The importance of D&B is based not only on the consequences that ROM fragmentation has downstream in the process of metallurgical treatment (milling SAG or leaching). Its implications also include issues such as dilution by blasting damage, remaining rock mass, environmental impact (vibration, dust, noise projections of rock) and the safety and productivity in material handling (loading and transportation).
GeoBlast (ex - Blastronics ASP) was created initially to serve the purpose of Drilling and Blasting, but has added other specialties that complement the search for required fragmentation and its impact on damage control and slope stability, such as the Geotechnical and Geology.
Consists of the processing and analysis of digital photographs taken of the stack of material blown by using specialized software that allows for size distribution curves representing the degree of rock fragmentation.
If there is concern about the influence of the fine fraction, the software proceeds with selective screenings of the stack material in order to correct the bias that is inherent in the vibration prediction methods that are enhanced when information is included pertaining to fragmentation blasting being assessed (actual drilling, loading explosives, etc.).
GeoBlast has a Standing Advisory Service in the blasting area, consisting of specialist engineers who can offer expert advice/support in modern instrumentation and advanced software, or alliances with major companies in Technical Service and project work in Research and Development based on the principles governing blasting and the vision that the company has of blasting, which is understood as a integrated process within a value chain that maintains a sustainable working relationship.
According to the experience Geoblast has acquired over time, a number of activities in the field of Engineering Blasting are considered essential and must be included in any process that optimizes drilling and blasting operation. Among the most important are:
In order to give the best services in the Blasting area GeoBlast provides customers with Standing Advisory Service for Area Blasting with Engineering Specialists to assist in the design stage, calculation, simulation, analysis and evaluation of blasting, in compliance with existing labor legislation present in the mine shift system.
The team includes a Senior Consultant with International Experience (who can offer off site consultation). At the level of engineering, input from GeoBlast offers participation in relevant aspects including but not limited to: the characterization of rock mass blasting, the creation of standards and design criteria, the adoption of best practices, quality control implementation ( Quality Assurance / Quality Control) and, in due course, support the process of comprehensive mine to mill.
GeoBlast in their capacity as an independent international consulting firm has attributes for sustaining Benchmarking activities, an ability that continues to serve its customers.
An important aspect relevant to the proper development of mining is the stability of its contours, as they allow for the safe operation in the closing period and in the subsequent use of the spaces created by the operation.
For the design of any open pit mining is necessary to obtain geological reservoir modeling, which is obtained from previous research work. This design provides for the establishment of intermediate, perspective, and final contours in the different stages in the development of the mine.The design of an open operation requires a significant amount of information to characterize the rock mass and its behavior over time.
This information can be grouped as follows:
The motivation, and business requirement, is to perform a study of Mine-Ground Integration, which assesses the potential for maximizing the capacity of ore treatment at the plant.
This creates a greater demand for the fragmentation caused by the blast, which should provide a greater amount of fine minerals, considering that the intermediate stage, corresponding to the crushing process, does not contribute significantly to the generation of these. Blasting is usually associated with more "energy" with a greater relationship between holes and short.
Consequently this could generate a serious impact and damage at the bank endangering global stability of the slope. This could compromise the performance of the mining plan and should be taken into consideration with other technical safeguards.
Blasting damage appearance is of key importance to Mines and must be carefully reviewed.
Due of this, GeoBlast is able to offer support in the assessment, and modeling optimization of fragmentation from a global perspective, for which alternative solutions must be comprehensive in terms of both a technical, operational and economic standpoint.
Independent audits to the service suppliers of blasting guarantee the transparency and objectivity when evaluating performance of these services. Besides other aspects of interest, the quality of design implementation is included (quality assurance / quality control), as is the yield evaluation of the explosives in the fields (density, VOD, gas pressure) as well as the evaluation of accessories of blasting and related products (delay dispersion, stemming of tiebacks, etc).
New market scenarios and globalization of economies are encouraging companies to be more competitive, and to carry out the implementation of quality focused services.
GeoBlast proposes the implementation of Technical Quality Audits in Blasting of Horizontal Development or Tunnels, oriented to determine standards of efficiency, which reviewed systematically and by means of a timely decision, provide a continuous improvement of the operations.
The goal of these quality audits is to achieve effective controlled blasting and minimize deviation and error by establishing standards (by means of hard data) of such key factors associated with the efficiency of Blasting.