Teoria Frank Chiappeta . - REVISAR

Drilling & Blasting Audit
Sponsored by:
Orica Mining Services

BBS
Lima, Peru S.A..
Prepared for:
Gold Fields La Cima S.A.
Cerro Corona Mine

by
R. Frank Chiappetta, BSc., MSc., P. Eng.

Explosives Applications Engineer
Blasting Analysis International, Inc.

Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
October 8, 2009
c
2009, Blasting Analysis International, Inc.

All Rights Reserved
Main Concerns
Vibration / Airblast Complaints
Field Controls (Geologic info, drilling accuracy,
Irregular floors, & explosive quantity
Top stemming Plugs
Oversize
Muck pile shape
Dam material & fragmentation
Vibration / Airblast
Average vibration in community = 1.3 mm/s
Airblast = ? (No airblast measurements recorded to date.)
Vibration/Airblast Recommendations
Airblast is cause of 95 % of complaints not vibrations.
Measure airblast on all future measurements.
Set up permanent seismograph along mine perimeter.
Set up weather station and monitor for electrical storms,

temperature, wind speed and direction.
High floor drilled 2 m for secondary blasting.

Not necessary - Causes excessive airblast.
Irregular Floors
High spot
Low spot
High spot
Causes for Irregular Floors

Poor drilling controls.
Loading in wet holes Explosive Contamination
Poor primer placement over Taponex plug

No grade control for excavation equipment.
Backhoe excavator digging below grade line.
Drilling & hole depths - OK
Pumping explosives
in wet holes
Water level
Bottom explosive
column is diluted
and contaminated
Mud, slimes
& sediments
Loading starts in mud
Excavator (back hoe) not equipped with GPS.
Tends to dig below grade.
Explosive Quality Controls
Density measurements = OK
Truck calibration recommended
(minimum) every three months
Top Stemming Plug vs Crushed Rock Stemming
5m
5m
Stem tite, conic
plug, Taponex,
etc.
Angular crushed rock,

1 2 in (25 50 mm)
3m
Drill Cuttings
2m
Angular crushed rock,

1 2 in (25 50 mm)
5m
Presplitting must be done in advance of blast block
Presplit
line
Oversize,
Fragmentation,
Timing and Electronic
Detonators
Mine
Mill
Explosive energy
Energy distribution in rock mass
Timed and controlled release of energy
Major Sources
of Oversize
Bench top
6
9
11
12
Stemming
Explosive
column
1 Collar / Stemming
2 Free Face
8
10
3 Toe & Subgrade
4 Corners & Irregular Bench

5 Intact Massive Seams
6 Imbedded Conglomerate
Boulders
Stemming volume
can be 20 50%
of blast volume
Pit floor
Subgrade
For illustrative
purpose only
Decreasing stemming
Stemming
Explosive
column
Uncontrolled Shot -Severe Flyrock
Unintentional Flyrock Damage
Major Sources
of Oversize
Bench top
6
9
11
12
Stemming
Explosive
column
1 Collar / Stemming
2 Free Face
8
10
3 Toe & Subgrade
4 Corners & Irregular Bench

5 Intact Massive Seams
6 Imbedded Conglomerate
Boulders
Stemming volume
can be 20 50%
of blast volume
Pit floor
Subgrade
For illustrative
purpose only
Stab or Pilot Hole Placed In Between Production Holes

Production
Holes
Stab
Hole
Stab holes are generally

not popular because
* Requires additional holes & drilling.
* Restricts vehicle traffic on blast block.
* Vehicles cannot drive over loaded holes.
Subgrade
Stem Charge Placed Inside Stemming Column

Production
Holes
Good distribution of energy

in the collar zone.
50 65% Stemming
Stemming
Stem
Charge
Stab hole depth is generally drilled

50 65% of the normal stemming
column.
Stem charge must be calculated precisely
with SD = 1.0 1.4. A good starting point
is 1.2.
If using electronic detonators, the stem and
main charges should be fired instantaneously.
If using Nonel, it is critical that the stem charge
is always fired before the main charge.
Subgrade
Imperial Units
Explosive density = 1.15 g/cc
Explosive diameter = 9 in
Surface
Length of W
Explosive diameter = 230 mm
Length of 10 borehole diameters Length of 10 borehole diameters

= (230 mm/1000 mm) x 10
= (9 in/12 in) x 10
= 2.3 m
= 7.5 ft
L = 2.30 m (7.5 ft)

Stemming = 5.0 m
Stemming = 16.4 ft
Stemming
5 m (16.4 ft)
Metric Units
W
D = Distance from
surface to center of W
W = Weight of explosive
occupied in top of
explosive column,
equivalent to the length of
10 borehole or explosive
diameters
Borehole diameter = 230 mm (9 in)

1990,Blasting Analysis International, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
One linear foot of explosives at

a density of 1.15 g/cc in a 9 in
hole weighs 31.7 lbs.
One linear foot of explosives at

a density of 1.15 g/cc in a 230
mm hole weighs 47.1 Kg.
Thus, W = 7.5 x 31.7 = 238 lbs
Thus, W = 2.3 x 47.1 = 108 Kg
and
and
W 1/3 = 2381/3 = 6.19 lbs1/3
D = Stemming + (L)
D = Stemming + (L)
= 16.4 + (7.5) = 20.2
SD =
D
W 1/3
20.2
=
6.19
W 1/3 = 1081/3 = 4.75 Kg1/3
= 3.3
= 5.0 + (2.30) = 6.15
SD =
D
W 1/3
6.15
=
= 1.3
4.75
Alternatively, D = SD x W 1/3 and W = (D/SD)3
Uncontrolled Energy
Controlled Energy
Violent flyrock, airblast,

noise and dust.
Good fragmentation.
Very Controlled Energy
Maximum volume of broken

rock in collar zone.
Larger fragmentation.
Very fine fragmentation.

Good craters.
Acceptable vibration/airblast.
Good heave and muck pile
mound.
Reduced volume of broken

rock in collar zone.
Acceptable vibration/airblast.
Reduced heave and muck
pile mound.
No flyrock.
Minimal Surface Effects

Small surface
disturbance
No
fallback
Insignificant
surface effects
Some
fallback
No
breakage
zone
SD = 0 0.60
Metric Units
0.64 0.88
(m/Kg1/3)
0.92 1.40
SD = 0 1.5
1.6 2.2
Imperial Units
1.44 1.80
2.3 3.5
(ft/lb1/3)
3.6 4.5
Significance of SD (Scaled Depth of Burial)

1990, 2008 Blasting Analysis International, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
1.84 2.40
2.40 +
4.6 6.0
6.0 +
For Stem Charge Calculations, Use:

D = 50 65% of Stemming
Stemming
SD = D/W1/3
D = SD * W1/3
W = ( D/SD)3
W = Stem charge quantity (lbs).
D = Distance from surface to
center of stem charge (ft).
SD = Selected Scaled Depth of
Burial (ft/lbs1/3 )
Example Stem Charge Calculation

W = ( D/SD )3
= (3.3/1.2)3
Surface
Stemming
5m
D = 65% Stemming = 3.3 m

W = Stem Charge
= (2.75)3
= 21 Kg
D = Distance from surface to

center of stem charge = 3.3 m
SD is chosen as 1.2
Advantages of Using a Stem Charge
Increases powder factor only 1 4 %
But improves fragmentation

up to 5+ fold in the
stemming zone
Important Stem Charge Cautions

D = 3.3 m
5m
21 Kg
Stem charge quantity and placement

must be exact!
With electronic detonators, fire stem
charge and main charge instantaneously.
With pyrotechnic detonators, always fire
the stem charge first, before main charge.
The same in-hole pyrotechnic delay in the stem and

main charges have too much scatter. If the main
charge fires first, there is a risk that the stem charge
could be ejected out with the stemming.
Electronic Detonators, Air Decks & Stem Charges

Increasing fragmentation
Top
stemming
Stem
charge
Stem
charge
0 ms
525 ms
0 ms
0 ms
0 ms
Explosive
column
500 ms
0 ms
1 m Air
Deck
Taponex
Taponex
C
c
0 ms
0 ms
0 ms
1 m Air
Deck

All Rights Reserved
Effects of a mid-column air deck

versus a full column load
Stemming
Mid column air deck results in
a longer lasting pressure pulse
Explosive
deck
Explosive
deck
Pressure
Air Deck - Rapidly

expanding gasses
collide in center of
air deck
Pressure pulse from a continuous

explosive column load
Time
Hole Delay = 17 42 ms
Row Delay = 65 109 ms
Typical Delays with Conventional Non-Electric (Nonel) System
Hole Delay = 1 3 ms
Row Delay = 100 300 ms
New Delays with Precise Electronic Detonators
Delay Timing
0 ms
0 ms
25 ms
2 ms
50 ms
4 ms
Delay Timing Vp and Vs Arrivals

Vp
Vs
0 ms
Vp
Vs
2 ms
4 ms
Vp = Compressional Wave or Sonic Velocity of the rock.

Vs = Shear Wave Velocity.
Calculating Electronic Delay Time Between Holes
T = 0.6 (S/Vp) x 1000

Where:
T = Delay time between holes in a row (ms)
S = Distance between holes in a row (m)
Vp = Compression or sonic wave velocity (m/s)
Example Calculation
Assume hole spacing S = 7.2 m and Vp = 2500 m/s.
T = 0.6 (S/Vp) x 1000

T = 0.6 (7.2 m/2500 m/s) x 1000
T = 1.7 ms
Primary Concerns were:
Improving fragmentation
Increasing plant throughput
Max. 13% @ 6 in. + (152 mm)
Minimizing vibrations on slopes

Copper Mine in Chile
Normal Blast
Results
Normal stemming &

42 ms hole delay
Stem Charge, 2 ms
hole delay & electronic
detonators
Stem charge, 2 ms hole delay &

electronic detonators
South Africa
South Africa
Quarry Maryland, USA
Max. explosives/delay increased 4-fold.

Peak vibrations - Reduced
KN2 - Right
2 m Stemming
2 m Stem charge
2 m Stemming
Main Charge
Coal Mine South Africa

Peak vibrations - Unchanged
Quarry Alabama, USA
Quarry 1 Pennsylvania, USA

Peak vibrations - Unchanged
CAP ROCK PROBLEM
BEFORE
After

Peak vibrations Increased only 25%
Before

After

After
Western Australia
180 ft
(55m)
Sequence
Stemming
525 ms
0 ms
0 ms
180 ft
(55m)
Explosive
column
525 ms
0 ms
0 ms
500 ms
Nonelectric
Detonator Timing
Hole Delay = 42 ms
0 ms
Electronic
Detonator Timing
Hole Delay = 10 ms
Muckpile height of nonelectric blast.
Muckpile height of electronic blast.
In Conclusion Improved Blast

Results Depend on Combining:
Precise electronic detonators.

Stem Charges.
Very short delays between holes.
Bottom & mid-column airdecks.
Good drilling controls.
Drilling & Blasting Audit

Sponsored by:
Orica Mining Services

BBS
Lima, Peru S.A..
Prepared for:
Gold Fields La Cima S.A.
Cerro Corona Mine

by
R. Frank Chiappetta, BSc., MSc., P. Eng.

Explosives Applications Engineer
Blasting Analysis International, Inc.

Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
October 8, 2009
c

All Rights Reserved

Teoria Frank Chiappeta . - REVISAR

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Drilling & Blasting Audit

Orica Mining Services

Gold Fields La Cima S.A.

Cerro Corona Mine

R. Frank Chiappetta, BSc., MSc., P. Eng.

Blasting Analysis International, Inc.

2009, Blasting Analysis International, Inc.

Set up weather station and monitor for electrical storms,

High floor drilled 2 m for secondary blasting.

Causes for Irregular Floors

Poor primer placement over Taponex plug

Drilling & hole depths - OK

Excavator (back hoe) not equipped with GPS.

Tends to dig below grade.

Explosive Quality Controls

Top Stemming Plug vs Crushed Rock Stemming

Angular crushed rock,

Angular crushed rock,

Presplitting must be done in advance of blast block

3 Toe & Subgrade

4 Corners & Irregular Bench

Uncontrolled Shot -Severe Flyrock

Unintentional Flyrock Damage

3 Toe & Subgrade

4 Corners & Irregular Bench

Stab or Pilot Hole Placed In Between Production Holes

Stab holes are generally

Stem Charge Placed Inside Stemming Column

Good distribution of energy

Stab hole depth is generally drilled

Explosive diameter = 230 mm

Length of 10 borehole diameters Length of 10 borehole diameters

L = 2.30 m (7.5 ft)

Explosive density = 1.15 g/cc

Borehole diameter = 230 mm (9 in)

One linear foot of explosives at

One linear foot of explosives at

Thus, W = 7.5 x 31.7 = 238 lbs

Thus, W = 2.3 x 47.1 = 108 Kg

W 1/3 = 2381/3 = 6.19 lbs1/3

W 1/3 = 1081/3 = 4.75 Kg1/3

= 5.0 + (2.30) = 6.15

Alternatively, D = SD x W 1/3 and W = (D/SD)3

Violent flyrock, airblast,

Very Controlled Energy

Maximum volume of broken

Very fine fragmentation.

Reduced volume of broken

Minimal Surface Effects

Significance of SD (Scaled Depth of Burial)

For Stem Charge Calculations, Use:

Example Stem Charge Calculation

D = 65% Stemming = 3.3 m

D = Distance from surface to

Advantages of Using a Stem Charge

Increases powder factor only 1 4 %

But improves fragmentation

Important Stem Charge Cautions