FIELD EVALUATION OF MINE BLASTING EFFICIENCY

Abstract

The efficiency of drilling and blasting operations can be assessed in different ways, depending on the desired effect. The evaluation can be performed on the basis of the quality of the explosives applied for rock extraction. On the other hand, the correct assessment should include the results of drilling and blasting works. One of the parameters that are commonly used in the quality assessment of explosives is the on-site testing of the detonation velocity, which is a direct indicator of the efficiency of explosives. The quality of explosives is essential for the appropriate blasting process and should be subjected to regular verification by means of measurements under different site conditions. Since in most cases the excavated rock must be transported from the blasting site to another location, one of the main parameters that can be used for drilling and blasting operations assessment is fragmentation analysis. It may be done using various image-based particles sizing software. The article presents selected methods that can be applied for the evaluation of blasting works efficiency, including measurements of detonation velocity as well as fragmentation analysis based on photogrammetric methods.