BLASTING IN U/G MINES

TERMINOLOGY

Roof contour holes

Wall contour holes

Wall contour holes

Stoping holes

Cut
holes
Cut spreader holes
Lifters holes
 BLASTING IN U/G MINES CONTD.
WEDGE CUT
 BLASTING IN U/G MINES CONTD.
FAN CUT
 BLASTING IN U/G MINES CONTD.
DRAG CUT
 BLASTING IN U/G MINES CONTD.
BURN CUT
 LIVINGSTON CRATER THEORY

The spherical charge is defined as the one having a length-to-diameter (L:D) ratio
of 4:1 or less, and up to, but not exceeding L:D = 6:1.

Example:
A 150 mm diameter hole, a charge of 147 mm diameter and 900 mm in length
would constitute a spherical charge. You can see the dia considered here is hole dia
not cartridge dia as it is assumed that the explosive being semi-liquid the cartridge
will take the shape of hole.

Classnote of Dr. Kaushik Dey, IIT Kharagpur

 LIVINGSTON CRATER THEORY CONTD.

Explosive charge
Blast hole
True crater
Apparent crater

Shallow burial
(~ 0.2 m/kg1/3 Optimum burial
(~ 0.6 m/kg1/3

Energy dissipate in Deep burial Critical crater

the form of air blast 1/3
(~ 0.1 m/kg ) (~ 0.001 m/kg1/3)
Energy dissipate in the form of ground vibration
Classnote of Dr. Kaushik Dey, IIT Kharagpur
 LIVINGSTON CRATER THEORY CONTD.
The term "cratering" in blasting is applied to the formation of a
surface cavity in a material as the result of detonation of an
explosive in that material. The explosive used in the crater
method are normally spherical or geometric equivalent.

Livingston (1956)

1
Dc  E t  Q 3 Where,
Dc = Critical depth of burial where surface impression is almost zero.
Et = Strain-Energy factor (rock-explosive interaction characteristics)
1 Q = Explosive charge weight (kg)
Dg    E t  Q 3
Dg = Charge depth (surface to centre(c.g) of the charge)
Δ = Depth relationship = Dg/Dc
Δo = Optimum depth relationship = Do/Dc

Classnote of Dr. Kaushik Dey, IIT Kharagpur

 LIVINGSTON CRATER THEORY CONTD.
To determine the optimum burial depth a series of crater blasting test should
be carried out with following precautions –
 the test will be done on similar rock and same explosive,
 blast hole should be vertical (or perpendicular to face),
 blast hole diameter should be as large as possible,
 blast hole depth will be varying
 charge should be spherical i.e L<6D

After each test the volume-depth data would be presented in the form of a
curve.

Classnote of Dr. Kaushik Dey, IIT Kharagpur

LIVINGSTON CRATER THEORY CONTD.
1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2
Yield m/kg1/3

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
Charge (kg/m)

Classnote of Dr. Kaushik Dey, IIT Kharagpur