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

SANFO: The missing link in explosives technology

Conference ·
OSTI ID:398406
 [1]
  1. Johnson Hi-Tech Australia Pty Ltd, Queensland (Australia)
The development of SANFO has provided the mining industry with a low cost high gas volume, variable density, blasting agent which can be blended on site in a simple agitator mixing and charging system by mine site employees. During the last decade most major explosives manufacturers have been promoting high density, high shock energy blasting agents. To offset the cost of these products they have relied on expanded borehole patterns. It has since been discovered that lower VOD products are more effective in most overburden geologies due to the longer explosion pressure period and lower shock energy. These characteristics also reduce energy loss consumed in pulverization around the perimeter of borehole. The major advantages of SANFO compared with normal ANFO or heavy ANFO are as listed. Due to problems associated with bulling when blasting soft geologies at BHP`s Riverside Mine in Central Queensland, Australia, the company was invited to develop a low density blasting agent which could be blended as required on the mine site. This paper describes the problems associated with blasting softer geologies and the use of sawdust as a cost-effective bulking agent.
OSTI ID:
398406
Report Number(s):
CONF-960262--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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