Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION
Blasting is the principal method of rock breakage in mining and construction projects
throughout the world. This may probably be due to its distinct advantages like economy,
efficiency, convenience and ability to break the hardest of rocks. However, only a portion of
the total energy of the explosives used in blasting is consumed in breaking rocks while the
rest is dissipated. The dissipated energy creates environmental problems in the form of
ground vibration, air overpressure and fly rock. With increasing mining and construction
activities in areas close to human settlements, ground vibration has become a critical
environmental issue as it can cause human annoyance and structural damage.

Blasting is one of the most important activities in Neyveli Lignite Corporation, blasting is an
essential component in mining and one of the most economical method of rock excavation
applicable to both surface and underground mines. The effect of blasting arising from the
mining operation is one of the fundamental problems in the mining industry.

Rock fragmentation also plays a pivotal role in large scale mining because of its direct
effect on cost of drilling, blasting, secondary blasting, crushing and there-by affecting the
overall cost of production. The research investigates the effect of initiation device on
environment and the production cost. The objectives of the research were achieved through
field measurement and data collection. Various information pertaining to blasting agents and
accessories used for blasting operations were also collected.

The results revealed that the fly rock, noise and vibration generated during blasting
with NONEL are found to be minimal as compared to the safety fuse and the electrical
methods. It is also observed that NONEL initiation increases blasting efficiency and optimize
the cost of blasting.

It annually produces about 30 million tonne lignite from opencast mines at Neyveli in
the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The lignite is used at pithead thermal power
stations of 3640 MW installed capacity to produce electricity. Its joint venture has a 1000
MW thermal power station using coal.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

NLCIL has been a forerunner in the country in the energy sector for 62 years,
contributing a lion's share in lignite production and significant share in thermal power
generation.

NLCIL is a Navratna Government of India Enterprise. A pioneer in the energy sector, NLCIL
operates four opencast lignite mines of a total capacity of 30.6 million tonnes Per Annum
(MTPA) at Neyveli and Barsingsar, Rajasthan, Six lignite based pithead Thermal Power
Stations with an aggregate capacity of 3640 MW – at Neyveli and Barsingsar and a 1000
MW Coal based Thermal Power Station at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu through its subsidiary
company, NLC Tamil Nadu Power Limited (NTPL), a joint venture between NLCIL and
TANGEDCO (equity participation in the ratio of 89:11). NLCIL recently commissioned a
1x500 MW unit at Neyveli which is also Asia's largest lignite fired boiler.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

CHAPTER-2

COMPANY PROFILE

2.1 FORMATION OF COMPANY

NLC India Limited (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited) (NLC) is a

'Navratna' government of India company in the fossil fuel mining sector in India and thermal
power generation, it was inaugurated by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956.

Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd. (NLC) is India's largest lignite mining company and is also
one of the country's leading power generation companies. The company operates three open
cast mines in Neyveli, in the state of Tamil Nadu at the south-eastern tip of India, producing
some 24 million tons of high-grade lignite per year. Mine I, the company's original mine, is
operated over an area of nearly 17 square kilometres and offers a reserve of nearly 300
million tons. Mine II, first tapped in early 1984 and expanded in the early 1990s, features a
reserve of nearly 400 million tons.

The total reserves in the Neyveli field are estimated at more than two billion tons. Most of
that production is used in NLC's two thermal power generation plants, which combine for a
total capacity of 2,070 megawatts. After shutting down its fertilizer and briquette and
carbonization plants in the early 2000s, NLC has begun a drive to expand its power
generation capacity. In 2003, the company began construction of a greenfield power
generation facility in Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu, with a proposed capacity of as much as 1,000
megawatts.

In 2004, the company received approval to expand beyond its home state and is beginning
preparations to build a 250-megawatt facility in Bikaner, near Rajasthan. NLC has also been
tapped to restart the nearly 4,000-megawatt plant in Hirma, originally developed by a Mirant-
Reliant partnership. Owned at 94 percent by the Indian government, NLC has as its primary
customer the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. In 2003 the company posted revenues of INR
2,681.48 crore ($601.1 million).

a) Date of Incorporation: 14-11-1956

b) Administrative Ministry: Ministry of Coal, Government of India

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

c) Details: NLC India Ltd. is a Central Public Sector Undertaking with Navratna status
engaged in Lignite Mining and Power Generation. The affairs of the company are governed
by a Board of Directors. The company owns and operates the following industrial units:

i. Mine-I of capacity 10.5 Million Tonnes of lignite per annum

ii. Mine-IA of capacity 3.0 Million Tonnes of lignite per annum

iii. Mine-II of capacity 15.0 Million Tonnes of lignite per annum

iv. Thermal Power Station-I of 600 MW – electricity generated by this Station, after meeting
NLCIL‟s requirement is supplied to Tamil Nadu.

v. Thermal Power Station-I Expansion of 420 MW – electricity generated by this station is

shared by Southern States.

vi. Thermal Power Station-II of 1470 MW – electricity generated by this station is shared by
Southern States.

Location Mine Area Reserve Capacity Commissioning

covered (MT) Per annum
(Sq. km) (MT)

Neyveli, 1 31.78 365 10.50 May 1962

Tamil Nadu
Neyveli, 1A 11.60 120 3.00 March 2003
Tamil Nadu
Neyveli, 2 42.00 613 15.00 March 1985
Tamil Nadu
Barsingar, Barsingar 9.70 53 2.10 October 2009
Rajasthan
TOTAL 1151 30.60
Table 2.1: Ore reserve, area of the mine and capacity of the mines:

• In FY 2017-18, NLCIL achieved an aggregate lignite production of 25.15 MT

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

• NLCIL operates five thermal power stations with an aggregate capacity of

3,240 MW in the states of Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

2.2 HISTORY

• 1828: Occurrence of "PEAT" a low calorific fuel of coal .

• 1943-46: The Geological Survey of India starts drilling operations near Neyveli.

• Preliminary investigations indicate the existence of Lignite to the extent of about 500

tonnes in that area.

• 1948:The first bore holes sunk by Mr. Ghose have to be abandoned because of water

logging and sand - beds.

• 1951: yields samples of Lignite

• 1955: Neyveli Lignite project's affairs, till now it’s managed by the State

Government, get passed on to the Central Government with full Financial

responsibility.

• 1956: Formation of NLC as a Corporate body. NLC is born as a Government

sponsored commercial concern.

2.3 VISION AND MISSION:

 Vision - To emerge as a leading Mining and Power Company, continue to be a

socially responsible company and strive for operational excellence in Mining &
Exploration.
 Mission - To play an active role in society and be sensitive.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

2.4 MAJOR MILESTONE:

Date Description

NLCIL has been awarded by the Green India Awards organised by Green
Society of India and Indian Exhibition Services ltd., during the World
06.06.201 Environment Expo (5th to 6th June 2019) at Pragati Maidhan, New Delhi on
9 6th June 2019 under the following 2 categories:
1. Best Sustainable Technology provider of the year 2019
2. Best Clean and Green Energy producer of the year 2019
NLCIL has been awarded by Grow Care India with the prestigious
03.04.201 "Platinum" Award 2019 organised with support of Government of Punjab,
9 under Environment Category on 3rd April 2019 in Chandigarh, Punjab.
NLCIL has been bestowed with "Gold" Award in 4th EKDKN Exceed Award
-2018, on 25th March 2019 in New Delhi. The Award was instituted by EK
25.03.201 KAAM DESH KE NAAM (EKDKN), a non-government, non-funded,
9 organization in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change, to recognize outstanding achievements in Ground Water
Management in and Around NLCIL MINES 2019-2020 Dept of Mining
Engg, Dr.TTIT, KGF 7 Environment Preservation in Power sector (Inclusive
Renewable)
25.02.201 Mine I of NLCIL won the Green Tech Safety Gold Award-2018 during the
9 17th Annual Green Tech Safety Gold Award-2018 presentation ceremony at
Goa on 25-02-2019
NLCIL has been bestowed with two coveted awards in the organisational
16.02.201 category, namely "Best Development Program in PSU for Middle
9 Management" and "Best Apprentices Development Program" at 27th edition
of World HRD Congress Ceremony held at Mumbai on 16.02.2019.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

Bagged Best Enterprise Award 2019(2nd Price instituted by National WIPS

Forum (under the aegis of SCOPE)
04.01.201 NLCIL's TPS-II won the CBIP Award 2019, instituted by Central Board of
9 Irrigation and Power (CBIP), for best performing utility in Thermal Power
Sector at New Delhi on January 04, 2019.
18.12.201 NLCIL presented with Four PRSI National Awards - 2018 for the Best PSU
8 implementing Corporate Social Responsibility Projects, for the Best PSU
implementing RTI for the Best house journal and for the Best corporate video
film, by the Public Relations Society of India(PRSI) during 40th All India
Public Relations Conference Organized by PRSI Dehradun Chapter at
Dehradun, on 08.12.2018
17.11.201 TPS-II of NLCIL won the GREEN TECH SAFETY GOLD AWARD-2018
8 during the 17th Annual Green Tech Safety Gold Award-2018 presentation
ceremony at Guwahati, Assam on 17-11- 2018
28.09.201 NLCIL presented with "NIPM-Best HR Practices Award-2018" under All
8 India Group 'A' category at 7th NIPM National Conference held at Pune on
28-09- 2018
24.07.201 NLC India Limited (NLCIL) bagged the prestigious Dun & Bradstreet PSU
8 Award 2018 in the Best Growth Performance Power Generation Category at
New Delhi, on July 24, 2018
30.05.201 NLC India Limited has been adjudged as the fastest growing Public Sector
8 Enterprise (Navratna category) by the Hindustan Times group based on a
Study/survey by Price Waterhouse Cooper under the Navratna category.The
2nd Hindustan Ratna PSU awards event was organised by Hindustan Times
at New Delhi on 30.05.2018.
29.05.201 NLCIL has won the Apex India CSR Excellence Award for its outstanding
8 Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the Apex India
Excellence Awards 2017 presentation ceremony held in New Delhi , on 29th
May 2018, organized by Apex India Foundation, a reputed non - profit
organization .
10.05.201 Prestigious “Brands of the Decade” award was bestowed on NLC India
8 Limited instituted by Herald Global and BARC (Brand Advertising Research

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

and Consulting)- Asia, held in Mumbai, on 10.05.2018.

22.04.201 NLC India Ltd. has been conferred with the “Seva Rathna Award” for NLCIL
8 CSR initiatives instituted by Mylai Thiruvalluvar Tamil Sangam in
association with Nehru Yuvakendra, Ministry of Youth Affairs And Sports,
Government of India, Bharathiya Vidhya Bhavan at Chennai on 22.04.2018
15.12.201 Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), presented Three National Awards to
7 NLCIL in the categories of Best Corporate Film (First place), Best PSU
Implementing RTI (First Place) and Best CSR Project for Women's
Development (Third Place) during the inaugural function of 39th All India
Public Relations Conference held at Vizag, on 15.12.2017
07.12.201 NLCIL bags Coveted “Brand building through Inclusive Growth Initiatives -
7 2017 Award instituted by Standing Conference of Public Enterprises
(SCOPE) during Corporate Communication Excellence Awards -2017
Ceremony held at New Delhi, on 07.12.2017
15.09.201 “National Award for Best HR Practices -2017” presented to NLCIL, by
7 National Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM) at 36th NIPM National
Conference(NATCON) held at Chennai on Public Relations Society of India
(PRSI), presented Four National Awards to NLCIL in the categories of „ Best
Corporate House
06.08.201 Journal‟, Best e-zine (English & Hindi ) and a Special Jury Award for
7 “Corporate Video” at 2nd Telangana State Public Relations Conference
Hyderabad
18.07.201 'National Award for Excellence in Cost Management - 2016' presented by the
7 Institute of Cost Accountants of India, at New Delhi, on 18th July 2017.
28.02.201 Fly Ash Utilization Award -2017 for NLCIL Thermal Power Stations from
7 Mission Energy Foundation, at New Delhi, on 28th February 2017.
23.02.201 Special Award presented Excise Department for one of the top performer in
7 payment of Excise Duty in Chennai LTU for the year 2016-17 at Chennai, on
23rd February 2017
11.02.201 Best Enterprise Award -2016 presented by Central Apex Forum of WIPS at
7 Nagpur , on 11th February, 2017 10.01.2017 Rajbhasha Award for the Year
2015 &-2016 during the 6th National Official Language Conference at
Puducherry, on 10th January , 2017

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

16.12.201 NLC India Limited has bagged three prizes "Best PSU Implementing CSR
6 Award (2nd Place)", Best Corporate Film in Hindi (2nd Place) and Best PSU
Implementing RTI (Special Award) at the 38th All India Public Relations
Conference during December 16-18, 2016 at Kolkata.
08.07.201 ‘Golden Peacock Environment Award 2016’’ instituted by the Institute of
6 Directors, New Delhi, at the 18th World Congress on “Environment
Management’ jointly hosted by the Institute and World Environment
Foundation at New Delhi, on 08th July 2016.
09.05.201 ‘National Award for Outstanding Industrial Relations’(First Runner up) for
6 the year 2014-15 ,Instituted by the All India Organization of Employers
(AIOE) an allied body of FICCI, at New Delhi, on 9th May 2016
11.04.201 SCOPE Excellence Award - Gold Trophy presented to NLC by Shri Pranab
6 Mukherjee, Hon'ble President of India, in the 7th Public Sector Day – 2016
celebrations held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on April 11,
21.02.201 The Ahmedabad and Hyderabad Chapters of Public Relation Society of India
6 (PRSI), a National level professional body in the field of public relations, has
honoured NLC with six awards in recognition of its performance in various
categories during the conferences held 25th Dec 2015 & 21st Feb 2016.
18.02.201 2016Corporate Vigilance Excellence Award 2015-16 instituted by Institute of
6 Public Enterprise (IPE), a well-known autonomous, non-profit organisation in
Hyderabad at the 7th Conclave of Vigilance Officers held at Hyderabad, on
18th Feb 2016
15.02.201 ‘’Golden Peacock Award for CSR – 2015’’, instituted by the Institute of
6 Directors, New Delhi, at the 10th International Conference on CSR at
Mumbai on 15.02.2016.
29.12.201 Central Board of Irrigation & Power (CBIP) Award for Excellence’ in
5 recognition of its Integrated water Resources Management for Sustainable
management of the ground water resources available in the Neyveli hydro-
geological basin during the CBIP Day Celebrations at NewDelhi, on 29th Dec
2015
27.11.201 Greentech CSR Award (Platinum category for the Metals and Mines Sector)
5 by Greentech Foundation, a non-profit voluntary Organisation, during the
16th Annual Greentech sustainability and CSR Conference, 2015 in

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

recognition of NLC India’s outstanding achievements in the field of CSR, at

New Delhi , 27th Nov 2015.
14.11.201 “Vishwamukti Rashtriya Rajbhasha Samman – 2015” in recognition of NLC
5 India‟s effective measures taken and quantitative contributions made towards
expanding the usage of Official Language in the company at the 4th
AkhilBharathiya Rajbasha Sammelan at Vizag 14th Nov 2015.
02.11.201 In appreciation of the commendable performance of NLC India Ltd under the
5 Swachh Bharath Mission, Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Union Minister of State
for Coal, Power and New & Renewable Energy (Independent Charge).
Table 2.2 Major Milestone

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

CHAPTER 3

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

3.1 ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE.

The Neyveli Lignite Corporation NLC India Ltd. is a Central Public Sector
Undertaking with Navratna engaged in Lignite Mining and Power Generation. The affairs of
the company are governed by a Board of Directors. The organization structure is as follows:

Board of Directors

Chairman & Managing Director

Functional Directors

Executive.

3.2 SERVICE OFFERED:

This company provides a wide range of services and jobs to a thousand of personnel.
The company offered the service of production of coal and supplying coal to Thermal Power
Plant which is near the mines. The company provide coal for export in foreign and domestic.
As of 31st July 2019, the total employee of Neyveli is 12953 persons. They are divided into
different department, position, and designation, with different work and functions in the
mines. For example, the managing director, director and executive director will handle most

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

of the meeting and decision making needed for the mines, and on the other hand engineers
and works man will carry out the task given by the head administration.

3.3 NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING IN THE COMPANY AND

THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES:

As of 31st July 2019, the total employee of Neyveli is 12953 persons. They are
divided into different department, position, and designation, with different work and
functions in the mines. For example, the managing director, director and executive director
will handle most of the meeting and decision making needed for the mines, and on the other
hand engineers and works man will carry out the task given by the head administration.

3.4 STRUCTURE OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AND THEIR

RESPONSIBILITIES:

There are different department in this company which will stated below:

1. Management.

2. Survey

3. Planning

4. Production

5. H.R Department

6. Geology.

7. Vigilance Department.

1. Management: This is the head of all the departments which undertook the main
responsibilities in making decisions, managing finance, controlling the workers and the future
of the company.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

2. Survey: survey department is responsible for the field crew setup, geodetic control
network planning and design, processing of the topographic field data and locate and marks
sites selected for geophysical prospecting activities.

3. Planning: planning department helps in the development and improvement of the mines as
their responsibilities is to make plans for the mines and the aim of maximizing its intrinsic
value of the company. The future of the company is based on the plan made by the planning
department.

4. Production: production department is the work initiator and the working body in mine
which gives the production planned by planning department and make sufficient production
till today.

5. H.R Department: The H.R department is responsible for the recruitment of class workers
and maintaining high degree of standard of recruitment for the company.

6. Geology: the geology department takes up the responsibilities of studying the various
aspects of mineral resources they are responsible for the study of the strata, contours and
slope stability of mines.

7. Vigilance Department: to initiate steps to curb corruption and malpractices, monitor

progress of action recommended by vigilance against such employees.

3.5 ON GOING PROJECTS:

Estimated Expected

Lignite Projects MT Cost COD

Expansion of Mine-
IA from 3 MTPA
4.00 709.06 Sept-19
to 7 MTPA

Bithnok Lignite 513.63

Mine, Rajasthan
2.25 On Hold

Hadla Lignite Mines, 522.45

Rajasthan
1.90 On Hold

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

Mine III Neyveli 11.5 2,130.30 Apr-20

Total 19.65 3,875.44

Table 3.1: On Going Projects at Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC):

3.7 JOINT VENTURE PROJECTS:

NLC Tamil Nadu Power Limited: A coal based Thermal Power Project at Tuticorin,
Tamil Nadu consisting of two units of 500 MW capacity each is implemented through NLC
Tamil Nadu Power Limited (NTPL), a Joint Venture between NLCIL and TANGEDCO with
equity participation in the ratio of 89:11. It has successfully achieved commercial operation
on 18th June 2015 (Unit-I) and 29th August 2015 (Unit-II). Electricity generated by this
station is shared by Southern States.

Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited: A 1980 MW coal based thermal power plant,
consisting of 3 units of 660 MW each, at Ghatampur Tehsil, Kanpur Nagar District in the
State of Uttar Pradesh through its Subsidiary Company, Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power
Limited (NUPPL) a joint venture with Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited
(UPRVUNL) with equity participation in the ratio of 51:49.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

CHAPTER-4
TASK PERFORMED

4.1 INTRODUCTION TO TASK PERFORMED:

Nonelectric initiation system (NONEL), invented by Per Anders Persson (Nitro
Nobel, later Dyno Nobel); introduced to market in 1972.NONEL products can be used with
all cast boosters, dynamites, and cap-sensitive explosives. Nonel is a shock tube detonator
designed to initiate explosions, generally for the purpose of demolition of buildings and for
use in the blasting of rock in mines and quarries. Instead of electric wires, a hollow plastic
tube delivers the firing impulse to the detonator, making it immune to most of the hazards
associated with stray electric current, low heat, and water.
Nonel is a shock tube detonator designed to initiate explosions, generally for the purpose of
demolition of buildings and for use in the blasting of rock in mines and quarries. Instead of
electric wires, a hollow plastic tube delivers the firing impulse to the detonator, making it
immune to most of the hazards associated with stray electric current. To meet the ever-
increasing demand for many minerals, large opencast mines are being planned with high
production capacities.
To achieve these high production targets, huge explosive quantities are being initiated in a
round. As the initiation system influences the blast results, it is necessary to select proper
initiation system. Increasing economic pressures environmental constraints and safety
mandates in recent years have called for precise focus on drilling and blasting operations in
the mining industry. It is generally claimed by the manufacturers that non-electric shock tube
system (NONEL) improves over all blasting results.
As per MMR 1961, Reg.164, 1B (a) not more than of 2kg explosives per delay are used. So,
with the help of NONEL blasting, this can be achieved which satisfy DGMS.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

Fig: 4.1 Delay for nonel blasting.

4.2 SCOPE OF WORK:

It is generally claimed by the manufacturers that non-electric shock tube system
(NONEL) improves over all blasting results. In the mining industry, rock fragmentation also
plays a pivotal role in large scale mining because of its direct effect on cost of drilling,
blasting, secondary blasting and crushing. In NLC Nonel blasting is used in wet hole blasting
it has been revealed that the best initiation or blasting method to apply is the non-electrical
blasting method (NONEL), because of the following reasons:

Fig: 4.2 shows non electrical blasting cap

The effects of blasting arising from the excavations is one of the fundamental problems in the
mining industry, rock fragmentation also plays a pivotal role in large scale mining because of
its direct effect on cost of drilling, blasting, secondary blasting and crushing. Thus, it is
essential to consider rock fragmentation in blast design, the optimum blasting pattern to
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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

excavate a quarry efficiently and economically can be determined based on the maximum
production cost which is generally estimated based on the rock fragmentation. Blasting
operations need cogent measures due to its remarkable influence on the stability of rock
slopes especially in situations where blasting operation is not being carried out with utmost or
designed accuracy.
Various ways in which blasting operations affects its environment needed to be accountable
for but the most relevant is the structural damage due to vibration inductions, noise, fly off
materials, air blast and shock waves resulting in the rock slope failure by creating a new
joints or extension of the existing ones. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully apply effective
blasting techniques to achieve the desired result within the minimum possible cost as well to
minimize environmental fall outs such as ground vibration, air blast and fume production. It
has been revealed that the best initiation or blasting method to apply is the non-electrical
blasting method (NONEL), because of the following reasons:
1. It has safe environmental effect
2. High productivity rate.
Safe environmental effect involves bearable or minimal noise, vibration and amount of fly off
rocks to the environments; different methods have been critically analyzed, which are safety
fuse method, electrical method and NONEL method that show various degree of
fragmentations, noise produced and vibration generated, which shows that NONEL method is
the safest way of carrying out blasting operation.

4.3 OBJECTIVE:
The main objectives of Nonel Blasting are:
1. To reduce the ground vibration, noise, fly rocks generated due to blasting operations.
2. To give high blasting efficiency and to optimize cost.

4.4 METHOD OF WORKING:

4.4.1 BLAST HOLE DRILLING:
Blast hole Drilling is a technique used in mining whereby a hole is drilled into the
surface of the rock, packed with explosive material, and detonated. The aim of this technique
is to induce cracks in the inner geology of the surrounding rock, in order to facilitate further
drilling and associated mining activity.
The initial hole into which the explosives are packed is known as the “blast hole”. Blast hole
drilling is one of the primary surface drilling techniques employed in mining operations
today. Blast hole drilling is traditionally used wherever the mining company wants to explore
the mineral composition or potential mineral yield of the area demarcated for their mining
interests.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

Fig :4.3 shows blast design and formulas.

4.5 COMPARISON OF NONEL BLASTING AND DETONATING

CHORD:
4.5.1 Ground Vibration:
Ground vibration generated due to blasting operations were monitored using two units of
Minimate DS-077. In total ground vibration event generated from 11 blasts were monitored at
different distances.

Table 4.5.1 shows comparison of ground vibration of detonating chord and Nonel blasting.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

4.5.2 PEAK PARTICLE VELOCITY:

Fig 4.5.2 shows peak particle velocity of Nonel blasting and detonating chord blasting.
The plot between the peak particle velocity and the sealed distance for all the blast is
presented in fig.3.5.2. From this figure it can be observed that the intensity of ground
vibrations generated by Nonel initiated blast was lesser.

4.5.3 COST ANALYSIS:

Table 4.5.3 shows cost comparison of detonating chord and NONEL blasting, respectively.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

4.5.4. GROUND VIBRATION AND NOISE DATA COLLECTED USING

MINIMATE:

Fig 4.5.4(a) shows ground vibration and noise produced by detonating chord.

Fig 4.5.4(b) shows ground vibration and noise data produced by NONEL blasting.

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Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

CONCLUSION:
NONEL method that show various degrees of fragmentations, noise produced, and
vibration generated, which shows that NONEL method is the safest way of carrying out
blasting operation. From the above table we have concluded that NONEL initiated blasts
gives very less ground vibration. Nonel initiation provides reasonably good solution to fly
rock problem. Also, Noise level reduced significantly by nonel initiation system. The overall
cost of blasting in NONEL is very less compared to electrical blasting and hence it optimizes
the cost of blasting

Safe environmental effect involves bearable or minimal noise, vibration and amount
of fly off rocks to the environments. Different methods have been critically analyzed, which
are electrical method and NONEL method that show various degrees of fragmentations, noise
produced, and vibration generated, which shows that NONEL method is the safest way of
carrying out blasting operation. From the above table we have concluded that NONEL
initiated blasts gives very less ground vibration.

Nonel initiation provides reasonably good solution to fly rock problem. Also, Noise
level reduced significantly by nonel initiation system. The overall cost of blasting in NONEL
is very less compared to electrical blasting and hence it optimizes the cost of blasting.

An overview of ground vibration in terms of peak particle velocity (PPV) and

frequency for different mines in India revealed the dominance of low frequencies in coal
mines at which the permissible PPV as per the current DGMS regulation is 5 mm/s.

With this restriction, several coal mines, located close to habitation, are striving for
their survival. This study was aimed at providing technical justifications for revision of the
DGMS vibration limits and at suggesting a proper strategy to contain ground vibration

Department of Mining Engg, Dr. TTIT, KGF

Nonel Blasting Practise at NICIL Mine I 2019-2020

REFERENCE

i. Blasting and Explosives Quick Reference Guide 2010 Dyno Nobel Asia
Pacific Pty Limited
ii. “Nonel Initiation for Eco-Friendly Blasting” John Gladious J,
Janarthanan R, Preethivi R, Rajakumar S, Ramadoss R Department of
Mining Engineering, Dr.T. Thimmaiah Institute of Technology KGF,
Karnataka, India
iii. “Nonel Initiation for Eco-Friendly Blasting” Rama Sastry Vedala, Ram
Chandar Karra.
iv. “Role of Blast Design Parameters on Ground Vibration and Correlation
of Vibration Level to Blasting Damage to Surface Structures” Dr. G.R.
Adhikari. H.S. Venkatesh, A.I. Theresraj, Surendra Roy R. Balachander,
Nitin Kumar Jain, Prof. R.N. Gupta.

Department of Mining Engg, Dr. TTIT, KGF