EXPLOSIVES & BLASTING
leading to a safer mining operation , the company says .
This mine is known for reactive ground containing pyrite , which hinders the drilling and blasting mining process , Austin Powder says , noting that a major challenge that arises during explosives loading is the monitoring of the inhole temperature of every blasthole , especially after stemming .
Early in 2023 , an initial series of tests were
“ The measurement of the temperature can be for a single ITM electronic detonator , or simultaneous for an array of ITM electronic detonators , allowing the potential for the data to be represented by a time / temperature / hole depth in a 3D heat map ,” Austin Powder says of its ITM solution
completed using the latest electronic detonator to which a temperature sensor was added . These focused on studying the behaviour of the temperature using two inert detonators per blasthole – one inside a booster and one positioned outside of the same booster to determine if the booster could function as a thermal insulator .
“ These inert primers were placed alongside the live primers in various blasts ,” Austin Powder says . “ The temperatures were recorded from the electronic detonators before priming , after loading the hole and after stemming .”
At the conclusion of these tests , the team confirmed the booster did not function as a thermal insulator , as over time the temperature between both detonators was balanced , having an average variation of about 2 ° C . The team observed that temperature variation between the inert detonator within and outside of a cast booster reduced as time increases . The tests focused on various patterns in different areas of the mine to benchmark the expected temperatures in order to use this information to categorise or zone each blast with these values . In this way , the safe working practices in reactive zones can be adjusted in real time .
This has allowed the mine to use the temperature records in the different areas of the pit to operate with greater awareness and safety during the explosives loading procedures .
“ This new data allows for the adjustment of safe working procedures and best practices in potentially reactive mining zones ,” Austin
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Contact Phil Playle ( phil @ im-mining . com )