Kovačević, Ž. et al: Calculation of drilling ......

Archives for Technical Sciences 2013, 9(1), 35-42

Professional paper
UDC: 622.332 (497.6 Banja Luka)
DOI: 10.7251/afts.2013.0509.035K

CALCULATION OF DRILLING AND BLASTING

PARAMETERS FOR QUARRY ''DOBRNJA''
NEAR BANJA LUKA
Kovačević Žarko1, Čelebić Miodrag1, Tošić Dražena1
1
Rudarski fakultet Prijedor, E.mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Using of explosives in modern mining is very important for the good, efficient and rational organization
for obtaining of solid minerals, especially in the exploitation of mineral resources on mines with large
capacities. Technological phases of drilling and blasting in the exploitation process are very important
in this case, and the analysis in this paper, because specific working environment and technical
construction-limestone, where performance and capacities for further technological stages largely
depends on the granularity of blasted materials (capacities of bulldozers, capacities of loaders-
excavators, capacities of trucks and equipment for stone crushing and grinding). Objective of this paper
is to get the best drilling and blasting parameters with different combinations of explosives, to get an
optimum combination that will be continusly used.

Key words: exploitation, blasting, explosives

INTRODUCTION

In the modern mining industry, for the proper efficient and rational organization of obtaining solid
minerals, using of explosives is essential, especially in the exploitation of mineral resources in large-
scale mining with large capacities. Drilling-blasting operations are one of the most influential factors
on the cost of mineral resources exploitation because using of explosives in the process of obtaining
minerals create the conditions for the application of other modern mining techniques.

Technological phases of drilling and blasting in this process of exploitation are very important in this
case and the analysis in this paper, because specific working environment and technical construction
limestone, where performance and capacity for further technological stages largely depend on the
particle size of blasted materials (capacities of bulldozers, loading units, trucks and equipment for
crushing and grinding) [1].

Analysis of physical, mechanical and technical characteristics of the rock that makes the working
environment at quarry "Dobrnja" in Banja Luka, defined the way selection and definition drilling and
blasting parameters and the choice sets for drilling and explosives.

According to well-established and accepted methods of choice and calculation drilling-blasting

parameters, the paper elaborated different types (combinations) of explosives and their impact on other
parameters (geometry of drilling, distance between blastholes, construction of blastholes, etc.). The
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Kovačević, Ž. et al: Calculation of drilling ...... Archives for Technical Sciences 2013, 9(1), 35-42
results of such development and variant of resolving issues of choice explosives, agreed with the
concrete conditions of the working environment should show a great impact specific working
conditions and the use of certain types of explosives, not only on the effectiveness of the execution of
drilling and blasting works in technical terms, but also in economic terms, where can significantly
affect the organization and costs of conducting these technological exploitation phase in mines and
quarries.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION

Bearing technical construction stone-limestone "Dobrnja" in Banja Luka is located on the northern
slopes of the mountain Manjača. Surface prospecting affected exploration activities is approximately
30 ha. Height difference on the tray of 490 m.a.s.l. to 650 m.a.s.l. In geological terms this part of the
field is built entirely of Cretaceous limestone. Distribution of the limestone massif is much broader
than the study sites, so this slot is part of Lower Cretaceous limestone formations that are present on
the surface of a few square kilometers [2].

ENGINEERING- GORLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPOSIT

Mineral resources presented limestone which occurs in the form of layers and banks. In pripovršinski
parts is cracked and cracks have different orientations and sizes, from microcracks to centimeter. They
were filled with clay with small limestone debris, rarely calcite, and surface zone beneath the topsoil
and red soil. With the depth of the cracked reduced and the rock becomes more compact. Are mapped
and caverns that are empty somewhere, and somewhere partially filled with clay mixed with limestone
inwards. Also, have been karstifikaciona recesses filled with this material. All these characteristics of
the working environment are reflected in the operating conditions and the stability and digs [2].

By engineering-geological classification, deposit is represented with two types of rocks and rock
masses:

1. solid rock and rock mass (limestone)

2. unbound rocks (eluvium, diluvium, prolluvium and mound).

The study of physical and mechanical properties of limestone from research hole and exploratory sink,
the following parameters were obtained by the working environment:

• ompressive strength in the dry state ...........................................................................127,5 MPa

• compressive strength in water condition ..................................................................... 96,9 MPa
• compressive strength after freezing ..........................................................................103,6 MPa
• porosity............................................................................................................................1–3,4 %
• water absorption................................................................................................................0,27 %
• density......................................................................................................................2,67 gr/cm3

SPECIAL PART

On the production and technical results of mining influence: the structure and Rock fractures, blasting-
technical features rock characteristics of used explosives, way of activating the mine field, etc.

Specification mining depend on the selected loading and transport equipment, and equipment at the
plant for crushing and grading of technical-building stone and concrete conditions "Dobrnja" they are:

Granulation: up to 600 mm with a maximum of 10% oversize granules 800 mm,

Safety: harmonize mining in terms of safety on wasteful pieces [1].

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DEFINING THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT ON QUARRY ''DOBRNJA''

The physical characteristicsof rocks are:

a) structure (physical and morphological appearance of the way of the rock mass, ie shape, size and
arrangement of the individual particles of which made the rock itself) and limestone Dobrnja
belong to medium jointed rock masses.

Limestone on "Dobrnja" falls into the third category by number of fissures. Figure 1. shown is an open
profile with rocks "Dobrnja".

Figure 1 Limeston from quarry Dobrnja

b) specific and bulk density (specific gravity differ-weight per unit volume of a fully compacted
material and volumetric weight-weight of the rock mass with pores per unit volume)

For limestone on quarry "Dobrnja", the specific weight of 26.9 kN/m3 and volumetric weight of 26.2
kN/m3.

c) porosity (ratio of volume of pores in the rock to the total volume of the rock mass, expressed as a
percentage, %).

For limestone on quarry "Dobrnja" it was established porosity in the amount of 0.26% [2].

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WORK ENVIRONMENT

The mechanical properties of rocks include:

a) hardness (resistance to a rock by the penetration of another, harder body in it)

Depending on the method for setting distinguish several types of hardness. Hardness is determined
and is expressed in Shore units Hs of 1-100.

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b) Strength (feature rock that resists destruction under the influence of some external pressure force,
tensile force, bending forces or twisting forces)

For limestone on "Dobrnja" were determined by the following strength:

• Compressive strength in the dry state: 127.50 (MPa)

• Resistance to pressure in a water-saturated state: 96,90 (MPa)
• Compressive strength after freezing: 103.60 (MPa) [2].

TEHNICAL CHARACTERISTISC OF WORK ENVIRONMENT

a) volume modul (expressed as the coefficient of friability, which shows the relationship of the
volume of the rock mass in the massif and the blasted rock mass)

For limestone on quarry "Dobrnja" determined coefficient friability in the amount of 1.45.

b) driling resistance (resistance to penetration instrument for drilling depends on the strength,
hardness and toughness)

We distinguish between passive and active bušivost. Passive bušivost expresses speed drilling unit of
time. Active (abrasiveness) expresses the degree of wear of organ-blades per meter length of the
borehole [3], Table 1.

Table 1 Classification of rock on the basis of abrasiveness

Class Abrasiveness,
Name Typical rocks
abrasiveness mgr/min

Limestone, marble, soft

Very little
I until 5 sulfides without quartz,
abrasive
apatite, rock salt

c) crushing resistance (properties of rocks to resist crushing in frequent dynamic stresses)-limestone

belong to medium hard rock with friable coefficient 0.7> k> 0.5

d) acoustic characteristics (mean velocity of propagation of longitudinal and transverse waves

through the rock massif)

On the basis of the acoustic properties used for calculation of acoustic impedance of the rock mass,
which is of great importance to the selection of explosives, because on the basis of acoustic
impedances of explosives and rock mass selects explosives to be used in the process of mining [3].

DRILLING

According to the conditions sized pieces entering the treatment plant get drilling diameter d = 160
mm. Applying this diameter drilling may occur large amounts negabaritnih pieces, which would create
additional costs to fragmentation of raw materials. To avoid the possibility of large quantities
negabaritnih pieces on "Dobrnja" will be used most frequently used in quarries drilling diameters of 89
or 105 mm

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During the execution of drilling-blasting works in the real conditions on the ground, it will come to the
optimal parameters of drilling and blasting. In the selection of drilling equipment, make sure that the
drill has the ability to drill inclined boreholes and wells of different diameters, which allow the
determination of the optimal diameter drilling.

BLASTING

During the execution of drilling-blasting works in the real conditions on the ground, it will come to the
optimal parameters of drilling and blasting. In the selection of drilling equipment, make sure that the
drill has the ability to drill inclined boreholes and wells of different diameters, which allow the
determination of the optimal diameter drilling [4].

Determination of blasting

Selection of explosives for blasting is one of the basic and most important tasks in the design of
blasting explosives as applied as a carrier of energy is the main means of blasting and it depends on
the success of mining [5].

During the design process of mining selection of the best types of explosives are made on the basis of
physical and mechanical characteristics of the work environment that are expressed through the
seismic characteristics and properties of explosives. Depending on the seismic characteristics (speed of
propagation of longitudinal waves through the rock massif) and specific volumetric weight of the
working environment we calculate the acoustic impedance of the rock mass [6]:

Zs= vu ⋅ γ,

vu – speed of propagation of longitudinal waves through the rock massif (3800–4500 m/s)
γ – rocks density kg/dm3, (for limestone 2,67 kg/dm3).

Acoustic impedance of limestone is 10000–12000 mkg/sdm3.

Acoustic impedance Ze explosives count as a product of density explosives δ and velocity of

detonation of explosives D:

Ze = D ⋅ δ

Physico-mechanical properties of rocks are the primary influence for the selection of types of
explosives and specific consumption of explosives. Energy utilization of explosives for a particular
work environment depends on the relationship of acoustic impedance rock and acoustic impedance of
explosives and the largest amount of energy is used for crushing if the ratio is equal to one.

However, in practice it is difficult to achieve a relationship Zs = Ze and the cause that the
heterogeneity of the working environment and explosives, and moreover cracks and fissures have a
very big role in the absolute value of the speed of propagation of longitudinal waves through the rock
massif. Because of all this we can say that between the acoustic impedance of explosives and rocks
there dependence and the calculation we have to take into account the reflection coefficient k = 0.5-0.7
[3].

In this paper, the calculation is done on the basis of the working environment on the one hand and of
the emulsion, powder and AN-FO explosives with other strane, Table 2 and table 3. To not mean that
in future work the quarry can not use other types of explosives that have similar mining-technical
characteristics, and it will all depend on the needs of the company that made the exploitation of that
capacity, the current market price of explosives, mines, etc [1].

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Table 2 Technical characteristcs of used explosives

Characteristics Emulsion AN–FO AMONEX 1

Dencity, kg/dm3 1,15 0,925 1,05

Gases volume, dm3/kg 847 1045 975

Energy of exsplozije, kJ/kg 3851 3872 4228

Temp. of explosion, kJ/kg - - 2740

Speed of detonation, m/s 4500 2500 4100

Oxygen balance, % - 0 +0,13

Table 3 Acoustic impedance of limestone, explosives and their ratio

Acoustic
Max. Acoustic Relation
Speed of impedance
Dencity, impedace of between
Eksplosive detonation of
kg/dm3 limestone, impedances
m/s ezplosives,
mkg/sdm3 Irock: Iexp
mkg/sdm3
Emulsion 4500 1,15 5175 10000–12000 0,86 –1,03

AN–FO 2500 0,925 2313 10000–12000 0,41–0,50

AMONEX 1 4100 1.05 4305 10000–12000 0,68–0,82

CALCULATION OF PARAMETERS OF DRILLING AND BLASTING

According to the selection of explosives in a specific work environment can be further define the
parameters of drilling and blasting. In this paper the case of variants with different drilling diameters
and different combinations of explosives as a primary and ancillary charges, Table 4. Based on the
results and analysis of them, we can determine the optimal combination of explosives and then the
geometry of boreholes and mine fields, and the construction of an explosive charge in a borehole [7].

At the beginning of the quarry is optimally applied drilling diameter of 105 mm and a combination of
powdered explosives as the main charge and AN-FO explosives as an extra charge.

If in the course of the quarry this variant does not show satisfactory results, it is suggested to use
another diameter drilling and other combinations of explosives, which is discussed in this paper.

During the operation of the quarry to evaluate the suitability and other explosives and diameter
drilling, in order to find potentially better and techno-economic parameters, cost-effective drilling and
blasting [8].

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Table 4 Racapitulation od blasting parameters

Mineholes with diameter 89 mm, Mineholes with diameter 105 mm,

Meas.
bench height 20,0 m bench height 20,0 m

Primary
AN–FO Powder expl. AN–FO Powder expl.
charges
Secondary
emulsion AN – FO emulsion AN–FO
charges
W m 3,0 3,5 3,6 4,0
a m 3,0 3,5 3,6 4,0
b m 3,0 3,5 3,6 4,0
m 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0
Lminehole m 21,18 22,33 22,36 22,48
Lpitting m 0,9 1,05 1,08 1,2
Lprimary ch. m 17,5 3,37 18,0 4,0
Lsecondary ch. m 0,68 15,46 0,76 14,48
Lplug m 3,0 3,5 3,6 4,0
Q pr. ch kg 100,65 17,84 144,1 26,62
Qsec. ch. kg 4,0 89,0 4,0 115,84
Qtotal kg 104,65 106,84 148,1 142,46
deceleration ms 20,0 20,0 20,0 20,0
amount m3 180,0 245,0 259,0 320,0
q kg/m3 0,581 0,436 0,572 0,446
capaties m3/m 8,11 10,97 11,58 14,23

CONCLUSION

From the results of the analysis done in this paper, it is possible to make the following conclusions:

Work environment, or rock material prior to the drilling and blasting is crucial in defining the
parameters by which to carry out works of this technological phase which is very important in terms of
technical and economic indicators.

Physical, mechanical and technical properties of rocks used as input data and are directly associated
with the choice of drilling and blasting parameters.

Influence the effects of mining in the operation of equipment and machinery in other technological
exploitation phase-loading, transport and preparation (crushing and grading) is great because on the
basis of work and production characteristics of the equipment dimensioned drilling and blasting
parameters and performance of drilling and blasting papers should be a maximum of customized
operational parameters loading and transport equipment and facilities for the preparation.

Through the analysis of the specific consumption of explosives and geometry minefield is evident that
the use of larger diameter drilling in blasting can lead to favorable effects of drilling-blasting works.

The paper was selected computationally most favorable combination of explosives in charge, with the
definition and other drilling-blasting parameters. However, the current mining practice shows that it is
possible that in the future work of a mine or quarry change occurs given solutions, all in accordance
with the specific operating conditions, the results of which will achieve the drilling and blasting, or as a
result of some technological changes.

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Kovačević, Ž. et al: Calculation of drilling ...... Archives for Technical Sciences 2013, 9(1), 35-42

(Received 05. august 2013, accepted 20. september 2013)

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Technical Institute Bijeljina, Archives for Technical Sciences, Year V – No. 9. 42