Perimeter Control Utilising Electronic

Detonators at Mount Wright Mine

J Wall1 and L Bottomley2
ABSTRACT
The use of electronic detonators in civil tunnelling applications, to reduce vibration in small firings
has been successfully utilised for a number of years. As part of the mining industrys commitment
to reducing blast damage during the development cycle in underground mining applications, a
series of development blasts using e-Dev electronic detonators in a typical mining application
was conducted at Resolutes Mt Wright operations in North Queensland in 2010.
Results were based on direct comparisons to the current industry standard of non-electric firings
as a baseline, with as many parameters as possible being captured during the trial. Development
costs are typically high in most underground mines, especially in capital development headings,
which are in waste and therefore of no direct economic value, so by being able to accurately fire to
design, costs relating to both ground support requirements and volume of material removed, (and
therefore haulage required) can be minimised.
A direct comparison of overbreak (ground blasted outside of design) and cast (distance rock
thrown from blast) was also made during the trial, as well as close monitoring of the drilling
accuracy.

INTRODUCTION
Resolute Minings Mt Wright Operation is an underground
gold mine located approximately 12 km North of Ravenswood,
in North Queensland. The first portal cut was taken in June
2006 and at the time of the trial the decline had reached the
700 m RL, a vertical distance of approximately 640 m below
surface.
The orebody is predominately a Rhyolite and Marcasite
Pyrite and contains reactive ground. Operations currently
utilise two twin boom Tamrock Super-Drill Jumbos for
development advance. Capital (Waste) headings having a
nominal size of 7 m wide 6 m high, while ore headings are
designed at 5 m wide 5 m high.
Production blasting originally utilised the open stoping
method, but recently changed to the sublevel caving method
of extraction. Electronic initiation systems have been
successfully used in the production charging cycle and this
prompted Orica to approach Resolute management to conduct
the e-Dev trial in the development cycle at Mt Wright.
Typical industry overbreak rates in underground
development headings using traditional non-electric long
period delay initiation are around 12 per cent of blasted void.
Utilising electronic initiation (such as e-Dev) has seen this
rate decrease significantly, leading to:

less material needing to be removed from the blasted area;

better cast rates, fragmentation and bogging rates; and
reduction in surface area requiring bolting and meshing.
This, along with the added safety benefits of an electronic
system, as well as the advantage of having only one detonator
to reconcile in the magazine as compared to the current

16 LPs (0 - 15), were the main reasons why Mt Wright had an

interest in the trial of electronic detonators in development
headings.

SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The e-Dev electronic blasting system utilises an ASIC
(integrated circuit) chip inside each detonator coded with
a unique ID number, which is replicated using a barcode
on a flag tag at the end of the lead. A scanner reads this
ID and can assign delays in 1 ms increments from 0 up to
10 000 milliseconds. The scanner can then be downloaded via
a Bluetooth connection to the blast box, which is then used for
initiation of the blast.
Scanning is passive, meaning that at no stage during
scanning is the detonator powered up. System components
can be seen in Figure 1.
Training is conducted as follows:

one day classroom theory session at site with a certificate

qualified trainer covering technical elements of the
system, how it works and safety features;
one day field training covering use of scanners/
blastboxes, functionality, loading and blasting procedures;
and
competency assessment testing of the applicants
knowledge. Must demonstrate this to the assessor on the
job in an examination style process.
Development headings can be loaded with e-Dev
detonators by operators with no experience in the system
and as delays are not assigned till after loading is complete,

1. Senior Blast Technician, Orica Mining Services, Unit B Royal Oak Plaza, 263 Charters Towers Road, Mysterton, Townsville Qld 4812. Email: john.wall@orica.com
2. MAusIMM, Technical Services Manager, Orica Mining Services, Level 1, 29 Southgate Avenue, Cannon Hill Qld 4170. Email: lucas.bottomley@orica.com

11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011

J WALL AND L BOTTOMLEY

FIG 1 - e-Dev system.

specific detonator positioning such as in the burn or perimeter
is not an issue. After loading, the face can then be timed, tied
in and made ready to fire by the competent eDev shotfirer,
who then initiates the blast.
For a simple underground mine, the hardware required is
as follows:

1 blast box,
1 scanner (capability to scan up to 500 detonators), and
detonators as required.
Experiences have shown that most operators quickly adjust
to the new skills required and apart from some understandable
initial teething issues, face loading and tie in times are not
adversely affected.

Perimeter control of development headings is usually

measured as the comparison of the actual profile of the
tunnel compared to the designed profile. At Mt Wright the
jumbo drill rigs used have no computer aided drilling control
capability, like most tunnel drilling rigs in Australia, making
accurate drilling a difficult task. If we combine this with the
other variable which is changes in personnel over different
shifts, a number of variations in the result are possible.
As drilling is the key input to the actual profile achieved, the
drilling profile was considered to be the key basis upon which
the overbreak should be measured. In this way the blasting
systems could be compared without having a drill accuracy
bias in the equation. In other words, the comparison is made
based on how well the final profile compared with the as
drilled profile, rather than with the original design profile.
The methodology used during the trial was as follows:

survey of the as-drilled perimeter holes in the development

face,
laser scanning of the blasted void,
measurement of cast and measurement of advance, and
comparisons between the results of the e-Dev versus
non-electric firings.

Equipment
During the trial, a number of different computer programs and
specific hardware were utilised to both capture and interpret
the required data.
2

VRMesh is a three-dimensional (3D) modelling program

which has the ability to handle large point clouds (up to one
billion points) imported directly as a dxf or str file. It has the
ability to truncate point clouds, create solids, overlap several
scans in the one field and perform void calculations and also
Boolean union calculations on solids.
The point clouds imported are referenced in actual mine
coordinates. Point to point measurements are possible, with
the distances shown to 0.001 mm. The program also has
the function to stitch overlapping scans together, remove
unwanted or inaccurate points and stitch solids together for
accurate void calculations.

Shotplus T

Methodology

VRMesh

Shotplus T is an Orica developed blast design program

which allows the tunnel blast designer to draft shothole
layouts, angles and bearings in relation to the desired tunnel
perimeter. Shotholes may be loaded with Orica products
and initiation sequences designed. The designer is also
provided with tools to gauge the effectiveness of the design by
graphic displays and calculation of performance parameters.
Information such as angle of initiation, burden relief and
visualisation of the shot is also available.

Callidus laser scanner

The Callidus CP 3200 Laser Scanning system applies the
principle of pulse time of flight. An extremely short laser
pulse is emitted by the scanner, which then hits an obstacle by
which it is reflected and is then received back by the scanner.
The measured time of flight is proportional to the distance
between scanner and object. The unit utilises a Class 1 infrared
laser diode and as such is eye safe and allows measurement
independent from ambient light, making it ideal for the
underground environment.
The recommended maximum scanning distance for the unit
is 32 m. During the measuring procedure, the laser scanner
can be set to rotate from 1 through to 360 on the horizontal
plane and rotates from 40 through to 180 on the vertical
plane, taking a measured point every 0.5 on each plane (see
Figure 2). Its scan rate is 77 scans/second, with an accuracy
of 0.005.
Typically, a 210 (horizontally) scan would record 40 000
points and take approximately seven minutes to complete.

11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011

PERIMETER CONTROL UTILISING ELECTRONIC DETONATORS AT MOUNT WRIGHT MINE

FIG 2 - Scanning area of Callidus.

To set up the unit, a small prism (supplied) is affixed to the
top of the unit which is then surveyed into mine coordinates.
After the scanner is surveyed, the prism is removed from the
unit and screwed to the supplied stand, which is then located
inside the scanning area. The position of this stand is also
surveyed into mine coordinates (see Figures 3 and 4).

at intervals of 0.5 m along this line to replicate hole direction

into face. This method gives an indication of hole direction
and toe position, but does not allow for hole deviation, which
should be minimal over 4 m. These points were then imported
into VRMesh as a dxf file for further analysis.

During scanning, the prism is detected and position noted,

then after scanning is complete, a secondary scan at 0.125
increments in the area of the prism is conducted to accurately
identify the prisms actual position. On downloading data to
be analysed, these two positions (the surveyed unit and stand)
are used as reference points for the entire scan (known as
global transformation). The scan can then be exported as a
dxf file for use with VRMesh, or another software package.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Survey of the as-drilled perimeter blast holes

The survey of the as drilled perimeter holes was conducted by
placing aluminium rods approximately 2.2 m in length into
each of the holes approximately 1.6 m. Reflective tape at the
end of the rod and at a point 0.5 m along the length were then
surveyed (see Figure 5).
These surveyed points were then downloaded into Surpac
where the two points for each hole were extrapolated back 4 m
to represent the drilled hole (see Figure 6). Points were located

Laser scanning of the as-blasted void

After firing, the blasted void was bogged clean and before
any ground support was introduced, a laser scan, using the
Callidus laser scanner, was taken so the point cloud could be
imported into Shotplus as a dxf file. The point cloud of the
blasted void was then overlaid on the hole pickups to ensure
data was matched (see Figure 7). After this simple reference
check, the dxf file was then imported into VRMesh for
further analysis.

Measurement of cast rates

The amount of cast achieved by each shot was recorded
by marking the wall of the drive back from the face at 5 m
increments at the grade line (measured at 1.5 m above floor),
then noting position of the muckpile at these intervals after
firing. Results of these observations can be seen in Table 1,
however:

FIG 3 - Callidus scanner (on right) with prism attached.

11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011

J WALL AND L BOTTOMLEY

FIG 4 - Callidus scanner with reference prism in position during scanning.


FIG 5 - Survey rods placed into perimeter holes.

fragmentation size was not recorded in this trial;

cuts zero to two were control cuts with long period delay (LP)
detonators; and
cuts 3 - 8 were performed with e-Dev electronic delay
detonators, with cut 3 being initiated with e-Dev but still
with a normal non-electric, LP timing regime.

portion of the drilled hole at the toe that remains after firing.
There are a number of reasons that butts may remain in the
face, but the most common are either:

Measurement of advance
The advance obtained was monitored by inspection of the face
after firing for the incidence of butts. Butts are the remaining
4

the drill accuracy is less than ideal, (leaving too much

distance between the toe of holes in the pattern);
the timing of the blast is too fast (not allowing the blasted
rock to void out before the next hole fires in the pattern); or

the Velocity of Detonation (Vod) of the bulk explosive is

reduced, or is otherwise not adequate.

11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011

PERIMETER CONTROL UTILISING ELECTRONIC DETONATORS AT MOUNT WRIGHT MINE

TABLE 1
Measured cast distances.
Cut number

Max height above floor

Max height distance from face

Maximum cast distance

0 (control)

3.5 m

3.5 m

15.0 m

1 (control)

3.7 m

3.7 m

14.0 m

2 (control)

3.7 m

4.0 m

16.0 m

3.5 m

4.0 m

17.0 m

4 (e-Dev)

2.0 m

5.5 m

24.0 m

5 (e-Dev)

2.2 m

6.5 m

26.0 m

6 (e-Dev)

2.2 m

6.0 m

27.0 m

7 (e-Dev)

2.0 m

5.0 m

25.0 m

two shells were then truncated, removing points from the knee
holes down (to remove possible false data from poor bogging)
and also squaring off the front and rear of the shot to create a
2.5 m slice (to remove possible false data from dishing of the
face due to poor drilling).
These shells were then enclosed to give an accurate figure
of both volume and surface area for direct comparison. The
difference between these two figures gives us the overbreak
ratio. Any underbreak was calculated by doing a Boolean
union of the two truncated shells and comparing this result
against the as blasted shell. Figure 9 shows the two truncated
shells overlaid from the 775 Sth control shot.
Table 2 shows the three control and four available e-Dev
cuts taken from 775 S comparing volume, area and overbreak
per cent. Unfortunately, cut 4 was shotcreted before a
Callidus scan was performed so any data from the blasted
void after ground support was installed would be compromised
(cast measurements were taken). Data from 775 N and 840 R8
was still being collated at the time of writing this paper.

FIG 6 - Points showing as drilled holes snapshot from VRMesh.

Cuts 0 - 2 were the control cuts, fired with traditional LP

timing, whilst cuts three to seven were fired with e-Dev
electronic delay detonators.

Timing designs for blasting

The following sections describe snapshots from Shotplus
showing firing sequences used during the trial.

Long period delay design (used in control cuts 0 - 2)

Non-electric long period (LP) delay detonators have limited
accuracy based on the pyrotechnic composition of the delay
train elements. Over the years, a lot of refinement has occurred
however co-efficients of variation in actual delay times do
exist and are normally in the range of 1 - 2 per cent. Figure 10
is a representation of the nominal firing times only.

e-Dev design (used in cut 3)

FIG 7 - Overlay of 775 Sth control cut 0 as drilled (in green) and as blasted
(in yellow) taken from Shotplus.

Cut 3 was fired mimicking LP timing (see Figure 11) but

utilising e-Dev and as can be seen from Table 2, overbreak
increased.

e-Dev design (used in cuts 4 - 7)

Analysis of solids

Cuts 4 - 8 were all fired with adjusted electronic timing (see

Figure 12), slowing the burn then speeding up the rest of the
face. Total firing time of the faces was reduced by over six
seconds to 2360 ms as compared to a non-electric face with a
total firing time of 9600 ms.

After the data from both survey and Callidus scan had been
collected for each blast, a 3D shell was created in VRMesh
using the as drilled data and also the Callidus data. These

Overbreak was reduced (see Table 2). The higher figure in

cut 5 may be attributed to residual blast damage from previous
firings.

VoD tests have been previously been carried out at Mt

Wright, with the results showing that the bulk explosive is
performing to specification (see Figure 8).

11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011

J WALL AND L BOTTOMLEY

FIG 8 - VoD trace of ANE 230.

of both LP and electronic firings the difference in overbreak
is an overall reduction of 11.9 m of broken rock, this would
equate to 43 tonnes or one complete truckload that would
not be required to be removed. The actual surface area was
reduced by an average of 36 per cent which could represent a
significant saving on ground support, including reduced usage
of bolts, mesh and shotcrete if applicable.
Cast rates were improved significantly by using e-Dev
electronic delay detonators. Actual cast rates were measured
by using the grade line as a reference. The non-electric shots
(including the mimicked e-Dev shot) cast on average 16 m
from the face, the muckpile heaped at around 2.0 m above
the grade line 5 m from face with fine fragmentation. The
adjusted e-Dev shots (4 - 7) cast on average 25.5 m, with
a final muckpile height of 0.5 m above grade-line. These
results indicate that the muckpile cast can be controlled by
the flexibility of electronic firing.


FIG 9 - As drilled shell in green with as blasted overlaid (with 30 per cent
transparency). (Note height difference on top right, indicating overbreak)

RESULTS
A reduction of overbreak between development headings
fired with long period delay detonators and electronic delay
detonators was observed.
Control cuts 0 - 2 showed an average overbreak ratio of
10.10 per cent, while the e-Dev cuts four to seven showed an
average overbreak ratio of 5.44 per cent. Data obtained from
cut 3 which was the mirrored LP firing, was not equated into
the final percentages of either data set.
The difference between the non-electric (LP) and the
electronic (e-Dev) initiated headings, shows an average
reduction of overbreak of 46 per cent which directly relates
to savings in the cost of bogging and trucking. Assuming the
SG of the rock is at 3.6 kg/m3 and that over the three faces
6

Although no study was conducted on actual bogging times,

comments from the bogger operators indicated they found
the muckpile looser resulting in easier bogging and less time
watering down at re-entry. No difference in the incidence of
butts was observed between any of the firings.
Although no data was taken regarding development cycle
times at the mine, the reduction in time spent with some
elements of the cycle (eg bogging, scaling, bolting and
meshing) should equate to a reduced total time and therefore
represent a benefit to mine operators.
Based on the simplicity and ease of use of this system
and the results above, it is envisaged that e-Dev will have
applicability at most, if not all underground mines wishing to
achieve an improvement in perimeter control.

CONCLUSIONS
Results obtained from the trial indicate that the flexibility
afforded by the electronic initiation of development headings
using e-Dev has many advantages over traditional nonelectric initiation, most importantly being:

11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011

PERIMETER CONTROL UTILISING ELECTRONIC DETONATORS AT MOUNT WRIGHT MINE

TABLE 2
Volume calculations for as drilled and as blasted.
As drilled
Cut #

As blasted

Volume m

Area m

Volume m

Area m

Volume Increase

% Overbreak

0 (control)

49.21

84.24

53.06

90.53

3.85

7.82

1 (control)

64.32

95.68

70.25

103.31

5.93

9.22

2 (control)

77.31

108.85

87.55

119.74

10.24

13.26

52.24

87.47

56.68

93.86

4.44

8.51

4 (e-Dev)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

5 (e-Dev)

42.60

78.84

45.63

84.65

3.03

7.12

6 (e-Dev)

56.51

93.94

59.40

97.30

2.88

5.10

7 (e-Dev)

54.04

88.72

56.26

93.48

2.21

4.10

FIG 10 - Cut 0 - 2 traditional non-Eeectric timing total firing time 9600 ms.

FIG 12 - Revised timing with e-Dev total firing time 2360 ms.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to acknowledge the efforts of Orica
North Queensland Operations team, specifically Mick
Richards and also Orica Rapid Response team member Ryan
Jackson, without whose help the trial would not have run so
smoothly.
Also thanks go to the technical team at Orica, Kurri-Kurri, for
their support with both data analysis and technical assistance
with the Callidus Laser Scanner. Finally, the author thanks the
management team at Resolutes Mt Wright Operations for the
support shown during the trial.

FIG 11 - Mimicked LP timing with e-Dev cut 3.

a reduction in overbreak which can reduce development

costs significantly,
an improvement in safety of personnel and the longevity
of the opening, and
an improvement in cast rates.
No adverse effects were observed, with all areas of the
development cycle achieving either equal or better results.
This technology could be used at any underground mine with
similar results expected.
11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011

11TH UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE / CANBERRA, ACT, 21 - 23 MARCH 2011