Western Australia School of Mines

MINE5003 Rock Excavation Technology

Assignment 1

Unit Co-Ordinator: Dr Hyongdoo Tom JANG

Name: Dhairya Jayesh Shukla

Student ID: 21736438
Given Data:

1.1 Available material properties of Stage 1 - Pit A.

Density Compressive Fracture Frequency P wave

Rock type E GPa Ground
(g/cc) Strength (MPa) per m m/s

Basalt 2.8 180 5 4500 50 Dry

- Similar geological conditions in the ore and waste

- Fracture dip direction and dip (030/20)
- Bench height: 10 m

1.2 Available explosive properties supply at the mine.

Explosive Density (kg/m3) VOD (m/s) RWS (%ANFO)

ANFO 800 3800 100

Bulk Emulsion 1000 4200 110

- Available bit diameter: 89, 120, 165, 200, 250 mm

- Available initiation system: non-electric and electronic detonator system
2 Surface Blast Design
2.1 Bench Blasting Design of Stage 1 Pit A
2.1.1 Langefors Design Approach
Langfors Method is the most common used method prevailing in the Mining Industry at the
moment. The calculation process for same is shown as below.

Here all the calculations are done with d=89mm.

o Max Burden
- Assuming no drill inclination (R1 = 0.95)
- Basalt is a hard rock (R2 = 0.9)

𝐵𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.36(𝑙𝑏 )0.5 𝑅1 𝑅2

o Sub-Drilling (U)

𝑈 = 0.3𝐵𝑚𝑎𝑥

o Charge Concentration

𝑙𝑏 = 800𝐴

o Depth of Hole (H)

- Assuming no drill inclination

𝐻 =𝐾+𝑈

o Faulty Drilling (E)

𝐷𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙
𝐸= + 0.03𝐻
1000

o Practical Burden (B)

𝐵 = 𝐵𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝐸

o Practical Spacing (S)

𝑆 = 1.25𝐵

o Number of Holes (n)

𝑊𝑠
𝑛= +1
𝑆
 o Specific Drill per hole (b)
𝑛𝐻
𝑏=
𝑊𝑠 𝐵𝐾

o Height at Bottom of Charge (Hb)

𝐻𝑏 = 1.3𝐵𝑚𝑎𝑥

o Bottom Charge (Qb)

𝑄𝑏 = 𝑙𝑏 𝐻𝑏

o Stemming Height (Ho)

𝐻𝑜 ≥ 𝐵

o Column Charge Concentration (Qc)

- Assumed to be 0.5 lb

𝑄𝑐 = 0.5𝑙𝑏

o Height of Column Charge

𝐻𝑐 = 𝐻 − 𝐻𝑜

o Specific Charge per Hole

𝒏𝑸𝒕
𝒒=
𝒏𝑩𝑺𝑲

Design Parameters:
 Given diameter (m) 0.0890 0.1200 0.1650 0.2000 0.2500
Space (m) 2.7272 3.8077 5.3762 6.5962 8.3390
Burden (m) 2.1817 3.0462 4.3010 5.2769 6.6712
Stemming height (m) 2.1817 3.0462 4.3010 5.2769 6.6712
Sub-drill (m) 0.7782 1.0493 1.4428 1.7488 2.1860
Charge weight per hole (Kg) 29.7838 56.7752 114.5574 176.5589 294.2817
Specific drill per hole (m/m3) 0.1811 0.0953 0.0495 0.0338 0.0219
Specific charge per hole (Kg/m3) 0.5006 0.4895 0.4954 0.5072 0.5290

2.1.2 Industrial Design Approach

As per industrial design approach, the most used method is orica method. In industry there
are fixed ranges for subdrill value, spacing and subdrill. Where no changes are done, the values
as per Langfors is accepted.

Calculation process for this is as shown below.

o Practical Burden (B)

𝐵 = 35𝐷

o Practical Spacing (S)

𝑆 = 1.3𝐵

o Sub-Drill (U)
𝑈 = 10𝐷

o Stemming Height (Ho)

𝐻𝑂 = 20𝐷

Design Parameters:
 Given diameter (m) 0.089 0.12 0.165 0.200 0.250
Space (m) 4.0495 5.46 7.5075 9.1 11.375
Burden (m) 3.115 4.2 5.775 7 8.75
Stemming height (m) 1.78 2.4 3.3 4 5
Sub-drill (m) 0.89 1.2 1.65 2 2.5
Charge weight per hole (Kg) 42.6820 73.1061 125.9000 170.9026 235.6194
Specific drill per hole (m/m3) 0.1509 0.0854 0.0470 0.0329 0.0219
Specific charge per hole (Kg/m3) 0.5913 0.5571 0.5075 0.4689 0.4137

2.1.3 Bench blast design using the Kuz-ram model.

- Constraint: Target frag size (P50) of 400 mm
- S/B = 1.3
- Stemming length and hole deviation: follow the Langefors method.

Sample Calculations for Parameters

For 89 mm diameter drill and emulsion

o Sub-Drill (U)
o As per Langefors

𝑈 = 0.7782

o Depth of Hole (D)

𝐻 =𝐾+𝑈

o Hole Deviation (E)

o As per Langefors
𝐷𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙
𝐸= + 0.03𝐻
1000
o Stemming Height
o As per Langefors

𝐻𝑜 = 2.1817

o Explosive Volume (Ve)

1
𝑉𝑒 = 𝜋𝐷2 𝐿
4
o Explosive Amount (Qe)

𝑄𝑒 = 𝑉𝑒 (𝜌)(1000)

o Powder Factor (k)

𝐴 = 0.06(𝑅𝑀𝐷 + 𝐽𝑃𝑆 + 𝐽𝑃 + 𝑅𝐷𝐼 + 𝐻𝐹)

 0.633 1.25
𝐴 115
𝑘 = [ 𝑄𝑒0.167 ( ) ]
𝑋𝑚 𝑆𝐴𝑛𝑓𝑜

o Volume of Rock to be Broken (Vo)

𝑄𝑒
𝑉𝑂 =
𝑘
o Burden (B)
𝑆
= 1.3
𝐵
o Spacing (S)

𝑆 = 1.3𝐵

o Number of Holes (N)

𝑊𝑠
𝑁= +1
𝑆
o Specific Drill (b)
𝑁𝐷
𝑏=
𝑊𝑠 𝐵𝐾

o Specific Charge per Hole (q)

𝑁𝑄𝑒
𝑞=
𝑁𝐵𝑆𝐾
o Uniformity (n)
𝑆 0.5
𝐵 1+ 𝐸 𝐻𝐶𝐿
𝑛 = [2.2 − 14 ( )] [ 𝐵 ] (1 − ) ( )
𝐷 2 𝐵 𝐾

o Scale Factor (XC)

𝑋𝑚
𝑋𝑐 = 1
0.693𝑛

Design Parameters:

Given diameter (m) 0.0890 0.1200 0.1650 0.2000 0.2500

Space (m) 2.8363 3.9600 5.5913 6.8600 8.6725
Burden (m) 2.1817 3.0462 4.3010 5.2769 6.6712
Stemming height (m) 2.1817 3.0462 4.3010 5.2769 6.6712
Sub-drill (m) 0.7782 1.0493 1.4428 1.7488 2.1860
Charge weight per hole (Kg) 29.7838 56.7752 114.5574 176.5589 294.2817
Specific drill per hole (m/m3) 0.1742 0.0916 0.0476 0.0325 0.0211
Specific charge per hole (Kg/m3) 0.4813 0.4707 0.4764 0.4877 0.5086
2.1.4 Fragmentation Passing Graph and final parameters.

Frag. passing D=89 mm

P20 23.31 %

P50 61.08 %

P80 83.62 %

Passing %
100.00%
P%

0.00%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
x - fragment size (screen size)

P% 89 P% 120 P% 165 P% 200 P% 250

(Passing % vs X- Fragment Size Graph)

2.2 Blast Damage Zone of the production and buffer holes.

Given Data:

Damage Zone Extent PPV (m/sec)

Crushed (Rc) 4–6D 20

Fractured (Rf) 12 – 15 D 5

Influenced (Ri) 50 – 60 D 1.5

• Calculation for different blast Damage Zones is calculated below. It is done from the data shown
above.

Rc=4*D (Low Estimation)

Rc=4*0.089
Rc=0.356 m

Rc=6*D (High Estimation)

Rc =6*0.089
Rc c=0.534 m
Rc used in BDZ is average of both estimations.
Rc =0.445 m

Calculations for Fractured Damage Zone

Rf =12*D (Low Estimation)
Rf =12*0.089
Rf =1.068 m

Rf =15*D (High Estimation)

Rf=15*0.089
Rf =1.335 m
Rf used in BDZ is average of both estimations.
Rf =1.2015 m

Calculations for Influenced Damage Zone

Ri=50*D (Low Estimation)
Ri =50*0.089
Ri=4.45 m

Ri =60*D (High Estimation)

Ri =60*0.089
 Ri =5.34 m
Ri used in BDZ is average of both estimations.
Ri =4.895 m

Calculations for Space

Space=2* Ri
Space=2*1.2015
Space= 2.403 m

Here, as per the calculations of blast damage zone, we have calculated the radius for crushed
zone, fractured zone, and influence zone. But for designing, generally fractured zone is taken
into consideration. As per our calculations, we get low estimate value as 1.068m whereas for
high estimation it is 1.335m. In the practical design we will use the average o these two radii
of fractured zones which is equal to 1.2015m.

2.3 Blast pattern design of Stage 1 Pit A

The blast pattern for given block is as shown below. All the steps are shown separately below. Pre-split holes are
fired before firing the production holes. Buffer holes are placed between presplit and final production holes to
reduce the impact from all the production holes tied up in the same line. Also, the radius of influence is far from
final wall so the final wall will stand strong without any damage and the pre-split also helps in stopping the
shockwaves and vibrations to go into the final wall.

2.3.1 Pattern of production, buffer and final wall holes along with BDZ of Buffer.

2.3.2 Tie-up patterns of the production, buffer and final wall holes
2.3.3 Blast movement contour.

2.3.4 Location of the BMT sensors

2.3.5 Prevention of Dilution of Ore

Dilution of ore means the mixing of ore body with the waste part. To prevent that from happening, the design
has been made accordingly. Here due to the perfect selection of Initial point of production blasting, it can be
clearly understood that waste part gets blasted before the ore blocks starts to blast. Due to that the ore part gets
deposited on top of waste block and in this way, dilution can be prevented.

2.4 Comparison of blast design by different approach

2.4.1 Comparison and evaluation of each method
There are three methods which are mainly used for blast designing. It has been done by Langefors method,
Orica method (As per industry standards) and Kuz-Ram method. The used hole diameter is 89mm for all the
methods. The table below shows the comparison of all the methods.

Methods Burden(m) Spacing(m)

Langefors 2.1817 2.7272
Orica 3.115 4.0495
Kuz-Ram 2.1817 2.8363

• Orica is the method which can be used as per industry standards whereas the other two
methods aren’t considered as industry standard.
• Langfors is the most used method as we can achieve maximum powder factor by using that
method.
• Langefors method is also cheapest in all the methods as the space and burden are
smallest in it.
2.4.2 Final blast design for Stage 1 Pit A

2.4.3 Consequences of the design to the north and the south wall.
• The north and south walls will have some shockwaves and vibrations due to blast.
• Fly rocks can be seen from those blast.
• Both the side of wall consists of waste so, no significant economic damage can be done.
3 Heritage Management
Given Data:
Vibration Criteria: PPV = 50mm/s

Scaled Distance Method: PPV = K(SD)^(-n)

Distance (meters) MIC (KGs) PPV (mm/sec)

472.00 518.00 5.68
152.00 375.00 8.13
678.00 488.00 1.93
678.00 488.00 0.41
250.00 428.00 0.75
270.00 428.00 0.20
107.00 344.00 18.96
107.00 344.00 28.44
200.00 256.00 9.71
210.00 256.00 8.85
535.00 248.00 0.68
105.00 619.00 30.05
400.00 893.00 45.04
420.00 548.00 26.72
270.00 292.00 1.35
260.00 369.00 6.70
110.00 348.00 1.76
95.00 300.00 12.43
140.00 50.00 0.61
115.00 599.00 6.91
140.00 688.00 3.79
195.00 111.00 13.18
130.00 660.00 17.26
130.00 240.00 9.18
135.00 233.00 5.90
135.00 223.00 8.92
140.00 233.00 10.69
135.00 230.00 7.81
120.00 234.00 7.88
120.00 230.00 3.99
120.00 234.00 5.03
124.00 568.00 2.10
270.00 545.00 15.60
600.00 635.00 7.00
95.00 627.00 19.29
415.00 450.00 0.74
351.60 360.00 0.94
900.63 860.00 0.94
1100.00 908.00 0.28
 SD PPV_50% PPV_95%
1 89.69 978.73
1000 0.016998 0.185488

1000

100
PPV (mm/sec)

10

0.1

0.01
1.00 10.00 100.00 1000.00
Scaled Distance (m/kg(0.5))
4 Conclusion:

In this assignment I got to learn about designing blasts by various methods. The Kuz-Ram model gives the best
outcome in all the designs. I also learnt designing a blast manually using a pen-paper model. The most frequent
practiced and used method is langfors method which is also the cheapest method. Also, maximum powder factor
can be achieved by Langfors method. Orica method is also used in designing the blast as it follows the industrial
guidelines. Blast damage zones were also used in designing the blast due to which the effective area can be
calculated and the area with no ore block can be preserved. In blast design the Kuz-Ram model is taken into
consideration and all the necessary things are taken care of like pre-split blast and buffer holes as well. Here,
ANFO is used as the explosive which is the most common used explosive prevailing in the industry. The dilution
can also be minimum following the blast pattern design. Here, the optimum diameter for the hole is also
calculated which turned out to be 89mm. By using that diameter, we can get the optimum fragmentation. Here
as per the given model there is also a heritage site nearby. It is also taken into consideration so that we don’t
damage it due to the shockwave and vibrations of the blast. The heritage site is protected completely. Overall,
this assignment was very informative, and it helped me learn various new things.