An approach to improve blasting efficiency in an iron ore mine

摘要

This paper presents an approach to improve overall blasting efficiency in an iron ore mine. The problems existing in the mines were oversize fragmentation, severe backbreak, frequent secondary drilling and blasting operations, sloping bench faces and irregular bench profiles. Thorough analysis of the blasting practices and results was done in the search of key parameters affecting blasting efficiency. The parameters were burden, stemming length, delay period between the rows, placement of booster charge, booster ratio and firing pattern. Optimum blast geometry was evolved by making proper adjustments of the above parameters during trial blasts.