Preprint 12-009
EVALUATION OF BLAST FRAGMENTATION IN QUARRIES NEARBY ISTANBUL
T. Hudaverdi, Istanbul Tech. Univ., Istanbul, Turkey
C. Kuzu, Istanbul Tech. Univ., Istanbul, Turkey
A. Fisne, Istanbul Tech. Univ., Istanbul, Turkey
INTRODUCTION
Control of the particle size distribution of a muckpile after blasting
is always an important subject for mining industry. Blasting has a
significant impact on downstream processes such as loading, crushing
and grinding. Improvement of blasting results provides increase in
loader and excavator productivity due to increased diggability capacity,
and increased bucket and truck fill factors. Suitable and uniform
particle size distribution results increase in crusher and mill throughput
and decrease in energy consumption in size reduction process.
Digital image analysis technique has been used for many years in
mining industry in order to determine blast fragmentation. The images
of muckpile surface can be used to determine the mean fragment size
(x50). The source of digital images can also be haul truck, leach pile,
waste dump, stockpile, and conveyor belt. The screening that is
conventional method to measure blast fragmentation is time
consuming and expensive. Digital image analysis is a cost effective
and faster method (1).
FI =
XB
x50
[1]
FI = Fragmentation index
XB = Average in-situ block size (m)
x50 = Mean fragment size of the muckpile resulting from blasting (m)
(r = 0.73)
[2]
K =W
Sa
Sb
emulsion can be increased by adding small nitrogen bubbles or microspheres made of glass. Emulsion explosives may be produced in bulk
or cartridge form. Table 1 shows general characteristics of the
explosives used as main charge in the quarry.
[3]
F=
X insitu
1
x 50
[4]
Figure 2. A view of the northern side of the quarry.
FIELD STUDIES
Blasting Site
The field investigation was performed in the Akdaglar quarry
located at the European side of the city. The rock in the quarry is
sandstone. The quarry produces aggregate for concrete and asphalt
plants. Production capacity of the quarry is 5000 ton/day.
REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Jhanwar, JC, Jethwa, JL, Reddy, AH. (2000), Influence of airdeck blasting on fragmentation in jointed rocks in an open-pit
manganese mine, Engineering Geology, Vol. 57, No. 1-2, pp. 1329.
7.
CONCLUSIONS
8.
9.
Charge
Number of
XB
U
3
PF (kg/m )
(m)
Height (m)
(m)
Holes
0.5
0.69
5
23
0.93
0.5
0.69
5
16
1.15
0.5
0.73
4.5
13
1.32
0.5
0.57
3.5
12
1.26
0.5
0.68
4.5
14
1.45
0.5
0.97
5
22
2.06
0.5
0.76
5
23
1.24
0.5
1.07
5
14
1.13
0.5
0.80
3.5
13
1.86
0.5
0.87
4.5
17
1.37
0.5
1.03
4.5
16
1.31
L: Hole length, T: Stemming, U: Subdrilling, PF: Powder factor,
x50: Mean fragment size of muck pile, FI: Fragmentation index
B
x50
(m)
0.16
0.17
0.21
0.17
0.21
0.20
0.15
0.14
0.21
0.15
0.16
FI
5.81
6.76
6.29
7.41
6.90
10.30
8.27
8.07
8.86
9.13
8.19