Quarry Blasting in Germany: A Limited Observation of Blasting Practices in Three Aggregate Quarries in Western Germany

摘要

Observations of blasting practices at three stone quarries in West Germany are reported. Two are limestone quarries whose products are used in producing steel and cement; the other is a Melaphr Latit Andesite whose products are used in road and building construction. Blasting practices within an individual quarry change as the quarry is mined. Principally, German blasting practices differ from those in the U.S. in that the former use inclined borehole, consume less explosive, and employ a detonating cord to detonate the ANFO column. Hence, in German quarries there is not the excessive burden at the quarry floor or too little burden at the top which can cause fly rock problems. German consumption of explosive ranges from 275 to 470 grams per cubic meter compared to an average of 600 grams per cubic meter in the U.S. A 200 gram detonating cord is adequate to detonate ANFO in 95 millimeter holes. Three illustrations are included.