A CASE STUDY OF CONTROLLED BLASTING WITH e-
DET AT BANKOLA OPENCAST MINE OF EASTERN
COALFIELDS LIMITED
By- A Maulik 1, M O Sarthy 2 , & Mithilesh Tiwari 3
Bankola Open Cast Mine is working on
the Jambad Top (R-VIII T) and Jambad
bottom (R-VIII B) seam. The
thickness of the top coal seam varies
from 3.2 to 4.6m. The thickness of the
bottom seam is between 6.2 to 7.0m. The
overburden cover is between 17 to 24m.
The inter-burden between the top and the
bottom seams varies from 1.5 to 3.0 m.
The OB is being removed by shovel
dumper combination. 100 mm and 160
mm dia. Electric Drills are being used in
3.5 m to 6.0m high benches for blasting
with Large Diameter explosives .
The Bankola UG colliery, which is around
160m from the open cast working, is
developing the Bonbhal seam. The
thickness of the seam is 2.7 to 3.05m. It is
around 74 to 84m below surface. The mine
management of Bankola Patch OCP of
Eastern Coalfields Limited applied for
DGMS permission for extraction of pillars
of Jambad Top (R-VIII T) and Jambad
Bottom (R-VIII B) seam by open cast
Electronic detonator (e-DET)
e-Det is an indigenously developed
electronic detonator by M/s GOCL. e-Dets
are be used in association with a
programmable e-xploder device. The e-
xploder transfers desired delay interval
data to the firing circuit and sends coded
signal to the detonators to initiate the
timing sequence in the firing circuit. The e-
Det is having delay number 0 & 1-30 and a
maximum delay window of 3000ms. The
method with deep-hole blasting and
deployment of HEMM The permission was
granted by Director of Mines Safety,
Sitarampur granted with a condition that all
the blasting operations should be carried
out with the use of electronic detonators
along with a scientific study of the effect of
blast induced ground vibrations on the
following:
a) Stability of the pillar and roof of
underlying Bankola seam and Bonbhal
seam of Bankola colliery.
b) Surface structures (dwelling houses and
school located at 100 to 150 m) at nearby
village.
Accordingly, the mine management
engaged CMPDI Ltd, Asansol who in turn
recommended use of electronic detonators
for controlled blasting. The mine sought
services of M/s Gulf Oil Corporation
Limited for the supply and application of
their electronic detonators (e-Det) for the
above study
desired delay between 1-100 ms can be set
on the e-Xploder, which is custom designed
to fire e-Det.
The service end of the e-Det is inserted into
the cap sensitive booster charge and
lowered down the hole, and the other end is
connected to the surface connector. All the
holes are connected in series with the
surface connecter, which is finally
connected to the e-Xploder for firing.
 PHOTO-1
e-DET with Polarized water-proof
male/female Connector and Field Surface
Connector with male connector at one end
and female connector at the other end
Blasting Trials and Analysis
During trial period, first round of blasts
were monitored for blast vibration. The
details of the results are given in Table-I.
From ten blasts, fifteen readings of
ground vibration levels were taken on
surface at different locations near the
residential structures, club and Kali
temple of the village and at school
buildings near ECL quarters.
The vibration monitoring stations were
selected in consultation with the mine
officials and the distance from the blast
site to the monitoring stations were
measured by the mine surveyor. The
vibrations were monitored with varying
PHOTO-2
e-XPLODER
explosive charge per delay and with
varying distance.The minimum peak
particle velocity observed on surface
near the Gram Pradhan’s house at the
village was 2.35 mm / sec at a distance
of 170m from the blast site with
maximum explosive charge per delay of
25 kg, in blasting round consisting of
total explosive charge 525 kg. The
frequency level was recorded as 17 Hz.
The minimum peak particle velocity was
observed on pillar on Bonbahal seam as
3.30 mm / sec at a radial distance of 87.8
m from the blast site with maximum
explosive charge per delay as 12.5 kg in
a blasting round of 75 kg where
frequency was not available.
The minimum peak particle velocity
observed on roof on Bonbahal seam was
6.35 mm / sec at a distance of 114.56 m
from the blast site with maximum
explosive charge per delay as 19.5 kg in
a blasting round of 389.2 kg where Zc
frequency was 51 Hz.
The maximum peak particle velocity was
observed on surface (within the mine
premises) as 16.0 mm / sec at a distance
of 90 m from the blast site with
maximum explosive charge per delay of
25 kg in a blasting round of 750 kg
where frequency level was 8Hz. The
reasons for the high level of vibration
were due to the excessive toe burden in
the first blast. This was the first blast in
the mine and prior to this the HEMM
were excavating the soft strata of the
mine.
The maximum peak particle velocity was
observed on roof on Bonbahal seam as
25.1 mm / sec at a radial distance of
87.73 m from the blast site with
maximum explosive charge per delay as
25 kg in a blasting round of 319.7 kg
where Zc frequency was 85 Hz.
The maximum peak particle velocity was
observed on roof on Bonbahal seam as
25.1 mm/sec at a radial distance of 87.73
m from blast site with maximum
explosive charge per delay as 25 kg in a
blasting round of 319.7 kg where
frequency level was 85 Hz.
The following data (Table 1) was
generated during the trial blast of
Bankola OC patch:

TABLE-I

BLASTWISE DETAILS OF PEAK PARTICLE VELOCITY AND AIR

OVER PRESSURE IN BANKOLA MINE TRIAL BLASTS WITH e-
DET

Maximum Total Blast Results

Date Charge/Delay Charge PPV AOP
Distance
(KG) (KG) (mm/sec) (dB)
17.02.09 25 750 90 16 100
150 2.73 118
19.02.09 20 417
120 7.11 100
100 8.89 115
23.02.09 19.60 411.6
117 4.70 100
135 4.83 121
140 4.45 100
26.02.09 25.0 525
142 4.06 113
170 1.40 115
02.03.09 16 319.70 155 2.79 100
02.03.09 19.50 389.0 140 2.98 100
08.03.09 16 305.8 140 2.16 100
15.03.09 22 525 140 2.60 112
26.03.09 25 375 158 3.18 110
26.03.09 12.5 75 110 2.67 110
120 3.05 116
27.03.09 11 412.5 130 3.18 118
150 2.67 116
 110 2.10 100
31.03.09 19.40 465.36
160 1.65 100
01.04.09 19.5 350 120 1.71 100
10.04.09 19.5 525 130 1.18 100
24.04.09 20.8 250 100 1.84 100

Observations: More significantly in the Indian scenario,

With regular blasting operations, the
formation of benches in the mine became
proper and the ground vibration levels in
the successive blasts reduced
considerably. No fly rock was observed.
The fragmentation of the blasted muck
was satisfactory and suitable to the
excavator in use.
Further development with e-DET-
GOCL is now ready with the fully “Field
Programmable’ version where individual
detonators can be programmed at the
field commensurate to need. The new
version is having a programmable delay
window of 9000 milliseconds in
increments of 1 millisecond delay. This
will open up tremendous opportunities to
the blasting engineer while carrying out
blasts, whether in mining or civil
infrastructure sector.
use of e-DETs will help unlock millions
of tonnes of coal currently locked up in
the opencast mine benches presently un-
mineable, due to proximity to
habitations. DGMS is presently not
allowing mining of benches within 100
meters to dwellings. With the use of e-
DET, there exists a potential to reduce
this distance to 50 meters, thus helping
mining of millions of ones of coal which
otherwise would have been left un-
mined in the pits.
Acknowledgement-
Authors are thankful to the officials of
Bankola Area and CMPDIL for giving
them an opportunity to develop relevant
data and establish the efficacy of e-Det
for controlled blasting. Authors also
thank GOCL Management for according
them permission to present this case
study paper.

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1. Regional Sales Manager, GOCL, Asansol.
2. Dy. GM (Application Services), GOCL, Hyderabad.
3. Sr. Sales Engineer, GOCL, Asansol.

PHOTO-1
e-DET with Polarized water-proof PHOTO-2
male/female Connector and Field Surface e-XPLODER
Connector with male connector at one end
and female connector at the other end