Sampling of Questions Posted on the Blastserve

"Are there any specific rules or "generally accepted" standards for audible pre-blast warnings, i.e. one long sound prior to blast, two long sounds for "all clear", etc?"

"Anyone know of problems with using portable seismographs very near to or directly under high voltage power lines? Is there an effect on geophone operation to be concerned with? Could erroneous data result? Could false triggers result at low vibration trigger levels? Could seismograph processor be affected?"

"I have an application that requires drilling & blasting rock in the bed of a fast flowing river (approx 20m wide). There is access from sides to use a drill mounted on a boom of an excavator. Need ideas how to get explosives into drill holes (may be possible to have a lightweight access structure to span river to allow access for shotfirer), but stumped as how to get a tube into holes to allow to get charge to base of hole. Water up to 8m deep & the drill depths in rock up to 10m deep...in excess of 70k m3 of material to be removed."

"I am looking for suggestions on load size and patterns for blasting limestone walls to produce decorative rock 2 to 4 foot size. The walls are about 20 to 30 foot wide, 200 foot long and about 40 foot high. Any help on how to pattern and load this project would be appreciated. The limestone looks quite tight with few seams."

"I'm looking for references/technical papers on the use of a trench between the blast site and a structure of interest to minmize/mitigate vibration levels at the structure from the blasting. I'd be interested in recommendations for size/depth, should it be filled with anything, ie., expanding foam, etc. and experiences demonstrating effectiveness of this technique."