crushing plant impacts the operation in several ways, for example, premature wear of the equipment, reduction in the supply of the remainder of the beneficiation, reduction of the buffer pile and damage to the conveyed belt. In a mine located far from the community, the fragmentation improvement is mainly related to load increments or some other relatively simple change. However, when it comes to a mine located close to communities, alterations of this type must be analyzed in detail, as it can have an impact mainly in relation to vibration and flyrock. Aiming to improve the efficiency of the blasting, mainly in relation to the result of fragmentation, a project was created to improve the efficiency of the blasting with a focus on reducing the crushing stoppage and reducing the amount of material discarded due to inadequate granulometry. During the evolution of the project, several improvement solutions were proposed, for example adjustment of the power factor in relation to the geological characteristics of the rock mass, drainage, blasting geometry, vibration reduction techniques and several operational improvements. By using the techniques and methods identified as improvements during the project, it was possible to observe and quantify improvements in relation to the fragmentation of the blast. During the months of January to July 2022 there were 19 events. It was estimated that at this rate there would be 14 more blockage events, but there were only 3 events and that meant a 79% reduction in blockage. In addition to the reduction in crushing shutdown events, there was also a 53% reduction in the amount of ore that is discarded due to inadequate granulometry and, with that, the feed rate of the grinding system was able to reach the maximum feed limit due to the material being fed to the mill well fragmented, contributing to increase the production and productivity of the beneficiation process at the Morro do Ouro Mine in Paracatu-Minas Gerais-Brazil.

Jan 1, 2024

By Roy Rose, Bruce Bowles, Wesley L. Bender

Numerous large diameter water wells are used to dewater the pit at the Sleeper Mine. Occasionally, a well will be located inside the boundaries of a blast. Although one might expect that wells so located would become inoperable due to blast-induced damage, in most instances this has not proven to be the case.

Jan 1, 1991

By Francis O. Otuonye

An application of a time series and systems analysis modeling technique to blast vibration data is discussed. The vibration data was taken from a rock support structure and the surrounding rock mass at distances close (less than 15 feet) to a blast. The analysis technique provides quantitative information on the frequencies of ground motion as well as the frequencies and damping ratios of a near-field support structure.

Jan 1, 1994

By Anne Charline Sauvage

Blast designers and blasters need to know the rock mass influence on blast to increase explosive effi-ciency and to optimize costs, but also to succeed in limiting blast emissions (vibration, overpressure, flyrock) This paper presents an applied approach which makes it possible to structure the information con-cerning the rock mass and the blasting.

Jan 1, 2013

By Ronald R. Rollins

A continuous propagation velocity measurement probe has been utilized to determine velocities of slurry explosives, whole prills, crushed prills, aluminized crushed prills, in bulk and plastic screw tubes.

Jan 1, 1984

By Joseph W. Hejny, Marlyn G. King

Coal mining in the Powder River Basin has changed in recent years to accommodate the large quantity of coal produced. With strip ratios of one to one and up to three to one, extensive amounts of overburden have to be removed to get to the large thick seams of coal. Larger shovels and trucks have been implemented in the removal of this overburden. The addition of draglines and continuous miners have been added to increase the production of coal. Drills used today are capable of drilling up to 13.5 inch blast holes.

Jan 1, 1994

By J R. Brinkmann

The South African gold mining industry presently uses four different types of explosives in stope blasting. There is general agreement that the type of explosive has considerable effect on Important blasting results such as the degree of rock fragmentation, the intensity of damage to surrounding rock, and the success of break-out at the toe of the hole.

Jan 1, 1989

By W C. Burkle

A rather common observation over the last several decades at least has been that rock or ore properties influence blasting results more than does the explosive type that has been used in the blast. It we accept that premise than it is held here that the material to be blasted should receive even closer attention as to its properties. Several years ago, Dr. Richard Ash published papers that pointed out the rock properties that mostly influence blasting. These principles are given attention in this paper. We have gone somewhat further - or lets say expanded this subject in regard to the role of rock structure in open pit blasting. Though open pit work is given some prominence, we believe that much can be observed and applied to underground mining.

Jan 1, 1979

By Douglas R. Burns

Complying with SARA-Title III and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act as a Non-Manufacturing Facility. As of August 23, 1988 non-manufacturing facilities storing end using chemicals which require MSDS (Materia1 Safety Data Sheets) must fi1e with SERC (State Emergency Response Commission), the LEPC (Loca1 Emergency Planning Commission), and the loca1 Fire Department a list or copies of all MSDS sheets with the Tier I and Tier II forms completed.

Jan 1, 1989

By Paul Worsey, Gillian Worsey

The basic blasting class at Missouri S&T blast in the quarry at the experimental mine in preparation for the International Intercollegiate Mining (Mucking) Competition in April 2014.

Jan 1, 2015

By Eduardo Gonzalez Fernandez, Jaime Rios Vazquez

This report substantiates the connection that always exists between explosives and vibrations and draws attention to low frequency vibrations, which are the moat dangerous for the structures affected.

Jan 1, 1986

By Tom Burleson

High-speed photography has proven to be an extremely valuable tool for the evaluation of blasting practices in the Warrior Coal Basin. A research project, coordinated by Nelson Brothers Inc. and The University of Alabama's Mineral Engineering Department, has centered on the use of high-speed photography to study and analyze blast performance. A large number of production shots in this region has been filmed and studied. The data obtained from the films have been used to establish graphical relationships between certain blast parameters and overall shot performance. These relationships will be used to develop a computer model that will estimate cast results from a given burden explosive energy combination. This paper describes the methods and procedures used to develop these relationships. The results of the research are discussed along with plans for continuing the research project.

Jan 1, 1988

By Sergio Segovia Parra, Victor Hernan Sheen Uriol

This contribution of the concept of mass blasting both closing and production allows breaking paradigms, to limit the number of tons to thunder. The areas of geotechnical different mining large mining companies worldwide and especially from the National Copper Corporation (CODELCO, Chile) has been declining volumes closing blasting and production, with the misconception to protect the end walls of the pit, before any geotechnical risks caused by various types of faults; especially the circular faults. A blasting of small tonnage can do more damage to a wall when it is not properly sequenced, leading to the coupling of the wave train and therefore the exponential damage in/s (peak particle velocity, PPV) on the wall of the Tagus. Blasting closing mass production and contribute technically and operationally in the dynamics of the following operations: loading, hauling, crushing, processing and preparation of the final product; eliminating delays to return to thunder small volumes where one must stop all mine equipment, incurring high costs and especially losing valuable time in the continuity of the following unit activities.

Jan 1, 2015

By Adrian Moore, Alan Richards, Andrew Brodbeck

Structural blast vibration limits should be based on the strength of the structure, the stress induced by blasting, and a responsible factor of safety. In this paper a methodology that uses direct strain measurements to determine the stress induced by blasting is described

Feb 1, 2020

By Art Frye, Lee Pratt, Gaichang Zhao, Greg Newman

This paper will discuss the Wight Pit wall slash at the Mount Polley open-pit copper-gold mine that scavenged a high grade block of ore from two double-benches of the pit wall. The Wight Pit orebody, discovered in 2003, is located in the Northeast of the property with the southeast pit wall approximately 50m (165ft) from the edge of Polley Lake. In early 2009, the Wight Pit was nearing completion while an estimated 150,000 tonnes (165,000 tons) of ore averaging a grade of 1.4% copper remained just inside the southeast pit wall. The ore block started 24m (78ft) above the pit floor and extended up another 48m (157ft) with a 70o plane defining the back of the block.

Jan 1, 2011

By C Yeung, G Fitz, R Heater, P D. Katsabanis

Explosives malfunction due to shock waves is a serious concern for successful blasting results. Malfunction can range from sympathetic detonation to desensitization and modification of firing times of conventional pyrotechnic detonators.

Jan 1, 1994

By E. A. McCullough, Jackson B. C., S. K. Metz

Public perception is a significant challenge facing the explosives industry. The public often perceives that its needs and interests are in direct competition with those of blasting companies’, leading to conflict between corporations and the community. This misunderstanding lends to unnecessary political and regulatory hardship, and ultimately, social discontent. Although individual corporations implement strategies to address conflict, many of these techniques are insufficient. Consequently, stakeholders resort to expensive litigation. If blasting companies could reduce or eliminate the volume of judicial disputes, valuable resources could be re-directed to more productive activities.

Jan 1, 2015

By Jiang Han, J. F. Shao

Based on the rock blasting engineering, The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) network has been implemented for the concept and method of rock blastability classification. The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) is a neural network algorithm which is especially suitable for the analysis and visualization of high-dimensional data. It maps nonlinear statistical relationships between high-dimensional input data into simple geometric relationships, usually on a two-dimensional grid. The mapping roughly preserves the most important topological and metric relationships of the original data elements and, thus, inherently clusters the data. SOM allows easy data fusion enabling visualization and analysis of large databases of rock blasting engineering. As a case study, the classification technique based on SOM has been used to classify the rock mass blastability rank. It can be founded from this paper that the SOM networks can be developed well based on a comprehensive data set of rock blasting engineering.

Jan 1, 2002