Blasting Parameters for Effective Plant Operation at Jwaneng Mine

摘要

This paper reviewed the existing blasting parameters at Jwaneng Mine, their effect on the crusher and downstream plant processes, and how these were optimised to assist effective plant operation at Jwaneng Mine. The study reviewed drilling and blasting parameters in terms of burden and spacing, powder factor, rock geology, fragmentation and size distribution from the Run of Mine (ROM), through the primary crusher; in comparison with the outputs at the scrubbers in terms of scrubber oversize, undersize, and fines to jetsump. Based on the figures supplied by the Main Treatment Plant in terms of Plant Mass Balance, the drilling and blasting parameters have been trialed to render fragmentation that meets these requirements and hence have been adopted as guidelines for effective plant operation, for the particular bench and rock domain. However it must be emphasised that due to the changing lithology of the rock, every area being blasted comes with its own unique characteristics and therefore a blanket approach is discouraged. The study is only an aspect from a total study, which encompasses critical analysis of other geotechnical factors, some of which include fracture frequency per metre, Young's modulus and unconfined compressive strength of the rockmass.