Blasting Considerations for IPCC Systems

Research output: Thesis › Master's Thesis (University Course)

Authors

Abstract

Rapidly increasing fuel price and stricter environment regulations for large open pit mines have made In Pit Crushing and Conveying (IPCC) an attractive option to traditional truck & shovel operation. The potential to reduce both operation and maintenance cost has been proven with IPCC, along with enhancing safety and protecting the environment. To select most appropriate IPCC system for the mines which requires drill and blast, the interface between blasting and IPCC installation should be considered in early stage. Basically, drilling and blasting practices need to be well controlled for IPCC applications because IPCC system brings less tolerance on fly rock and oversize boulders (for overburden). Besides, fully mobile crushing and conveying (FMIPCC) system operation also requires straight crest line, stable bench slope, toe problems elimination, less material throw and suitable block width from blasting practices. To minimize the interface with blasting, IPCC system design should consider blasting characters well. For SMIPCC system, main considerations are about the safety distance from IPCC installations to blasting area and methods dealing with possible oversized boulders. And for FMIPCC system design, blasting block width, distance between face conveyor to blasting blocks on same and lower bench, and mining sequence of blasting and excavation are the main additional aspects to be taken into mind. At the same time, methods on blasting control and optimization also need to be applied to make blasting adapt to IPCC system utilization. Generally, setting good blasting pattern parameters is still the basic way for blasting optimization. Besides, deck charging, pre- splitting, precise delay initiation, employing GPS, blast design system and fragmentation measurement and warning system are some additional ways can be used to adjust blasting result for IPCC system.

Details

Translated title of the contributionBlasting Considerations for IPCC Systems
Original languageEnglish
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date23 Oct 2014
Publication statusPublished - 2014