| Abstract: | ![]()
The application of modern bulk emulsion explosive systems at an underground gold mine resulted in a 57% improvement in gold dilution. While this improvement is impressive and could be expected to be achieved at other sites, the work required to assess and demonstrate the benefits is painstaking. Forty-eight rings involving a total of approximately 50 000 tonnes of ore were monitored using various modern surveying instruments over a 6-month period. The geometric data included blasthole locations and deviation, and the cavity monitoring of stopes. Implementation of a bulk emulsion system not only provided logistical benefits but it also has the desirable explosive properties associated with reducing the effects of blast damage and blast dilution. |
