EXPLOSIVES AND DELIVERY
Blast off
initiation system. The company says: “Reduced
misfires and full two-way communications
between the Remotes and the Controller make
smartblast the safest way to blast with electric
challenging ground conditions. The Orica
or shock-tube detonation. Since it uses the
Connector 6 also allows for quicker tie-up,
mines’ Leaky Feeder system and is completely
resulting in a system that offers increased speed
portable, this blasting system is the most
and versatility.
productive and cost-efficient solution on the
Orica Global Product Manager, Electronic
market. The advantages of using the smartblast
Blasting Systems, Thomas Boos, said: “We have
system are quite apparent and it is easy to prove
listened to our customers’ feedback and one of
the investment in cost savings alone, not to
the new capabilities of the i-kon III System is
mention the safety benefits.”
the ease in delivering large and complex
There was a time when each smartblast
blasting with Orica’s newly developed range of
controller was limited to initiating a maximum of
blasting components. The Blaster 3000 allows
eight remote blasting units but those days are
for up to six blasts to be fired remotely, over
over. With the new RB1673 series up to 64
larger distances. Combined with the new Logger
remotes can be tied into one, eliminating the
II which logs up to 500 detonators, i-kon III
need for multiple controllers. The RB1673 has
increases on-bench productivity and reduces
many new features which include a history
overall hardware requirements. With Orica’s
event log and LCD display. The history event log
choice of wires to suit a range of mining
keeps a record of information such as unit state,
conditions, including the Extreme wire,
post blast motion detect value, firing voltage
customers can look forward to enhanced
level, battery level and the date and time the
reliability and efficiency. Extreme delivers
event was logged. With the GPS included, each
excellent outcomes where hard, sharp and
event will also have the longitude and latitude
abrasive rock is prevalent.”
of where the unit was when the event was
In addition, the i-kon III system offers the
recorded. The LCD display provides information
opportunity for improved fragmentation and
that is supplemental to the basic operation.
vibration control through sub-millisecond blast
Whenever a switch is pressed, the LCD
design. Sub-millisecond timing has the potential
display’s backlighting function will be enabled.
to open up new blasting techniques in specific
After 30 seconds of inactivity, the backlighting
applications that have not previously been
will automatically turn off to save battery power.
considered.
New safety components have also been added
Becker Varis is a leader in underground
to the RB1673 to give more secure and reliable
blasting systems
blasting. The Remote units
through its
now have sensors that
smartblast ®
measure the seismic
product line.
motion that may be
Working in
expected when a
conjunction with
successful blast
a Leaky Feeder
detonation has
system, using the
occurred. The
latest
Controller unit then
microprocessor
reports that a post-
and message
fire motion was
encoding and
detected, useful in
validation
underground
technology -
operations when
smartblast
the successful
provides a
initiation of a blast
safe, reliable
cannot be easily
and accurate
determined. An automatic-
Becker Varis smartblast Remote and Controller
remote blast
disarming function
John Chadwick examines the latest in blast initiation,
explosives delivery and blast management
n May 23 this year, the CEO of Orica, the
world’s largest manufacturer of
commercial explosives and innovative
blasting systems, Alberto Calderon, addressed
business leaders at the Australia-Latin America
Business Council noting that the company “is
increasingly focused on working with our
customers to develop better outcomes in
productivity, costs and safety, and in minimising
environmental impacts through advanced
blasting.”
“The real positive here for mining companies
seeking to improve their productivity, is that the
cost of explosives as a percentage of ore value
is low, but an improvement in blasting outcomes
can be leveraged into significant productivity
benefits through improved mill throughput,
maximising recovery, reduced energy usage,
among other benefits. Blasting represents less
than 4% of total mine costs, but it can positively
impact 60% of costs, through improved
fragmentation, vibration, increased throw, etc,
which can be leveraged for significant
productivity benefits.”
Orica has recently launched the premium i-
kon™ III electronic blasting system. The
company says it is designed specifically for use
in high value and complex blasts at large open-
pit and underground operations, “Orica’s i-kon
products have led the industry for close to 20
years. The i-kon III System continues this legacy
in unlocking value for our customers, delivering
even greater reliability, efficiency and control
resulting in optimised blast outcomes for
customers."
Orica Vice President Global Marketing, Carlos
Mejia, said: “The i-kon III System is the most
advanced electronic blasting system on the
mar ket and will deliver significant benefits to
our customers’ operations. With improved
reliability, even in harsh environmental and
blasting conditions, i-kon III will deliver
increased efficiency and versatility for greater
control of blast outcomes.”
The new i-kon III detonator benefits from a
bimetallic shell, providing optimal protection in
corrosive conditions for significantly longer
sleep time and increased dynamic shock
resistance which improves performance in
O
50 International Mining | AUGUST 2017