Blasting Practices in Mines

Author: Partha Das Sharma (B.Tech-Hons. In Mining Engg.)

E.mail - [email protected] and [email protected]

1. Introduction – Most rocks and ores require blasting to break them into smaller
particles before an excavation takes place in mining operations. Explosive materials are
tools that benefit mankind, when used properly. However, improper use can be
disastrous. Blasting is one of the most important parts in any mine because without the
appropriate performance, the results are not only the failure of the blasting operation but
the mine operation could be jeopardized. The major factors that influence blasting results
are:
a. Properties of explosives being used,
b. The initiation systems,
c. The distribution of the explosive in the blast,
d. Rock structure,
e. The overall geometry, and
f. Other factors.

2. The selection of the proper explosive is based on three criteria -

a. Its ability to function properly in the proposed environment
b. The performance characteristic of explosive
c. Cost

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 1

3. Explosives are different in the following ways -
a. Strength
b. The ability to resist water and water pressure
c. Input energy needed to start the reaction
d. Minimum diameter in which detonation will occur
e. Flammability
f. Generation of toxic fumes
g. Detonation pressure
h. Ability to remain in original configuration
i. Ability to function under different temperature condition
j. Reaction velocity
k. Bulk density

In the explosives selection process, we evaluate each of characteristics to determine

which are importance to us and which are not. For instance, if we had a project with dry
blast holes, we do not need a product that has a high water resistance; or if we are using
large diameter blastholes, it is not important whether the explosive functions reliably in a
very small diameter blasthole. We should purchase the explosive product that will
function properly for the blast, at the lower cost.

4. Conditions that influence the selection of the proper initiation systems -

a. Type of explosive used: Detonation cord used for initiating high explosives may cause
disruption of less sensitive explosive. Blasting agents should not be initiated by a No. 6 blasting
cap.

b. Borehole temperature: Different manufacturers produce products with different ranges of

limiting temperatures; mostly the initiation systems should not be used in temperature exceeding
150o F or 60o C.

c. Geology: Initiation systems should be fully activated before rock movement occurs to prevent
cutoffs and subsequent misfires.

d. Hydrostatic pressure: Different manufacturers produce products with different ranges of

hydrostatic pressure resistance.

e. Environmental constraints: The type of system as well as the delay sequence must be
correctly chosen so as to limit ground vibrations and air blast.

f. Extraneous electricity: Extraneous electricity is defined as any electrical energy, other than
the actual firing current or a test current from a blasting galvanometer, that may be present in the
blasting area. Electric detonators are designed to be fired by a pulse of electrical energy, so they
may be accidentally fired by extraneous electricity such as a stray current, static electricity, radio
frequency energy, electrical storms and high-voltage power lines. Extraneous electricity can be
introduced into an electric blasting circuit by either direct contact (stray current or static current)
or by electromagnetic radiation (EMR) ( inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, electromagnetic
microwave, or radio waves). As a result, consideration must be given to the potential hazard
from extraneous electricity when using electric detonators.

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 2

5. Blast design – Any blast design must encompass the fundamental concepts of an ideal blast
design, which are then modified as per geologic conditions. The engineer must select the proper
variable to match the specific field conditions during the design of the blast. Uncontrolled or
specific field conditions are the one over which we have little control such the geology, rock
characteristics, and regulations or specifications (such as the distance to the nearest structures).
The controllable variables are:
a. Hole diameter
b. Hole depth
c. Sub-drilling depth
d. Stemming distance
e. Stemming material
f. Burden and spacing
g. Number of holes in the blast
h. Direction of rock movement
i. Timing
j. Types of explosive and initiation system

6. Delay initiation Sequence – Delay blasting can be used both in a single row round and in a
multiple row round. It is also used for tunnel blasting. In this, each charge is given sufficient time
to break its quota of burden from the rock mass before the next charge detonates. The basic
purpose of it is to create free face for a blast. If a free face is not available, an inner blasthole may

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 3

crater upward, resulting in poor fragmentation, little forward displacement, and an increase in the
possibility of flyrock and overbreak, while increasing ground vibration and air blast.

Use of proper delay sequence, the ground vibration, air blast, flyrock is minimized, and the
fragmentation is increased. The delay interval necessary for optimum fragmentation varies with
the type of rock and burden distances. It appears that delay intervals of between 10 and 60
milliseconds between adjacent blastholes in a row provide the best result.

7. Opencast blasting – In opencast multi row blasting, various delay initiation sequences are
possible. They are : (i) Instantaneous, (ii) Row Delay and (iii) V, V1, V2 pattern.
[For more refer ‘Explosives and Blasting for Opencast’]

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 4

8. Overburden Blast SideCasting – Overburden Blast SideCasting is the procedure of
displacement of a portion of overburden horizontally by blasting, to a desired distance in a
required direction away from the working area. Generally, the area to which the overburden is
directed to throw is in de-coaled area. Overburden Blast Side Casting is directional blasting. It is
also called Blast Casting, Side Casting or Throw Blast. The remaining of overburden is handled
by mechanical means.

Therefore, this system of overburden side casting by blasting reduces considerable amount of
work on deployment of excavating equipment for removing overburden. Moreover, this technique
allows much improved fragmentation thereby causing the excavating equipment to work more
efficiently and with much ease.

Another important point regarding control of Ground Vibration of Blast Casting is system of Pre-
splitting of Main block of blast. This system reduces the blast induced Ground Vibration greatly;
thereby the nuisances arising due to Vibration is effectively controlled. Therefore, overall
efficiency of working in Mines is improved considerably by adopting Blast Side casting with Pre-
splitting.

Advantages of Overburden Blast Casting: Conventionally, the blasted overburden is removed

by Draglines, Shovels or Loaders. Now, Overburden blast Casting has emerged as cheaper
alternative to the conventional method of removal of overburden. In the following ways the
overburden blast casting is advantageous and reduces the cost of removal of overburden in
comparison to the conventional method.

* Saving in operating and capital cost of excavating equipments for removal of overburden.

* Saving in maintenance cost of excavating equipments for removal of overburden.

* Time for removal of casting overburden by excavating machines is reduced and thereby
productivity is increased.

* The saving in operating, power, capital and maintenance cost of excavating machinery is much
more in comparison to the cost of additional explosives required for overburden blast casting,
therefore overall economy is achieved in removal of overburden.

* Because of reduction in requirement of spares for maintenance etc., other hidden cost related to
inventory management of spares of excavating machine also reduced.

* Smaller size of excavating equipment needed with lesser manpower, as they have to handle
comparatively lesser volume of overburden.

* In working mines, if there is under capacity of primary stripping unit (i.e., less number of
loading units to handle overburden), in other words, if there is mismatch of capacities of
excavating equipment for stripping and coal removal, overburden blast casting can tackle this
problem, thereby coal production can be improved.

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 5

Because of the above economical advantages, more and more opencast projects are
experimenting with overburden blast casting in India. This technique has been experimented
extensively in open pits in many countries like USA, Russia, South Africa, Australia etc., and
found that cost can be reduced considerably in comparison with conventional method of
workings.
[For more refer ‘Blast Sidecasting’]

9. Tunnel blasting – Tunneling in rocks is currently performed mainly by blasting, as this

method only is capable of providing sufficiently high effectiveness and economics in the
construction of tunnel in tough rocks. Tunneling by ‘tunnel borers’ is considered to be less
effective especially as regards the construction of tunnels of large cross sectional areas.

The prime objective in Tunnel blasting is to obtain maximum advance/pull per round of blast and
to keep cost within reasonable limit. Therefore, very cautiously the type of explosives, drilling
pattern (Wedge Cut or Parallel Holes with Dia. of empty holes), spacing & burden, number of
holes to be drilled per round, Delay sequence etc., are to be selected. Cycle time is to be kept
minimum as far as possible. Cycle of operation include Drilling, Charging, Blasting, Ventilation,
Scaling, Support work, Grouting, Loading and Transport, and Setting out for the next blast. The
factors on which a great deal of tunneling operations depends are:

a. Type of explosives used for tunneling blasting operations.

b. Blast design and selection of dia. & location of holes in compatible with the geology of strata,
designed area of opening, Environment, existing laws etc.

Unlike bench blasting, tunnel blasting has only one free face and holes are drilled normal to the
free face surface. In such a situation, the explosives charge will blow out a narrow funnel- shaped
crater. But if the hole is drilled at a certain angle to the free face, the result will be better, as the
major part of the gasses will break out the rock in the direction of free face.

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 6

Alternatively, if large diameter dummy holes parallel to the blast holes are drilled, the breakage
performance is better as the large diameter dummy holes provide additional free face.

The initial opening/cut created either by angled holes or by holes drilled parallel to large diameter
dummy holes are widen subsequently by the holes fired after cut holes using proper delays. In
other words, the main difference between tunnel blasting and bench blasting is that tunnel
blasting is done towards one free surface, while bench blasting is done towards two or more free
surfaces. The rock is thus more constricted in the case of tunneling, and a second free face has to
be created towards which the rock can break and be thrown away from the surface. This second
face is produced by a cut in the tunnel face, which can be a parallel hole cut, a V-cut, or a fan-cut.
After the cut opening is made, the stopping towards the cut begins. The final shape of the cross
section is given by trimmers or contour holes with closer spacing and comparatively smaller
charge.
[For more refer ‘Tunnel Blasting and Explosives’]

10. Underground metal mining blasting – Method of Mining in Underground Metal mines
mainly depend on type of Deposit, i.e., regular or irregular; Extent and depth of deposit,
i.e., massive / pocket etc.; Dip and Thickness of deposit; nature of Hanging wall and Foot
wall etc.

Sublevel stoping is one of the most important methods of choice for achieving high
production rate in Underground Metal mines. The pattern of long hole drilling can be
classed under two major categories, i.e., Parallel hole drilling and Ring hole drilling.

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 7

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 8
[For more refer ‘Blasting Techniques in Underground Metal Mines’]

11. Controlled blasting techniques – Broadly, controlled blasting for control of overbreak (in
opencast and tunnel), ground vibration etc., can be catagorised into four types, i.e., Pre-splitting,
Trim or cushion blasting, Line drilling and Smooth blasting. Muffle blasting is done to restrict
fly-rock.

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 9

a. Pre-splitting: This method is not a new blasting technique. It became a recognized blasting
technique for wall control when it was used in the mid-1950s on the Niagara power project. The
purpose of pre-splitting is to form a fracture plane across which the radial cracks from the
production blasting cannot travel. This method may cause a fracture plane which may be
cosmetically appealing and allow the use of steeper slope with less maintenance. Pre-splitting
uses lightly loaded, closely spaced drill holes, and is fired before the production blast.

b. Trim (or Cushion) Blasting: Trim blasts are designed to produce a final wall similar to a pre-
split blast, but they are fired after the production holes. The idea is to eliminate costly small
diameter blasthole and work along with the associated hole loading difficulties. The spacing is
normally larger than used in pre-splitting because there is relief toward which the holes can break.

c. Line drilling: This system involves a single row of closely spaced uncharged holes along the
neat excavation line. This provides a plane of weakness to which the primary blast can break. It
also causes some of the shock waves generated by the blast to be reflected, which reduces
shattering and stressing in the finished wall of the host rock. Thus, preserving, to a great extent,
the original strength of the host rock is possible. This system is applied in very sensitive areas
where even the light explosive associated with other controlled blasting technique may cause
damage beyond excavation line. This technique gives maximum protection to the host rock to
preserve its original strength.

d. Smooth blasting (or contour or perimeter blasting): A technique used (rarely in surface and
mostly in underground blasting) in which a row or closely spaced drill holes are loaded with
decoupled charges (charges with a smaller diameter than the drill hole) and fired simultaneously
to produce an excavation contour without fracturing or damaging the rock behind or adjacent to
the blasted face. In this technique, perimeter or contour holes are drilled along specified final
excavation limits and are lightly loaded than that of buffer holes and production holes. The
spacing is kept closer than buffer holes and production holes. Unlike production drill hole blast
where higher charge concentration is required, contour drill holes require low charge
concentration and explosives should be lightly distributed all along the length of the bore hole.
Some time use of high grammage Detonating Fuse (about 40 gm/m core wt., to 60 gm/m core

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 10

wt.) for contour blasting can give effective result in tunneling. This results in an air cushion
effect, which prevents over-break and reduces in-situ rock damage for preservation of strength of
host rock.

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 11

e. Muffle blast: In case of blasting in congested areas, Muffling or covering of blast holes
properly before blasting, is the common solution to prevent fly-rock from damaging human
habitants and structures.
[For more refer ‘Controlled Blasting Techniques’]

12. Use of in-hole delays in decks – Charge weight per delay is the most important parameter for
controlling blast induced ground vibration and air-blast. More the charge weight per delay in a
blast, more is the intensity of blast induced ground vibration and air-blast for a given distance.
Combination of in-hole delays in multi-deck with pre-splitting of production blast can mitigate
the effect of low frequency vibration to a great extent. Recently, accurate Electronic delay
detonator system has been introduced for blasting in opencast mines, resulting better blasting
efficiency in terms of better fragmentation, improved over all costs, control of fly-rock & air-blast
and effective reduction in blast induced ground vibration with greater safety.

13. Use of Accurate and Precise Timing Electronic Delay Detonators – By more accurately
controlling timing delays, electronic detonator system can increase rock fragmentation, lower
vibration levels, reduce oversize; lessen the potential of fly-rock. This translates into faster
excavation times and improves downstream processing costs for the mining operation by
increasing throughput, reducing crusher wear, and lowering power consumption and maintenance
costs.

Apart, accurate delay timing programmable electronic detonators enable to adopt innovative
‘Signature-hole blast analysis’ technique to simulate, predict and control blast induced ground
vibration, in order to obtain maximum operational efficiency, such as raising quantity of
explosives per delay (kg/delay) etc.

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 12

Research studies had indicated that blast vibration could be simulated by detonating a “Signature
Hole” with the vibration monitored at critical locations, and then using a computer to superpose
the waveforms with varying delays. By choosing delay times (∆t) that create ‘destructive
interference’ at frequencies that are favored by the local geology, the “ringing” vibration that
excites structural elements in structures, houses and annoys neighbors could be reduced.
Computer analysis determines the application of delay timing between holes and between the
rows.
[For more refer ‘Programmable Digital Detonator System’]

14. Blasting Safety – Explosives are tools that, when used properly, benefit mankind. However,
improper use can be disastrous. Prevention of explosives accidents depends on careful planning
and faithful observance of proper blasting practices. The users must remember that they are
dealing with a powerful force and that various devices and methods have been developed to assist
them in directing this force. The slightest abuse or misdirection of explosives may cause serious
injury or kill yourself or others. It is impossible to include warnings or approved methods for
every conceivable situation. Explosive safety depends on a thorough knowledge of explosives,
safe blasting practices and common sense of the users.

References:
1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/14705815/Explosives-and-Blasting-in-Open-Cast
2. http://www.scribd.com/doc/11268797/Tunneling-Blasting-and-Emulsion-Explosives
3. http://www.scribd.com/doc/10675421/Blast-Side-Casting-in-Surface-Coal-Mines
4. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6608209/Controlled-blasting-techniques
5. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6761981/Signature-Hole-Blast-Vibration-Control
6. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/5403026/Advances-in-Drilling-and-Blasting
7. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/5339119/Electronic-Detonator-for-commercial-blasting
8. http://knol.google.com/k/partha-das-sharma/programmable-digital-detonator-
system/oml631csgjs7/28#
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author’s Bio-data: Partha Das Sharma is Graduate (B.Tech – Hons.) in Mining Engineering
from IIT, Kharagpur, India (1979) and was associated with number of mining and explosives
organizations, namely MOIL, BALCO, Century Cement, Anil Chemicals, VBC Industries, Mah.
Explosives etc., before joining the present organization, Solar Group of Explosives Industries at
Nagpur (India), few years ago.

Author has presented number of technical papers in many of the seminars and journals on varied
topics like Overburden side casting by blasting, Blast induced Ground Vibration and its control,
Tunnel blasting, Drilling & blasting in metalliferous underground mines, Controlled blasting
techniques, Development of Non-primary explosive detonators (NPED), Signature hole blast
analysis with Electronic detonator etc. Currently, author has following useful blogs on Web:
• http://miningandblasting.wordpress.com/
• http://saferenvironment.wordpress.com
• http://www.environmentengineering.blogspot.com
• www.coalandfuel.blogspot.com

Author can be contacted at E-mail: [email protected], [email protected],

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Views expressed in the article are solely of the author’s own and do not necessarily
belong to any of the Company.
***

Author: Partha Das Sharma (E.mail: [email protected]) 13