Design of Blasting Rounds J

Information developed in the preceding sections on the theory of blasting and

crater geometry can now be employed in the design of underground development rounds.
In this section, we shall deal with the design of only one type of blasting round, the angled
cut. Crater data presented in Figure 11.8 will be the basis for our design procedure.
Figure 11.11 (left) illustrates the steps in crater formation and burden relationships
for a V-cut round in a development heading (only a portion of the drillholes and the
detonation sequence in the face are shown). The first holes detonated are the V cut (I), next
the relievers (2), and then the en- largers (3). In designing each sequence of holes, the
burden d is measured from the nearest free face to the center ofgravity of the charge. The
amount ofexplosive required is then read from Figure 11.7. Thus, for the cut holes, the
burden is d1, measured to the heading face; the weight ofexplosive, W, corresponds to d1 .
When the cut is blasted, the first crater forms. For the relievers, burden d2 is measured to
the first crater, and charge weight W is specified accordingly. Subsequent holes are handled
similarly. A comparison with bench blasting in a production round is provided by Figure
11.11 (right).

Figure 11.11. Relationship of burden to free face and center of gravity of charge in blasting round.
(left) Underground development. (1) Cut hole. (2) Reliever hole (3) Enlarger hole. (Right)surface on
undergroun production.

While the resulting design is approximate and must be adjusted for variations in
actual practice, it can be used successfully to obtain a triai blasting round. Since the
configuration is only approximate, a further sirnplification will be made in the numerical
example and problems by locating the center of gravity of all holes at the depth of round or
anticipated advance.
EXAMPLE 11.3. (a) Design the eight-hole V cut ofa blasting round intended to pull 6 ft (1.8
m) in an 8 X 10 ft (2.4 X 3.0 m) drift in Idaho Springs gneiss (TF 12. I ft3/ton, or 0.38
m3/tonne). The explosive is ANFO of specific gravity 0.8, fired electrically with millisecond
delays. Drillhole diameter is 3 in. (76 mm)
(b) The following data apply to the entire blasting round:

Total explosive consumption 150 lb (68 kg)

Total length of blasthole drilled 165 ft (50 m)
Calculate the powder factor and drilling factor for the round

SOLUTION. (a) from figure 11.8, the ANFO curve. Read W1 = 34,5 lb for d1 = 6 ft, find loading
density:

Explosive specific weight = (62.4)(0,8) = 49.9 lb/ft3

Hole area A = (32 = 0.0491 ft2

For unit length l,

Loading density = (0.049l)(49.9) 2.45 lb/ft (3.65 kg/m)

Determine explosives charge per hole in cut:

34,5
Charge/hole, Wt = = 4.31 lb
8

4,31
Length of charge/hole, L = = 1 .76 ft (0.53 m)
2,45

Since L = 1.76 ft, and the center of gravity of the charge is located at the depth of the round d 6 ft,
the length of each cut drillhole Lh must be
1,76
Lh=6+ 2
= 166.88ft(2.10 m)

(b) Calculate powder factor:

(6)(8)(9)
Weight of rock broken, W = =39.7 tons/round
12.1

150
Powder factor PF = = 3.78 lb/ton (1.89 kg/tonne)
39.7

Calculate drilling factor:

165
Drilling factor DF =39.7 = 4.16 ft/ton (1.40 m/tonne)

In practice, driliholes are generally overdriiled (about 6 in., or 152 mm) to ensure
that the fuIl depth of round is pulled. This requires that the center of gravity of the charge
be shifted closer to the collar of the hole. Also, when cartridges rather than bulk explosives
are used, loading densites are calculated to the nearest one-half cartridge.
 After the cut is designed, the burden on succeeding holes is read from either a plan
or elevation view of the round, selected so that a true distance, without foreshortening, is
read. Further, it is advisable to check the desired radius of crater against [he design r/df
ratio to ensure that the crater formed by the cut holes breaks to the full dimensions of the
face.

PROBLEMS

11.1 The cycle in driving a raise conventionally by drilling and blasting must be completed in
a 7-hr shift. Allowing 0.8 hr for scaling and bolting, I .6 hr for blasting, 0.2 hr for chute
pulling, and 20% of shift time for delays, calculate the rating of two stoper percussion drills
(in n./min, or mm/sec, penetration rate) required with two operators to achieve a 6-ft (1 .8-
m) advance per shift. The raise is 6 X 8 ft (1.8 X 2.4 m) in cross section, and 306j-ft (2.0m)
holes are required. Setup time for drilling is 20 mm, collaring time is 4 min per hole, and
steel change time is I min per hole.

11.2a. A percussion drill jumbo is operating in a drift n a hardrock mine under the following
conditions:

Rock Minnesota quartzite

Drilling rate (in Barre granite) 52 in/mm (22 mm/sec)

Position, collar, retract time 3.2 mm/hole

Drillhole depth 9 ft (2.7 m)

Shift drilling time 7,2 hr

What is the output of one drill per shift, measured in total feet (meters) of hole?

b. if three rounds are required per shift, and each round consist of 68 holes, how many drills
must be mounted on the jumbo?

c. if the working face is 18 x 26 ft (5.5 x 7,9m) and the tonnage factor is 11 ft3/ton (0.34
m3/tonne), calculate the tones broken per shift and the drilling factor.

11.3 A percussion drill rig demondtrates the following performance in a mine:

Rock bellefonte, PA limestone

Drilling rate (in bare granite) 28 in./min (11,9mm/sec)

Position, collar, retract time 2.52 min/hole

Drillhole depth 12 ft (3.6 m)

 Number of holes/round 58

Drilling time/round 2 hr

Number of rounds/shift 3

Shift time 8 hr

Pertinent cost data are as follows:

Delivered price $140,000

Operating period 6000 hr/yr

Life 33,000 hr

Operating cost $32.00 hr

Determine the following:

a. Number of drills required for the conditions

b. Ownership cost, $/hr

C. Unit drilling cost, $/ft ($1m)

11.4 Given the following information, calculate and compare the unit costsN(S/hr or $/ft or m of
drillhole, and per ton or tonne of rock broken) of drilling with pneumatic and hydraulic equipment in
underground develop ment work, employing multiple headings in hard-rock mining. Select the more
economical drill rig for this application. Assume one rig with 1 to 4 drills each.