Modern Techniques for Blast Design - Going Above and Beyond Powder Factor

This paper will discuss the modern design of blast rounds that go beyond powder factor and simply 'rule of thumb' multipliers for blast design. These new methods will discuss how the blast design changes with geology, structure and the dimensions of the blast.

New Development of Gassed Emulsion Explosive for Cost Optimization and Environmental Control

This paper is focused on designing a new gassed emulsion explosive to get improving VOD and energy release in addition to reduction/mitigation nitrous gas thus optimizing, blasting costs and significant environmental control. On-going tests performed showed excellent results on the rock fragmentation, which allows for expansion of drilling patterns.

OPEX Improvement from Migrating to GPS Guidance and Digital Drill Patterns

Studies conducted at several mine sites looked at quality of fragmentation and at drill and blast KPIs. This impacts explosives and drill tool cost, digging payload tonnes, cycle times, haulage payload tonnes, time to load a truck and the average number of passes to load the truck.

Optimize Fragmentation with Shovel-Mounted Image Analysis Systems

This paper takes the reader back to the basics by discussing the use of real-time fragmentation analysis at the muck pile as an important paramenter to optimise energy factors required for each blast.

Presplit Assessment by Signature Hole Blast Vibration with Accelerometer Measurement

Although with limited tests, it is impossible to identify the optimum presplit design. This paper presents a new method to measure the effectiveness of presplit blasting and investigates four presplit designs at a site by measuring blast vibrations using accelerometers.

Improved Drilling Accuracy Results in Reduced Ore Dilution at Evolution, Cracow

Tests conducted over six months in an underground narrow vein gold mine with permanently mounted gyro compass to production drill boom. Delivered estimated reduction of 5% ore dilution eliminating 25,000 tonnes of waste material on average will reduce operating costs by circa AUD2.5 million per annum.

Proposal and Development of a Continuous Convergence Monitoring System for Underground Environments

The new system presents a method for the measurement of vibrations and rock displacement in underground environments. The system is based on the use of an optical displacement sensor and a geophone connected to a data acquisition system in order to allow real-time convergence monitoring.

Reactivity and Spontaneous Detonation

This paper explains the mechanism of reactivity, the cause of spontaneous detonation and how inhibited explosives prevent the reaction. The paper also presents studies on the effect of sampling and PH on reactivity.

Risk Criteria for Quantitative Risk Assessment

Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) can be specifically tailored for use by the commercial explosives industry to calculate risk to employees and the public from commercial explosives facilities and operations. This paper also discusses acceptable risk criteria for this assessment methodology.

Seed Wave Modeling to Natural Caves Protection in Mining Operations

Introduction/ Site Characterization/ Study Case/ Methodology/ Results/ Conclusions.