Maximizing Blasting Efficiency: Optimizing Data Collection and Blasting Initiations for Precision”
CIM Magazine recently engaged in a discussion with Daniel Andrew, Senior Product Manager at Orica Digital Solutions, and Ankit Saxena, Asia Marketing Manager, highlighting two of Orica’s latest innovations revolutionizing the mining industry.
Blasting and the subsequent fragmentation are pivotal stages in every mining operation, profoundly influencing its efficiency, productivity, and profitability. The manner in which a mine’s ore and waste are fragmented directly impacts downstream activities such as excavation, transportation, and processing. Hence, achieving optimal fragmentation is crucial.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: A SHIFT FROM PAPER-BASED SYSTEMS
Orica Digital Solutions introduces BlastIQ™ Underground, a comprehensive solution streamlining the blasting process from planning to post-blast analysis. This cutting-edge technology offers online access to blast records, reporting, and analytics. Its key components include a desktop application for spatial management, a mobile app for on-site operators, and a web application for stakeholders. The BlastIQ™ cloud database ensures seamless data transfer and accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection.
Orica successfully deployed BlastIQ™ Underground at PT Freeport’s Grasberg copper-gold mine in Indonesia, replacing the antiquated paper-based system. Daniel Andrew emphasized the inefficiencies of paper records in underground environments, prone to damage or loss, leading to redundant QA/QC efforts. With BlastIQ™ Underground, data transmission is streamlined, eliminating the need for physical travel to the surface for information exchange.
“Removing paper ensures continuity, eliminates rework, and empowers decision-makers with timely access to critical data,” Andrew remarked. Since its implementation at Grasberg mine, BlastIQ™ Underground has slashed drilling and blasting costs by 38% through enhanced design compliance and real-time monitoring, enabling proactive measures to minimize deviations.
PRECISION BLASTING: SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY ENHANCED
Safety and precision are paramount in blasting operations. Orica addresses these concerns with advancements in electronic blasting systems, exemplified by the uni tronic™ 600 and eDev™ II upgrades. Ankit Saxena highlighted Orica’s commitment to safety while developing detonators.
The eDev™ II, tailored for underground mines and civil tunnelling, boasts remote firing capability and improved firing precision of +/-0.005%, ensuring superior blast outcomes. Similarly, the uni tronic™ 600 system, catering to small surface mines, facilitates remote firing of larger blasts with synchronized firing capability for up to 1,600 detonators.
The introduction of the uni tronic™ 600 system at the Masbate gold mine in the Philippines exemplifies Orica’s dedication to efficiency and safety. This innovative solution has enabled more efficient blast initiation and reduced delays, a significant departure from the conventional firing lines.
In conclusion, Orica’s digital solutions and precision blasting systems herald a new era of efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness in mining operations, propelling the industry towards sustainable and optimized practices.
