A model is being developed to quantify the benefits for mining houses resulting from thereduction in greenhouse gas and energy consumption by the application of innovative blastdesigns in addition to direct financial benefits throughout the mine to mill value chain. Theconversion from shock tube initiation systems to electronics and some changes to powder factormeasured on an open pit mine had previously been used to show significant improvement onblast outputs. Benefits were realised on drilling, blasting, loading, hauling and beneficiation.Quantification of the relationship between powder factor and reduced greenhouse gasses isinvestigated in this study. The study has highlighted new data that must be recorded and hencesome assumptions were made as to fuel consumption and the energy in crushing was obtainedfrom the Bond work equation. The mine to mill projects in an open pit platinum mine and aquarry produced energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with thecareful application of explosives and blast innovations. The less fines project showed anincreased carbon footprint. The model provides a new insight into how project feasibilityshould be decided based on economic and environmental viability.
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