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By Rahim G. Haghighi, Calvin J. Konya

Fragmentation is the fundamental concern of rock blasting and it measures the effectiveness of blasting. Fragmentation is sensitive to not only the interrelationship among the design variables, but also is sensitive to local geology. Local geologic conditions have a significant impact on the success of a blasting operation.

Jan 1, 1986

By H Russell

An account of an experimental blast at the Sullivan Mine involving a small pillar drilled with 4 1/2" diameter up-holes, and loaded with emulsion explosives from a truck-mounted tank/pump unit.

Jan 1, 1984

By Richard L. Ash, Calvin J. Konya

Proper selection of the spacing distance between blastholes is fundamental to successful blasting. Its value directly affects the profitability of an operation. It also exercises control over adverse effects such as airblast, flyrock, generation of ground vibrations, and overbreak. One of the more significant factors influencing the spacing's specific value is the initiation firing time intervals used between blastholes. Examples are described to illustrate some of the problems that result when spacing and timing are not compatible.

Jan 1, 1979

By Beau Bryson, Tony Cooley

The following paper is a technical discussion depicting the type of blasting procedures used to control vibration levels. The blast vibration control criteria that was established and the type of monitoring program that was used. Also, the importance of good communication with the concerned neighbors.

Jan 1, 1985

Many North American coal strip operations are practicing trajectory control blasting with good results, often based on trial and error methods. This study summarizes the basic technical requirements for the design of bench-type casting with explosives to achieve further improvements.

Jan 1, 1987

By Brent Blanchard

An emergency demolition project related to a bizarre plane crash has reportedly set a new world record for the tallest structure ever explosively demolished. On Sunday, April 22, 2001, 38-year old Gilbert Paquette was killed when his singleengine Cessna 150 struck a 1,217-foot tall communications transmission tower while flying in heavy fog over a remote region of upper Quebec Province.

Jan 1, 2002

By Winfried Rosenstock, Hans-Jochen Blatte

"The guidelines of fire-fighting strategies have to be rewritten, latest since theYellowstone-Fire.CF- and S3- procedure are developed to achieve firelines of 500 ms/ h length and 100 mswidth per unit. Thereby two stretched charges burried in different depth and fired delayedin one round covering 50,000 ms2/ h with non-combustible, natural material (soil) at oncein seconds."

Jan 1, 1993

By Mario Coderre, Andre Pinsonnault, Francois Lefebvre, Pierre Groleau, Yves Newman, Christian Pouliot

"This paper describes the blasting methods used to excavate the tailrace channel at theLaforge hydroelectric plant. It also shows the importance and versatility of the dopedemulsion explosives used in this project."

Jan 1, 1993

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 Bill Romanchuk, Real Doucet

Suncor Inc. has been operating the first commercial tarsand open pit mine in the world since 1967. Drilling and blasting operations are required to facilitate overburden removal and tarsand mining by bucketwheel excavators.

Jan 1, 1985

By D P. Onag, B Mohanty

AECL Research (AECL) has constructed an Underground Research Laboratory (URL) as a facility for research and development in the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program. The objectives of the program are to develop and evaluate the technology to ensure safe, permanent disposal of Canada's nuclear fuel waste. Several multidisciplinary experiments and engineering demonstrations are planned for the URL over the next ten years.

Jan 1, 1991

By Joe Sr Strobbe

In 1933 the Cobre Mining Company re-opened the 32-year-old UV Industry Mine, which is located in a scenic canyon near Silver City, New Mexico. The site location is shown in Figure 1. Current mineral extractions are copper and magnetite; both extractions similar to those mined many years ago. Copper is extracted from chalcopyrite imbedded in the host rock of massive limestone deposits and magnetite, an iron ore, is a by-product of the same extraction process.

Jan 1, 1998

By Bengt Niklasson

"A test stope at the Luossavaara Research Mine in Kiruna, Sweden,was divided into four different modules in which various hole patterns and explosives were tested in order to evaluate:1. The optimum combination of explosive and hole pattern2. The resulting fragmentation3. The damage to the surrounding rock4. The application techniques of the VCR mining method"

Jan 1, 1985

By T J. Wilton, K A. Broadhurst

The United Kingdom, although a relatively small island, has a wealth of mineral deposits, coal, granite, limestone, gypsum, lead, florspar, etc. Coal is a major source of energy with 71 opencast coal sites, 52 using explosives. Many of these sites are in rural areas, the average area worked being 250 acres. The smallest is 35 acres, the largest 2,000 acres, but only 600 acres can be operated at any one time.

Jan 1, 1981

By Jacques Monette, P K. O'Connell, Keith Boyle

The mine contracting industry in Canada is no different from any other industry in its quest for productivity improvements. Dynatec Mining Ltd. has focused on drilling and blasting of rounds as an area for improvement. This paper describes the development of blasting long rounds in shaft sinking as well as a description of the lateral excavation system as applied at Aur Resources Inc., Louvicourt Project.

Jan 1, 1994

By Norman S. Smith, Richard L. Ash

Many factors affect rock fragmentation from blasting. One variable seldom considered when designing blasts, however, is the borehole length. An example is described of how the length was adjusted to give better breakage when using 4-inch diameter blastholes at a quarry. To explain the basic principles involved test results from experiments conducted by the authors where borehole lengths were altered are presented and evaluated.

Jan 1, 1976

By Brad Johnson

Homestake Mining Corporations' open cut operation at Lead SD. experienced a highwall failure in October of 1993. The failure released a 75' section of rock wall at the 5280' level. It came to rest on the 5200' safety bench. Since work was in progress below the failure, this rock had to be removed for safety.

Jan 1, 1995

By H. C. Verakis

This paper summarizes blasting accident data for over a quarter of a century (1978-2004) for all types of surface and underground mining operations in the United States. Although many billions of pounds of explosives and blasting agent have been used by the mining industry, the accident safety record has improved significantly in the past 25 years. Over the past decade, approximately 5 billion pounds of explosives and blasting agents were used annually in the United States. Coal mining has been and continues to be the dominant user of blasting agents.

Jan 1, 2006

By Christoper J. Hunter, Tony Mansel, Carl Kolada

With a current trend toward Bulk Mining methods utilizing both large diameter uphole and downhole drilling, corresponding loading equipment and technology is required to safely and efficiently load these blastholes. Such is the case at Inco Limited Thompson Mine.

Jan 1, 1990

By David A. Smith, B L. Jr Lindsey

Arkansas bauxite varies enormously in its consistency and composition which makes blasting a very difficult operation. Blasting rounds have to be designed based on each particular mine's ore characteristics. The variances are so great in some mines that blasting procedures have to be changed almost daily.

Jan 1, 1979