New Development of Gassed Emulsion Explosive for Cost Optimization and Environmental Control

摘要

Rock blasting is one of the most important operations in the mining cycle value chain, requiring optimized explosives mixtures to get good results. A new and better strategy, and that which is discussed herein, is to design a new emulsion explosive, which can provide improved characteristics and benefits over and above general types of emulsion explosives. It is therefore critical that this product is functional over a wide range of conditions.The aim of this work is to present a new gassed, energetic emulsion explosive which has been specifically designed to improve the current VOD, resulting in higher detonation pressures of the explosive mixture. This new emulsion explosive also provides a wider density range, which matches up to the type of rock in order to obtain optimal fragmentation and ideally final pit/wall stability. The density obtained with this new emulsion is even lower than Heavy ANFO, leading to reduced kilograms of explosive per hole. Testing has shown that there is and an important reduction of nitrous gases, under proper controls to completely mitigate the presence of these gases through incorporation of what is optimized technology.The choices of constituents and formulation with this newly designed emulsifier and gassing agent, the preparation, the equipment and relevant parameters such as product properties and most importantly the know-how for safe use will be illustrated in this paper.In addition, we also plan to present work that is focused on the optimization of blasting performance in order to obtain a result aimed at a cost reduction. One of the advantages of this new gasified emulsion explosive is that it is less costly than traditional mixtures explosives. Additionally, we feel that this new formulation enables working with a one hundred percent gasified emulsion, which would allow saving in the cost (US$/t). In addition, another advantage that is important to mention, is that this product can be applicable to achieving necessary results regarding pyritic ground.To validate this new formulation, tests have been conducted in three different mines in Peru. The quantifiable results in fragmentation are significant in both in ore and waste AND exceed the key performance indicators (KPIs) Goals established by the Mines.Of significance, on tests done, there has not been generation of nitrous gases (0%). That coupled with the excellent results in fragmentation, allowed for expanded drilling patterns, thus optimizing the blasting costs with significantly better environmental controls (nitrous fume reduction).