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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Screen analysis of full-scale production blasts

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OSTI ID:398364
;  [1]
  1. Bureau of Mines, Minneapolis, MN (United States). Twin Cities Research Center
The US Bureau of Mines conducted 22 full-scale blasts to determine the effects of delay and explosive type on fragmentation. The shots were conducted over a period of 7 years in three limestone quarries and one granite quarry. Hole diameters, bench heights, and number of holes varied from 6.4- to 14-cm, 6.7- to 14-m, and 4- to 24-holes, respectively. Explosive performance and actual firing times were measured and screening was used to assess the fragmentation. The results of the timing tests in highly-bedded limestone confirmed previous studies: optimum fragmentation occurs at delays between holes of 3.3 to 16 ms per meter of burden. The fragmentation in limestone quarries showed little difference when using AN-FO as compared to higher-energy explosives, emulsions and dynamites. Water seepage affects on explosive performance, pre-existing joints, and the breakup of the stemming region were found to have a great influence on the distribution of the coarse size material.
OSTI ID:
398364
Report Number(s):
CONF-9502142--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English