Teknik Peledakan / Blast Engineer

Open and Underground Pit Blast Design, Analysis

and Optimisation

Asri Arifin ST., MT.

Blast Video

Teknik Peledakan

secara umum berisikan

pengetahuan praktis tentang praktik peledakan pada
penambangan bahan galian yang dalam pelaksanaannya tidak
dapat meninggalkan aspek efisiensi dan efektifitas
Agar harapan tersebut terpenuhi, maka setiap individu yang
berkecimpung
dalam
pelaksanaan
peledakan
harus
mempertimbangkan aspek keselamatan (safety), target produksi
(production) dan lingkungan (environment).

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Why do we have to blast

Blast Optimisation
Oversize
Fines
Excavation
Fragmentation
Transport
Mine Customer Requirements
Measurement of fragmentation
Muckpile shaped and Mine Plan
Muckpile Shape and
Distribution of Swell and Digability
Digability
Characteristic of Excavation Equipment
Ground vibration
Environmental Impact
Airblast
Blast Geometry
Creating a blast hole pattern
Steps in Designing a Blast
Loading Explosives
The initiating process
Explosive distribution
Detonation Simulation
Analysing a Design
Detonation Timing Visualisation
Dynamic Burden Relief Analysis
Amplification of ground vibration
Nitrate Content
Fuel content
Explosive Chemistry
water content
chemical stability
sensitisation
ANFO
Description of Bulk
Water Gel and slurries
Emulsion
Commercial Explosive
ANFO-Emulsion blend

Introduction

BLAST OPTIMISATION

Merupakan sebuah pendekatan sistematis terhadap proses dasar

keteknikan untuk mencapai hasil yang optimum.
Design Objectives

Design and analysis

Measure and Compare

Implementation
1. Undertaken by both mine and its customers because the desired outcomes are those that suit
the overall operation not just the blast crew.
2. Involves using data describing rock mass and explosive properties and feedback from previous
performance.
3. Implementation and assesstment of the performance of the blast and comparison of this
performance with the defined target of the operation.

Chapter 2. Mining Issues and Blasting Performance

The discussion seeks to provide some background to the

motivation driving the optimization of blasting operations.

Blast Performance can be measured with:

Fragmentation

Muckpile shape and digability

Grade movement

Damage

Environmental impact

Downstream handling and process

Cost

a. Fragmentation
The primary role of blasting is to fracture the rock into fragment
that can be efficiently excavated and handled by the downstream
process.
Factors affecting blasting performance in terms of fragmentation
include :
1.
Oversized fragments
2.
Fines
3.
Ease of excavation
4.
Issues related to the transport of the muck
5.
Detailed requirements of the mines customer

b. Muckpile Shape and Digability

The basic mining method defines the geometry and manner in
which the mining operation will progress. Open pit mining
methods cover a wide range of geometries.
The most appropriate muckpile shape for a particular operation
depends on several factor including :

The original bench geometry and available working area

The distribution of swell and digability

The characteristics of the excavation equipment

3. Grade Movement
If loose muckpile is to be created, the individual rocks
fragments must be displaced relative to one another to free
them from the rock mass matrix. This displacement invitably
affect the distribution of ore within the blast volume.

d. Damage

Blasting operations are designed to destroy the competence of the

rock in the designated blast volume. The blasting engineer also
seeks to leave the material outside this blast volme unaffected and
intact. This material is relied upon to play a structural role, and
any damage to it can have an important effection on the safety,
efficiency and economy of the mining operation.
Wall Damage
Slope Damage
Coal Roof and Edge Damage :
fracturing the top of coal
breakage and displacementof the coal edge
dragging or pushing coal into the spoil together with the OB
mixing dilution materials with the coal

e. Environmental Impact
1. Ground vibration :
caused by product of blasting operation. The vibrational energy
that travels beyond the zone of rock breakage is wasted and can
often cause damage and annoyance.
2. Airblast :
is adynamic disturbance to the air caused by the physical
movement of the rock surface, the escape of high velocity gases
through fractures or zones of inadequate burden, or the
displacement of stemming materials.

f. Downstream Handling and Processing

The value to the mine of a tonne of broken ore is the revenue
which it can command when sold, less the cost required to
realize that revenue.

g. Cost
Ultimately what has to be ooptimised by blast design is that the
return on investment from mining, processing and selling the
target mineral not the minimization of blasting cost. To advance
this objective, decisions ultimately have to be based on a
cost/return/performance analysis.

Blast-Design Overview
Objectives in blasting
1. Fragmentation
2. Highwall stability
3. Movement:
Buffer blasting
Cast blasting
PropagationTiming
Millisecond delay blasting:
V(chevron) pattern
Echelon pattern
Row-by-row pattern

Blast theory
1. Stress waves
2. Crack propagation
Types of blast patterns:
Square
Rectangular
Staggered

Controlled blasting
techniques:
Line drilling
Presplitting
Smooth blasting
Cushion blasting

Measurements and calculations:

Loading density
Face profiling
High-speed photography
Fragmentation distribution
Velocity of detonation

Blast parameters:
Burden
Spacing
Bench height
Powder column:
Hole diameter
Hole depth
Powder factor
Subdrilling
StemmingControlled

Presplitting
Presplitting is a technique that involves loading a single row of holes that have been drilled
along a desired highwallcrest or excavation line with small decoupled charges.

Borehole Diameters

Normally, the diameter of a borehole is limited by the capabilities of the drill used to create
it. As a rule, open-pit and coal strip mines using large drills will drill presplit holes that
range from 9 to 12-inches in diameter. Quarry and construction presplits are much
smaller, generally ranging from 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Presplit holes may be drilled on
an angle if the geology and drill allow for it

Spacing

Presplit spacing will vary, depending upon rock characteristics,size of the operation, and
bench height. Trials should be conducted to determine the optimal borehole spacing. On
average, Western coal strip-mine operations use presplit spacings of from 10 to 12-feet,
whereas soft-weathered formations at small projects may require presplit spacingsof 15
inches or less.

Blast Theory

Blasting Measurements
The fundamental principle of blast design is most often the distribution of an explosive in the
rock, where distributionis considered to be a combination of blast pattern and explosive
density
Powder factor is the relationship between a rock mass and the explosive used to fragment it;
the term powder factorcan be used to describe either the weight of explosive per
unitvolume (lb/yd3) or the weight of material blasted per weight of explosive (tons/lb). The
weight of explosive can be determined using the column-rise formula, as follows:
Loading density = K x explosive density x (column diameter)2,
Where
loading density is measured in pounds of explosive per foot ofborehole
K = 0.3405,
explosive density is measured in grams per cubic centimeter,
explosive column diameter is measured in inches.

The total weight of explosive per hole is determined by multiplying the loading density
(calculated using the column-rise formula) by the length of the powder column. The volume
ofmaterial to be blasted is calculated by the rock-volume formula, as follows:
Volume = burden dimension x spacing dimension x (hole depth
subdrilllength)/27,
Where
hole depth subdrilllength = bench height
burden dimension, spacing dimension, and bench height all are measured in feet.
Technically, the equation hole depth subdrilllength = bench heightis correct. However,
often, bench height alone equals hole depth, especially at surface coal mines, where
subdrillingis not a common practice (subdrillingis more prevalent at quarry operations

Blast Design
The powder factor for a single borehole is calculated as:

Typically, blasters will round the powder factor to the nearest tenth or hundredth.
Powder column = hole depth (or bench height, H) stemming backfill.
Charge diameter = hole diameter, when using bulk ANFO or other pumped explosives.
Again, note that, especially at surface coal mines (as distinguished from quarry operations),
not all benches are subdrilled. In cases where subdrillingis used, H = bench height in
feet,where bench height = hole depth subdrilllength.

Blast-Pattern Parameters

EFFICIENT BLAST DESIGN

Major factors influencing blast efficiency

Figure 2. Group approach to achieving optimum blast performance

A. Quality Control
1. Paying Attention To Details is the key to quality control and achieving safe, consistent, efficient
blasting
2. Efficient blast designs require a group effort
3. Each step must be completed as consistently as possible
4. Each operation controls the performance of the next
5. Procedures for the design and implementation of blast designs should be defined, documented,
followed, and audited to insure quality control

B. Communication

Safe, optimized blasting requires good communication between members of each group and interaction
between groups
C. Three Blast Design Keys To Optimum Explosive Performance

Figure 3. The three keys to achieving optimum explosive performance

1. Explosive energy distribution in the rockmass

a. energy must be evenly distributed to achieve uniform fragmentation
b. proper hole diameter to bench height relationship
c. appropriate burden to spacing relationship
d. careful implementation of the design
e. angle drill if required to improve distribution

2. Explosive energy confinement

a. explosive energy must be confined long enough after detonation to establish fractures and to displace
material
b. the explosives path of least resistance must be controlled
c. blastholes must be loaded according to geology
d. use the proper stemming length and stem material type
e. match the timing configuration to the existing field conditions
f. use accurate delays
3. Explosive energy level
a. the energy level must be sufficient to overcome the structural strength and mass of the rock and while
providing controlled displacement
b. determine energy level on the degree of fragmentation and displacement required
c. account for site sensitivity
d. evaluate high energy explosives for special site conditions (i.e. large toes, poor floor)
e. maintain explosive quality control with routine testing

D.
Geological Effects on Blast Performance
1. Blasting results are influenced more by rock properties and structure than by explosive properties
2. Physical rock properties
a. compressive strength - strength of rock under compression
b. tensile strength - strength of rock under tension typically one tenth the compressional strength
shear strength - lateral strength of the rock

compressional
st ress

t ensile
st ress

Figure 4. Rock stress considerations

shear
st ress

Physical rock properties

a. Compressive strength - strength of rock under compression
b. Tensile strength - strength of rock under tension typically one tenth the compressional strength
shear strength - lateral strength of the rock
c. Poissons ratio - the relationship of lateral deformation to longitudinal deformation under load the lower the ratio the more prone the rock is to presplitting techniques
d. Youngs modulus - modulus of elasticity or measurement of the rocks ability to withstand or
resist deformation - the higher the number the harder the rock will be to break
e. Density
f. Longitudinal wave velocity - the velocity that rock will transmit compression waves in massive
rock the detonation velocity of the explosive should exceed the longitudinal wave velocity to achieve
good fragmentation
Rock Type Density Compressive
Tensile
Youngs Poisson's Longitudinal

Rock properties
Basalt
Dolomite
Gneiss
Granite
Limestone
Marble
Sandstone
Sandstone
Schist
Slate
Taconite

(g/cc)

Strength
(Mpa)

Strength
(Mpa)

Modulus
(Gpa)

Ratio

Velocity
(mps)

2.9
2.5
2.8
2.7
2.7
3.1
2.5
1.8
2.9
2.6
2.9

149
55
224
186
159
251
134
11
166
85
251

11
3
14
9
5
15
1
0
9
6
17

62
28
81
43
55
106
7
6
77
66
93

0.27
0.32
0.22
0.33
0.25
0.28
0.31
0.2
0.17
0.25

5,229
4,024
5,732
4,844
5,000
6,705
3,933
2,095
5,482
5,168
6,140

Table 1. Typical rock properties

3.Rock structure
a. rock fragmentation is primarily controlled by the rock structure (i.e. bedding, jointing and faulting)
b. massive rock - little or no bedding or jointing

Figure 5. Massive rock

c. bedded rock layering characteristics of the rockmass

d. bedding thickness can dictate blast fragmentation distribution
e. soft or weak bedding planes can reduce energy confinement and often require the use of decking to
achieve optimum blast performance

Figure 6. Adverse bedding planes

Figure 7. Dipping bedding planes with weak mud seam

Using decks to prevent column shifts

st emming
explosive
decking
weak seam
explosive

Figure 8. Deck loading

Figure 9. Blocky jointing

Figure 10. Highly jointed

Figure 11. Adverse bedding orientation

Dipping seams or fr actur es into pit:

unstable walls
excessive backbr eak

Dipping seams into r ockmass:

unbr oken toe
over hang potential

Joints par allel to fr ee face:

Joints angled t o fr ee face:

good wall contr ol

can be best or ientation
for wall contr ol

blocky face
excessive end br eak

Figure 12. Adverse effects of bedding and jointing on wall control

Figure 13. Floaters

Improving The Fragmentation Of Float ers

float ers

reduced
pat t ern

deck
loading

soft
clay

hard
rock

Figure 14. Deck loading floaters

4. Rock hardness

a. determined in field while drilling, or estimated based on experience from previous bench field tests
b. can be made to define the relative strength parameters of the rock by striking the rock with the
blunt end of a rock hammer the strength of the rock is determined by the damage produced
Levels of damage caused by hammer strike
Crater
crat ered and spalling

Densit y 2.2 - 2.3 g/ cc

V elocit y 2 - 3 ,0 0 0 mps

Dent
smoot h dent

Pit
rough pit , chips fly out

Level 1

Level 2
Densit y 2.4 - 2.5 g/ cc
V elocit y 3 - 4 ,0 0 0 mps

Level 3
Densit y 2.5 - 2.6 g/ cc
V elocit y 4 - 5,0 0 0 mps

Rebound

Level 4

hammer bounces
no apparent damage

Densit y 2.7 - 3 .0 + g/ cc
V elocit y 5,0 0 0 + mps

Figure 15. Field evaluation of rock hardness

Figure 16. Field evaluation of rock compressive strength

5. Cavities

Figure 17. Cavity

voids near sur face use

loading pipe and reduce
sur r ounding pat ter n

deep small
voids can
be backfilled

deep lar ge
voids should
be plugged

st em

char ge

Figure 18. Cavity loading techniques

plug

6. Reactive ground
a. nitrate based explosives react with sulfides in rockmass to generate heat (often in excess of 650C)
and toxic gases
b. a common reactive ground type is black pyritic shale

Figure 19. Hot hole in reactive ground

7. Water

presence of water has major influence on the type of explosive used and overall costs

Figure 20. Extreme water conditions

I.

MAJOR FACTORS INFLUENCING BLAST EFFICIENCY

A.
Efficient Blast Designs Require a Group Effort
1.
develop, document, follow and audit procedures for the design and implementation of the
blast designs
B.
There Must Be Open Communication Between the Different Groups Involved in Drilling
and Blasting
C.
1.
2.
3.

Three Keys To Optimum Explosive Performance

energy distribution
energy confinement
energy level

D.
1.
2.
3.

Geology
blast results are more influenced by rock properties than by explosive properties
pay close attention to rock structure (joints, bedding etc.)
base design on existing conditions