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By S. Mansfield, A. Sharma

At a large open cut copper mine, in pit crushing and conveying is used to shorten haul routes and minimise stockpiling of ore. This strategy decreases capital expenditure by reducing the number of haul trucks and excavators required and reduces the need to rehandle ore from stockpiles with a secondary load and haul fleet, with an overall goal of lowering operating costs and carbon emissions. As the mine has developed and expanded, it was necessary to extend the conveying network and install a fourth, semi-mobile crusher to increase the output of the operation, while maintaining the operational efficiencies. This required the blasting of a new tipping bench and pocket for the installation of one of the largest and most powerful semi-mobile, crushing plants. Fed by 360 tonne (396 ton) ultra-heavy class haul trucks, the KB 63-130 Pro gyratory crusher is the highest capacity available in the market. This paper describes the holistic process that was applied to model, design and execute the blasts required to create the pocket for the semi-mobile crusher, the surrounding tipping bench, plus the conveyor corridor and access ramp used by the ultra-heavy class trucks.

Jan 1, 2024

By Jonathan Heiner

Rio Tinto Bingham Canyon Mine started its South Wall Push Back (SPB) in 2011. This push back will mine through the only road to the pit bottom (the 10%). The pit bottom is the main ore sector for the mine and supplies about 80 to 90% of the ore. In late 2017 the mine set off a blast in SPB that created a small wedge failure on the high wall between SPB and the 10%. This wedge failure released a rock approximately 20 minutes after that blast that rolled down the wall landing on the 10% near and then contacting a light vehicle

Jan 1, 2019

By Daniel Castelo, Ben Potter

This paper will discuss the most efficient and effective way to use shape charges when considering standoff distances and the amount of an explosive to be used. For each shape charge test that was performed, a one inch diameter copper liner of 90o was used. Different standoffs for each shape charge were tested to see which one would penetrate the deepest into rolled homogenous armor steel (RHC 44). It was determined that a standoff of three cone diameters provides the deepest penetration. In addition to testing for optimal standoff distances, the effects of overfilling as well as under filling a shape charge with explosive was tested against a shape charge with the bare minimum amount of explosive for correct detonation. These “fill” tests were all performed at a standoff of three cone diameters. Overfilling has little to no effect towards penetrating deeper into a target while under filling a shape charge has an effect of shorter penetration. C-4 explosive was the main explosive for all shape charges.

Jan 1, 2011

By Laurent Airaud

For around ten years, electronic detonators are available for those who want to use advanced methods and to apply theories promoted by engineers and professors to reduce blast concerns or improve fragmentation and dilution. Furthermore, decision makers can verify the use of electronic detonators to drive down mining costs. Engineers and more specifically blasters are the actual users and have to be convinced of the easiness of electronic detonators. This paper deals with electronic detonators and the notion of easiness. Common feelings about the notion of easiness are discussed. Then, examples of new technologies like, automobile, photography or Information Technology are discussed to observe how they progressed throughout time with new features and sales volume. For the specific explosive initiation industry, each step of the life of an electronic detonator is dealt with concerning the easiness and a table is used to quantify this notion.

Jan 1, 2004

By Catharine 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 supplier 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, 1989

By Hideaki Kitajima, Ryo Sakamoto, Katsuya Sasaki, Maehata Hidehiko

The Electric Discharge Impulse Crushing System (EDICS) is a technology for carrying out crushing by using electrical power and nitromethane. It is designed for construction tasks such as splitting of concrete and rocks.The EDICS consists of an electric discharge generator that supplies a high-voltage high-current pulse, a cartridge that generates power by using electric discharge energy, and cables that connect the electric discharge generator and the cartridge. The cartridge contains a thin metal wire that evaporates because of the electric discharge energy and a nitromethane that reacts with this evaporated metal wire. The cartridge can be used to generate a high pressure on the order of gigapascals within a time interval of several hundred microseconds, and crushing power equivalent to that generated by explosives is generated during this period. In recent years, the EDICS has been widely used in Japan because of its good performance and favorable characteristics.

Jan 1, 2011

By Nikolaos Petropoulos, Ulf Nyberg, Ulf Stenman, Daniel Johansson, Håkan Schunnesson

The optimization of the explosive performance is of great importance since blasting is extensively used in civil projects and mining industry. An improved understanding of how the energy from the detonation of an explosive is transmitted to the surrounding rock mass is critical information for the proper selection of an explosive. Therefore, an extensive study was done on the influence of the blasthole diameter on the Velocity of Detonation (VoD) and the detonation front curvature.

Feb 1, 2020

By W. Birch, G. D. Rangel-Sharp, L. Bermingham

For many years, the accepted method of Measuring the Velocity of Detonation (VOD) in blast holes has been to use an electric cable of a constant resistance per metre. Thus as the wire is consumed by the explosive in the blast hole, the change in resistance is monitored and when this data is plotted against the time period of the in hole explosion, the VOD can be calculated.

Jan 1, 2011

By Norman Paley, John Kells

The climate and location of the Red Dog Mine present several challenges to blasting operations. The mine is located north of 68º latitude, in an area of continuous permafrost. Ground temperatures are below freezing year-round and air temperatures range from -40 to 70°F (-40 to 20°C). Because there is no overland access to the mine, the entire year’s supply of bulk explosives, approximately 7,000,000lbs (3,175,000kg) is shipped in by barge during the 100 day shipping season when the port is ice-free. The first week in July is the earliest that new product arrives at the port. Emulsion usage is maximized from mid April through October when surface water fills the blastholes during drilling. This necessitates that a considerable portion of the bulk explosives are stored for 10 months or more before usage. The emulsion is routinely pumped from the ISO containers at temperatures of 20ºF (-7°C). The mine engineers conducted a testing program during the 2001-2 blasting season to identify the bulk explosives best suited for the conditions at the mine. A secondary goal was to decrease the usage of sensitized emulsion, as this is the most difficult portion of the explosives order to ship. To ensure repeatability when transferring the results to the day-to-day blasting operation, the majority of the testing was incorporated into normal blasting operations in the field. The mining methods used at Red Dog Mine make direct fragmentation analysis impractical and performance testing in the field relied primarily on VOD measurements. The products were also tested for their ability to be pumped in cold temperatures.

Jan 1, 2004

By Dr. Tristan Worsey, Dr. Jhon Silva-Castro

Confinement is an important aspect of blasting. Reducing and increasing confinement can determine whether a blast design performs properly. Over-confined shots usually have poor fragmentation, higher vibrations, and stemming ejection, and unconfined shots usually have a lot of air blast and fly rock. When talking about confinement in blasting, static confinement conditions are typically referenced. Static confinement conditions are ruled by free faces, shot muck, burden, spacing, stemming, hole depth, toe, etc. All these conditions exist in a static state. Static confinement conditions are generally analyzed before the shot takes place, but once the shot starts, the conditions will change according to the sequence and delay of the shot. Once the shot starts, Dynamic confinement takes place. For the authors, Dynamic confinement is the confinement conditions that exist for the charge when it fires and should account not only for the variables included for the static confinement but also for the time and sequence of the shot. The paper explores the theory of dynamic confinement and its role in influencing blast performance. Time and sequence are the main influencers of dynamic confinement and will be the focus of the paper. How to generate the appropriate timing based on blast design, dynamic confinement, static confinement, and geology will also be discussed.

Jan 21, 2025

By R. Sibley, K. Perry, E. McCorkle, M. Coy

Black powder has been used in fireworks since the 10 th century in China. To this day, black powder still has a variety of uses, including fireworks, and remains relatively unchanged. Black powder is used in the firework shell to help produce the effect and in the lift charge to propel the shell skyward. The performance of fireworks shells used in displays varies greatly. In fireworks shells, there are two different black powder charges that differ in construction based on the desired performance of the shell. The two charges consist of the lift charge and the break charge. The lift charge is the first to fire and propels the shell out of the mortar. The break charge is the second to fire and is initiated after a delay from the lift charge; its purpose is to burst the shells effect over the desired area of the sky. The lift charge provides the shell with its initial velocity by pressurizing the mortar below the shell body. The pressurization process is violent and occurs in fractions of a second. The purpose of these experiments are to better understand the pressures sustained in fireworks mortars during the firing process. Mortars and shells vary by size and weight. Pressures in each mortar were monitored at various heights along the mortar to provide a pressure profile during shell lift. A high-speed camera was used to measure shell exit velocity near the mortar’s muzzle. This information was correlated with the size and weight of shells and their respective lift charges

Jan 1, 2024

By Andrew Theobald, Peter Dare-Bryan, Trevor Byers

The use of advanced modelling techniques and the timing flexibility of electronic initiation systems allows for unprecedented control over blast outcomes as shown in several complex blasting problems experienced by the open pit operation Xstrata Ernest Henry Mine (EHM) in north-west Queensland, Australia.

Jan 1, 2010

By Luis Huaroc, Augusto Sotomayor, Erick Rodriguez, Paulo Fernández, José Ricaldi, Luis Alejandro

The application of the Kuz-Ram model for the prediction of fragmentation is used worldwide, in Coimolache Mine it was used to determine blast domains and optimize the process by obtaining drilling patterns that meet a required X80 and reducing the uncertainty of drilling.

Feb 1, 2020

By David Leidel, James Stuart

The 50 ohm resistorized electric detonator is commonly used in the oilfield for initiation of wireline conveyed perforating guns and other downhole explosive tools. This type of electric detonator provides some degree of safety above that of the conventional one ohm electric detonator, since a higher current level is required to initiate the device. In order to obtain the necessary data to develop safe distance tables from RF sources for the 50 ohm electric detonator, laboratory tests were conducted to determine the detonator’s “no-fire” current, AC impedance, and its susceptibility to ESD. The results were surprising as two types of failure modes were observed. The “no-fire’ current levels determined from Langlie “One-Shot” Test Methods were determined for the devices tested providing values for the 0.999 probability “no-fire” power level at a 95% confidence level. This data will serve as the basis for sets of safe distance tables from RF sources that will appear in the forthcoming edition of the Institute of Makers of Explosives Safety Library Publication 20, “Safety Guide for the Prevention of Radio Frequency Radiation Hazards in the Use of Commercial Electric Detonators, (Blasting Caps)”.

Jan 1, 2010

By Rakesh Raghavaraju, Bibhu Mohanty

The paper analyzes the decay of shock pressure as a function of distance from the borehole, and its implication on shock-induced fracture properties of the target rock as the first step in predicting fracture and fragmentation behaviour in a well-characterized rock.

Feb 1, 2020

By Bethany Witter, Dyno Nobel

In the past decades, a technological explosion has caused generational shifts. First, millennials experienced a technological shift to computers and cellphones. Next, Generation Z experienced a shift to smart phones and social media. These two generations are immersed in technology and are accustomed to constant connectivity. How do the extractive and construction industries gain the interest of younger generations and integrate them into the industry?

Feb 1, 2020

By Italo Onederra, Miguel Araos

"In order to characterize non-ideal explosives, the explosives industry rely on unconfined velocity ofdetonation tests and where possible underwater pond tests. The information obtained from such tests isquite helpful, however it cannot tell us much about the dynamics of the detonation reaction process. The detonation process has been studied for ideal explosives and the reaction zone length have been measured. However, for non-ideal explosives, that type of information is not available. Therefore, the primary aim of this work was to capture the detonation process of a non-ideal explosive using high speed video camera to determine the zone length."

Jan 1, 2017

By Bethany Witter

In the past decades, a technological explosion has caused generational shifts. First, millennials experienced a technological shift to computers and cellphones. Next, Generation Z experienced a shift to smart phones and social media. These two generations are immersed in technology and are accustomed to constant connectivity. How do the extractive and construction industries gain the interest of younger generations and integrate them into the industry? The Virginia Tech Student Chapter of the International Society of Explosives Engineers handled this same issue with its recruitment efforts and event planning from 2017-2019. The first critical component of integrating Generation Z college students into the extractive industries is clear and frequent communication via email. Next, Generation Z often values the motivation behind work when choosing a career, so advertising technological advancements, benefits, and ways people can contribute to improving the industry also helps attract young generations. Similarly, advertising opportunities for people to work outside with their hands, travel, and secure stable careers can attract students. At Virginia Tech, the most effective way to attract and maintain the interest of students in extractive industries is to put the students in the field. Field trips to mines and factories experienced the most stable attendance and highest survey reviews of all other chapter events. Guest presentations from industry professionals were often well attended, but attendance tapered off as the academic year progressed and students grew busier. Periodic trips throughout the year maintained student engagement and often supplemented their curriculum. The student chapter was relatively successful in attracting students, but it struggled to maintain attendance levels in the latter portion of the academic year. In the future, the industry can increase its recruitment of Generation Z and Millennials into the workforce by working more closely with university programs to provide resources and opportunities for hands-on experiences for students.

By Rakesh Raghavaraju, Bibhu Mohanty

Prediction of fracture and fragmentation characteristics of a rock mass subjected to dynamic loads, such as in blasting remains a major technical challenge. The present study is aimed at characterizing the shock transmission properties in controlled experiments in small scale in a well-characterized granitic rock, under varying borehole coupling conditions. Single blast-hole tests were conducted in a granitic rock sample of 145 mm (5.7 inches) diameter and height. The boreholes (in two diameters: 6.4 mm (1/4 inch) or 9.5 mm (3/8 inch)) were loaded with detonating cord of varying charge weight (5.3 g/m or 25 grains/ft to 31.8 g/m or 150 grains/ft of PETN). The effect of explosion gas penetration into the target rock was eliminated by inserting a thin-walled copper liner along the borehole wall. Embedded carbon composite resisters were employed at varying distances from the borehole to measure transmitted shock pressure for two coupling conditions (i.e. air and water) at distances of 1x to 9x the borehole diameter. The paper analyzes the decay of shock pressure as a function of distance from the borehole, and its implication on shock-induced fracture properties of the target rock as the first step in predicting fracture and fragmentation behaviour in a well-characterized rock.

By Peter Moser, Michael Messner, Florian Bauer

The existence of ammonia in underground blasting fumes was frequently measured in various field tests (6, 7). Ammonia in fumes with a TLV (threshold limit value) of around 30 ppm (slightly different in various countries) is a toxic gas but not considered to be a high risk for the underground work force as ammonia smells very itching and is extremely annoying. This might be the reason why ammonia is hardly measured in routine underground blasting fumes control. Another reason for the lacking measurement might be the circumstance that ammonia is a very reactive gas and the ammonia sensors available on the market are very cross sensitive to other gases like carbon monoxide. Nevertheless, especially since the introduction of bulk emulsion explosives in underground blasting, complaints from miners about ammonia in the blasting fumes increased. Research work by various institutions [8] around the world relates the ammonia in the fumes back to various mechanisms. Amongst others these comprise: a) non ideal (low temperature) detonation of explosives, with NH3 in the reaction products; b) reaction between rock and non detonated bulk explosives (especially when the rock is of a basic nature (high pH value); c) reaction between shotcrete and non detonated bulk explosives. Numerous blasting tests in an experimental underground set up have been made in order to check these hypotheses for ammonia origin in blasting fumes. None of them has been found to be responsible for sometimes high concentrations of ammonia in the fumes. The major reason for ammonia concentration in blasting fumes has been found in mine water of a high pH value (either natural or from using shotcrete). The mechanism identified is as follows: the moment a non detonated ammonium nitrate bearing explosive comes in contact with mine water of a high pH value, ammonia is formed immediately. The source for the undetonated explosive is twofold: firstly there is a certain spillage of explosives when the holes are charged (especially when using bulk products) and secondly not the entire explosives detonate completely. These undetonated remaining of the explosives end up in the muck pile after blasting. In case there is water of a high pH value the reaction between the explosives and the water starts immediately. This explains also the observation why ammonia can be measured in the blasting fumes quite a long time after the blast. The majority of the ammonia is not formed during the detonation; it is formed inside the muck pile even a considerable long time after the blast.

Jan 1, 2010