Blast Design Using Measurement While Drilling Parameters

Measurement while drilling (MWD) techniques can provide a useful tool to aid drill and blast engineers in open cut mining. By avoiding time consuming tasks such as scan-lines and rock sample collection for laboratory tests, MWD techniques can not only save time but also improve the reliability of the blast design by providing the drill and blast engineer with the information specially tailored for use. While most mines use a standard blast pattern and charge per blasthole, based on a single rock factor for the entire bench or blast region, information derived from the MWD parameters can improve the blast design by providing more accurate rock properties for each individual blasthole. From this, decisions can be made on the most appropriate type and amount of explosive charge to place in a per blasthole or to optimise the inter-hole timing detonation time of different decks and blastholes. Where real-time calculations are feasible, the system could extend the present blast design even be used to determine the placement of subsequent holes towards a more appropriate blasthole pattern design like asymmetrical blasting.     

Newspapers as a validation proxy for GIS modeling in Fujairah,United Arab Emirates: identifying flood-prone areas

Prediction and control of blast-induced ground vibration is a matter of concern in mining industry since long. Several approaches ranging from scaled distance regression, different numerical methods to wave superimposition theories have been tried by many researchers for better prediction and control of blast-induced ground vibration. Signature hole analysis is one of the popular simulation methods to predict the ground vibration generated due to production blast. It superimposes the recorded signature hole waveform using a computer program to predict the production blast-induced vibration. The technique inputs the designated time of detonation of each hole and superimposes the waves generated by each hole to predict the nearest value of peak particle velocity and frequency of blast-induced ground vibration. Although a very useful approach, it requires a computer program to simulate the linear superimposition of waveforms. The simulation is not possible for every blast as it takes time and also is difficult for field engineers to simulate every time, whereas it is always easy for blasting engineers to adapt and use an empirical equation/approach for prediction and control of blast-induced ground vibration than simulation. In this paper, an attempt has been made to develop an innovative and simplified analytical approach of signature hole analysis. The simplified sinusoidal wave equation is obtained from recorded signature hole ground vibration waveform properties and is superimposed mathematically according to the multi-hole blast design to predict the production blast-induced ground vibrations. The validation of the developed approach was done in three different sites, and up to 15% more accuracy in prediction of the blast, vibrations are achieved in comparison with signature hole analysis prediction.

     

Optimum Blasting? Is it Minimum Cost Per Broken Rock or Maximum Value Per Broken Rock?

In most mining operations the ore undergoes several processes such as drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, crushing, grinding and liberation to become the final salable product. Drilling and blasting is an important step in this process chain and it's results such as fragmentation, muckpile shape and looseness, dilution, damage and rock softening effect the efficiency of downstream processes. The value created per ton of broken ore is the difference between the price it commands when sold as the final product and the cost to produce it. Traditionally, the total process in the mining industry is classified into two groups as mining and milling. These are managed as separate cost centres inspite of the interdependency. Each process has a budget and production target and emphasis is usually on maximising production (tons) and minimising cost rather than the overall profitability of the whole business unit. The efficiency of each process is considered to be satisfactory as long as they are within budget and meet the production targets. The mine and mill managers usually try to optimise each process independently rather than the entire process. This paper discusses the potential pitfalls of decreasing the drilling and blasting cost per ton of broken rock without considering its impact on downstream processes. It introduces a holistic approach to blast optimisation by identifying and measuring the leverage that blast results have on different downstream processes and then optimising the blast design to achieve the results that maximise the overall profitability rather than just minimising the drilling and blasting costs. This paper demonstrates the benefits of such a holistic approach to blasting based on computer model simulations and field studies from metal and open cut coal mining.     

Proposed algorithm for optimization of directional additional exploratory drill holes and computer coding

Block model estimated based on the drill hole information gathered during exploration stage is not appropriate for short- and medium-term mine planning. Additional information prior to mining is required for various purposes, that the source of this information is drill holes. In most situations, reducing the overall uncertainty on the estimation is the major objective of additional drilling and collecting samples from them. The topic of selecting the optimum location for additional exploratory drill holes has been of interest to mining engineers and geostatisticians in the second half of last century, but all of them are not able to optimize directional drill holes because they are based on the 2D space and do not consider the 3D extension of drill holes and block model. This study introduces a methodology to optimize the dip and location of additional exploratory drill holes based on the defined objective function with considering 3D extension of ore body and drill holes. Direct search simulated annealing used that is efficient and robust method for solving the nonlinear unconstrained global optimization problems. This method is very useful in the case that drilling the drill holes with different dips has been obligated due to topography condition and ore body situation. A case study in gold resource illustrates the method.     

A two-dimensional kinematic model for predicting muckpile shape in bench blasting

Summary Most existing models of blasting are stress-based and involve many fundamental parameters difficult or impossible to measure in practice. Even a single prediction with such models takes large quantities of computer time, so that calibration becomes a major impediment to their practical use.The model in this paper is based on a simple kinematic approach to modelling muckpile formation. This has the advantage of relative simplicity, while still reflecting the essence of the blasting displacement process. Because of the simple implementation, the model can be calibrated against field data in a straightforward manner and then used for predictions at the same site. The inputs to the model are simply the blast design parameters. The output of the model is a muckpile cross-section, within which contours of diggability or distribution of materials can also be calculated. Case studies have shown that, provided the model is calibrated to the site condition, it will give accurate predictions for altered blast designs.     

Asymmetric Blasting: A Rock Mass Dependent Blast Design Method

Blasting has been the most frequently used method for rock breakage since black powder was first used to fragment rocks, more than two hundred years ago. This paper is an attempt to reassess standard design techniques used in blasting by providing an alternative approach to blast design. The new approach has been termed asymmetric blasting. Based on providing real time rock recognition through the capacity of measurement while drilling (MWD) techniques, asymmetric blasting is an approach to deal with rock properties as they occur in nature, i.e., randomly and asymmetrically spatially distributed. It is well accepted that performance of basic mining operations, such as excavation and crushing rely on a broken rock mass which has been pre conditioned by the blast. By pre-conditioned we mean well fragmented, sufficiently loose and with adequate muckpile profile. These muckpile characteristics affect loading and hauling [1]. The influence of blasting does not end there. Under the Mine to Mill paradigm, blasting has a significant leverage on downstream operations such as crushing and milling. There is a body of evidence that blasting affects mineral liberation [2]. Thus, the importance of blasting has increased from simply fragmenting and loosing the rock mass, to a broader role that encompasses many aspects of mining, which affects the cost of the end product. A new approach is proposed in this paper which facilitates this trend 'to treat non-homogeneous media (rock mass) in a non-homogeneous manner (an asymmetrical pattern) in order to achieve an optimal result (in terms of muckpile size distribution).' It is postulated there are no logical reasons (besides the current lack of means to infer rock mass properties in the blind zones of the bench and onsite precedents) for drilling a regular blast pattern over a rock mass that is inherently heterogeneous. Real and theoretical examples of such a method are presented.     

稀缺高炉喷吹用煤地质评价指标探讨及应用

高炉喷吹用煤可减少焦炭的使用量，是现代高炉降低生产成本提高经济效益的重要技术措施。从高炉喷吹用煤的煤质影响因素入手，在稀缺煤和优质煤煤质评价的基础上探讨稀缺高炉喷吹用煤的地质评价指标及分级参数。通过分析，将高炉喷吹原料用煤的煤质评价指标划分为工艺指标和经济指标两大类，工艺指标是决定煤是否能用于高炉喷吹工艺的关键指标，经济指标主要影响高炉喷吹工艺的成本。煤类差异是高炉喷吹用煤选择的首要因素，根据我国煤炭资源禀赋特征，提出无烟煤、贫煤、贫瘦煤是高炉喷吹用煤中的稀缺煤类。结合煤炭地质勘查中对"优质煤"的评价标准，提出灰、硫、磷的含量是稀缺高炉喷吹用煤地质评价的关键指标，要求灰分质量分数不大于12.00%、全硫质量分数不大于1.00%、磷分质量分数不大于0.03%。利用该指标对我国无烟煤、贫煤、贫瘦煤分布的典型矿区进行煤质评价和资源划分，指出永城、西山、阳泉、潞安、二道岭和汝箕沟矿区是我国稀缺高炉喷吹用煤的主要分布区，统计的稀缺高炉喷吹用煤保有资源量107亿t，为我国稀缺高炉喷吹用煤的合理开采和充分利用提供了依据。      

Random Forest Tree Based Approach for Blast Design in Surface Mine

Blasting is one of the primary mining operations for extracting minerals and ores however, if not designed properly, may have a varying degree of environmental and socio-economic impact in and around mining areas. In Indian mining industry, blast designs are fundamentally based on the experience and capability of the blasting crew and its assessment is more qualitative in nature, based on conventional trial and error basis. With the change in site geology and geotechnical parameters, the blast design parameters also require alterations, which can be standardized with the development of an intelligent system such as neural network. In this paper, the concept of artificial neural network and random forest algorithm has been used for better blast designs. Over 120 blast results from an opencast coal mine have been used for prediction of burden and energy factor with blast hole diameter, bench height to stemming ratio, nature of strata and average fragment size as input parameters. Out of 120 data sets 85 data sets recorded at a surface coal mine was used to train the model and 20 for the validation. Co-efficient of determination and root mean square error was chosen as the indicators to identify the optimum neural network and random forest model. The root mean square values obtained for energy factor is 0.153 while it is 0.1947 for burden. Similarly, the RMSE values obtained using random forest tree algorithm is 0.48 for burden while 50.76 for energy factor. The results revealed that random forest tree network system has potential to design better blast that is not generic and can be a potential tool for blasting engineers to design optimum blast for the mines.     

ZDY6000LD(A)型履带式全液压定向钻机及其应用

近水平定向长钻孔钻进技术是提高我国煤矿井下瓦斯抽采效率的一条重要途径。介绍了ZDY6000LD(A)型履带式全液压千米定向钻机的研制,包括整体布局、履带底盘、主要结构和液压系统。井下试验表明,该钻机适于在井下巷道钻进孔深1 000 m以上的多分支钻孔,性能可靠,定向精度高,移动稳固、快速、方便。      

岩心钻探斜构造地层井斜轨迹预测模型与软件

针对岩心钻探斜构造岩层,把钻进过程分为无旋挤压分量和无压扭转分量,建立了钻头与地层相互作用模型、粗径钻具偏转模型,从而形成了一套综合考虑地层产状、岩性、钻井液润滑系数、钻头偏斜力、钻具组合等影响因素的钻进趋势预测的模型及方法.运用计算机编程技术建立预测软件,结合大陆科学钻探一井(CCSD-1)部分井段相关数据得出预测轨...     

Prediction of in-situ block size distributions with reference to armourstone for breakwaters

Understanding a quarry in terms of its potential for breakwater construction materials presents a special challenge for the engineering geologist. Unlike blasting in aggregates and mining operations, optimisation of the extraction process has a focus on the potential for production of large blocks for armourstone. These blocks weighing many tonnes are used for cover layers to resist wave action. The quarry-run is used for breakwater core. If the quarry has been developed as a source of materials dedicated to a breakwater construction project, the success of the project depends greatly on the blasting and production of rock sizes that are required and the avoidance of leaving a massive quantity of unused materials behind in the quarry after project completion. Prediction of in-situ block sizes such as from joint spacing data, provides the most critical input for the prediction of the blast pile block size distribution (BBSD), which in turn is a vital early design input if the constructed breakwater is to be economical as well as effective.This paper is part of a series of papers that introduces the coastal engineering motivation for this work on engineering geology, giving reasons why the prediction of the fragmentation curve of the blast products in a dedicated quarry is of such economic importance for breakwater projects. The first step towards blasted block size distribution (BBSD) prediction is the prediction of the in-situ block sized distribution (IBSD), the main subject of this paper. Drawing together research methods from the 1990s and the rock mechanics principles of discontinuity analysis, a practical step by step methodology for IBSD assessment that includes approaches that are not reliant on specialised computer software is presented. Continuing on the practical theme, a new extension of the volumetric joint count approach is suggested for IBSD prediction for the case when sparse borehole data is all that is available. A case study of IBSD assessment and the associated BBSD and blast assessment is presented from a Carboniferous limestone quarry. For clarity, details of blast design and yield curve prediction that are recommended for use in the context of armourstone production, have been presented in a companion paper. The Rosin-Rammler equation is used as an example form for the BBSD prediction of a dedicated quarry and the potential for breakwater project optimisation is illustrated. The final section sets out a method for directly comparing yield curves together with the demand for materials set by the breakwater design. On the same plot, sizes where there is a relative shortfall in production can be identified. The dependence of effective breakwater design on accurate quarry yield prediction and quarry blasting performance is discussed.     

四川安谷水电站勘探竖井及试验平硐施工工艺

四川安谷水电站勘探竖井所处地层河床砂卵石层深厚,采用传统的人工挖掘护壁或沉井施工工艺,施工难度大。针对地层的特点,采用冲击钻机成孔的方式施工。同时,在竖井中开挖试验平硐,遵循多炮眼、小进尺、小药量,光面爆破的施工方案,圆满完成试验平硐的开挖。介绍了其施工技术及注意事项。     

专家系统在钻头设计及使用中的应用

运用人工智能技术、创造性地将设计及使用小口径金刚石钻头和大口径工程施工钻头的知识与经验编制成相应的专家系统，具有较高的实用价值。     

Wall Control Blasting Practices at BHP Billiton Iron Ore Mt Whaleback

A programme of blast improvement was initiated at the Mt Whaleback iron ore mine by BHPIO management in early-1998. One component of that work was the need to improve wall control blasting practices to better achieve the designed pit slope elements. This paper describes the geological conditions in which pit walls are developed, the mine operating equipment, the blast design concepts applied to minimise blast damage, the techniques applied in an assessment of the blast performance and the operational procedures developed to ensure that the blast concepts are effectively implemented in the production environment. Substantial changes have been implemented in both technical and operational aspects of the mining operation in order to achieve the improvements in pit wall condition, in particular recognising the need for a more flexible approach to limits blasting in response to highly variable and complex geology. The benefits to the mine are not only an improved wall condition, but increased confidence on the part of mine management that mine plans may be implemented on design and on schedule.     

Vibration Simulation Method to Control Stability in the Northeast Corner of Escondida Mine

Vibrations due to production blasting can induce damage to the rock mass at large distances by altering larger geological structures, fault areas or other structures, where the orientation with respect to the mine geometry is unfavorable and can cause displacement of large rock volumes. Past occurrences of this nature in Escondida Mine placed geomechanical safety restrictions as to maximum allowable blast size in the northeast area of the mine. These restrictions limited the efficiency of drilling and blasting operations seriously limiting daily production. This is what prompted this study to attempt to increase shot size while reducing stability problems. This would permit keeping stable the slope over which the ore extraction belts are located, as well as the main access ramp to the mine. Using a rigorous and systematic instrumentation and monitoring effort of blasting vibrations at multiple locations with respect to an unstable location allowed the development of a database to establish acceptable vibrations limits. A parallel effort was the development and gauging of a mechanistic model for the prediction and simulation of blasting vibrations. Excellent results were obtained from a comparison between the measured and predicted results. This allowed the use of the gauged model to verify the practicality of increasing the shot size in the restricted blasting zones, without exceeding safe vibration limits. The practical success achieved using this research approach resulted in increased blasting size, with a consequent increase of blasted material per shot, and contributed to more flexible mining operations.     

关于利用系统论方法设计金刚石钻头的分析研究

地质钻探工程是个复杂的系统工程,金刚石钻头设计是个复杂的系统。俄罗斯技术科学博士Скоромных В. В.教授等使用系统论方法设计表镶金刚石钻头,以机械钻速为目标函数,以钻头切入岩石深度为切入点,建立了相关的数学模型,编制了程序,进行了计算机模拟,可以比较直观地看到金刚石在孔底的工作情况和钻头破碎岩石的过程,对于深入研究孔底岩石破碎过程机理和判断金刚石钻头设计的合理性及其对钻探技术经济指标的作用,具有一定的实际意义。     

老挝万象平原塔贡矿区钾石盐矿层特征及其勘探开发意义

老挝万象平原塔贡矿区钾盐矿产以光卤石为主,在矿区东部发育北西-南东走向的钾石盐矿层。钾石盐矿层分原生矿层和次生矿层二层矿:原生矿层分布于钾盐矿层的底部,矿层厚度变化大;次生矿层仅分布于中部ZKT10-6钾盐矿层顶部,矿层厚度大、品位高,分布面积小。由于受老挝当地能源与运输不足的制约,目前中国数家企业在万象平原进行小规模试验性开采,用光卤石生产氯化钾。经对塔贡矿区钾石盐矿层KCl资源量概略估算,可以满足当前中小规模开采。用钾石盐生产氯化钾不但工艺较简单,而且无须处理大量的氯化镁,环境污染小,可降低成本,提高企业利润。塔贡矿区钾石盐勘查围绕ZKT10-6孔以探明该区块次生钾石盐矿层;围绕LK22和LKTN2钻孔一带以查明原生矿层。     

Unlocking possibility of blasting near residential structure using electronic detonators

Ever since development of human civilization, mining and agriculture has been the backbone of growth. Today the most developed countries of the world are the ones focused on core economical development, be it power generation, steel making, oil and gas production, or agriculture. Mining has been gaining importance over the years both from the economic perspective and as an area of sustained research. With the advent of globalization, things have changed very fast and today it is an industry that is driving the economies of several nations. Global competition has propelled countries to reach higher production levels through better techniques of drilling and blasting, excavation and mineral processing. We now have bigger and faster drill machines and excavators. In Explosives technology too significant progress has been made towards having safer explosives and accurate initiating systems that have increased overall control over blasting in terms of vibration, fragmentation, throw, fly rock and overall blast economics. Explosives and Rock Blasting Technology has advanced so much in the last few decades that blasting can now be precisely performed, controlled and predicted. Development of new tools like electronic blasting systems and advanced simulation software has made it possible to customize blasting results as per requirement. These developments have helped mining engineer worldwide in reaping huge productivity benefits besides making it possible to meet the environmental norms even in most demanding conditions. Inability to blast large size shots on account of proximity of mines to human habitation have always constrained mine management in fully leveraging the strength of large size production equipments. Mine managers have been forced to conduct small blasts on increased frequency to provide feed to large capacity shovels while compromising on Shovel productivity on account of undesirable movement of shovels during blasting. This paper deals with a case study at SEB quarry of Tata Steel wherein it was difficult to fire a big blast due to existing nearby structures. A critical scientific study was conducted before successfully firing of one of the biggest shot of 83 tonnes in the history of quarry. The paper discusses the issues being faced, alternate solutions opted and the final outcome.