Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Delayed-blasting tests to improve highwall stability - a final report. Report of Investigations/1986

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5671127

The Bureau of Mines conducted a series of delayed-blasting experiments at a Barbour County, WV, contour coal mine that resulted in smoother highwalls. The highwalls were smoother due to reduced overbreak (excessive rock breakage beyond the excavation limit) and were inherently safer due to reduced likelihood of rockfall. The experiments were directed at reducing overbreak without special drilling or significant additional cost. Reduced overbreak was accomplished by increasing the highwall hole delays, which changed the effective delay-pattern geometry and the direction of burden movement.

Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines, Twin Cities, MN (USA). Twin Cities Research Center
OSTI ID:
5671127
Report Number(s):
PB-86-195864/XAB; BM-IC-9008
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English