DRILLING AND BLASTING

OF ROCKS

CARLOS LOPEZ JIMENO 4f--

Project Director for EPM, S.A

EMILIO LOPEZ JIMENO

FRANCISCO JAVIER AYALA CARCEDO

Project Director for ITGE

Translated by
YVONNE VISSER DE RAMIRO vi

A. A. B ALKEMA / ROTTERDAM / BROOKFIELD / 1995

 Contents
Us. • - •

FOREWORD IX 4 ROTARY DRILLING WITH ROLLING

TRIGONE BITS 48
PREFACE XI 4.1 Introduction 48
4.2 Mounting and propulsion systems 48
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xni 4.3 Power sources 48
4.4 Rotation systems 49
1 ROCK DRILLING METHODS I 4.5 Pulldown/hoisting systems 50
L I Introduction I 4.6 Mast and pipe changer 51
1.2 Types of drilling operations used in rock 4.7 Control cabin 52
breakage I 4.8 System for flushing drill cuttings 52
1.3 Fields of application for the different drilling 4.9 Drill string 53
methods 1 4.10 Auxiliary elements 55
1.4 Classification of the rocks and their 4.11 Operative practice. Drilling parameters 56
principal physical properties 3 4.12 Penetration rate 59
References 7 4.13 Calculation of drilling costs 61
References 63
2 ROTARY PERCUSSIVE DRILLING 8
2.1 Introduction 8 5 ROLLING CONE ROCK BITS 64
2.2 Fundamentals of rotary percussive drilling 8 5.1 Rolling cone rock bits 64
2.3 Top hammer drilling 10 5.2 Major components and design features 64
2.4 Drilling with down the hole hammer 16 5.3 The metallurgy of rolling cone rock bits 66
2.5 Advance systems 18 5.4 Types of rolling cone bits 67
2.6 Mounting systems 19 5.5 Bit type selection 67
2.7 Dust collectors 28 5.6 Effects of the operating parameters on the
2.8 Inclination instruments 30 rolling cone bits 69
2.9 Penetration rate 30 5.7 Nozzle selection 69
2.10 Average penetration rate 33 5.8 Evaluation of dull rolling cones 70
2.11 Calculation of drilling costs 34 5.9 Example of roller tricone bit selection 71
References 35 5.10 IDAC Codes 71
References 71
3 ROTARY PERCUSSIVE DRILLING
ACCESSORIES 36 6 ROTARY DRILLING WITH CUTTING
3.1 Introduction 36 ACTION 72
3.2 Types of threads 36 6.1 Introduction 72
3.3 Shank adaptors 37 6.2 Fundamentals of drilling with cutting action 72
3.4 Drill steel 38 6.3 Flushing of drill cuttings 75
3.5 Couplings 40 6.4 Cutting tools 75
3.6 Drill bits 41 References 76
3.7 Calculation of the necessary drilling
accessories 43 7 SPECIAL DRILLING METHODS A N D
3.8 Care and maintenance of the bits 43 MOUNTING SYSTEMS 77
3.9 Care and maintenance of drill steel 47 7.1 Introduction 77
3.10 Guide for identifying accessory failure 7.2 Drilling through overburden 77
and its causes 47 7.3 Shaft sinking 79
References 47 7.4 Raise driving 80

V
VI Contents

7.5 Jet piercing JH 12.2 Explosive cost 119

7.6 Water-jet drilling 84 12.3 Charge diameter 119
7.7 Drilling ornamental rock 85 12.4 Rock characteristics 119
References 86 12.5 Volume of rock to be blasted 121
12.6 Atmospheric conditions 121
8 COMPRESSORS 17 12.7 Presence of water 121
8.1 Introduction S7 12.8 Environmental problems 121
8.2 Types of compressors 87 12.9 Fumes 122
8.3 Drive m 12.10 Safety conditions 122
8.4 Auxiliary elements 89 12.11 Explosive atmospheres 122
8.5 Calculating pressure drops 90 12.12 Supply problems 122
References 91 References 122

9 THERMOCHEMISTRY OE EXPLOSIVES 13 BLASTING ACCESSORIES 123

AND THE DETONATION PROCESS 92 13.1 Introduction 123
9.1 Introduction 92 13.2 Nonelectric initiation systems 123
9.2 Deflagration and detonation 92 13.3 Electric initiation systems 127
9.3 Detonation process of an explosive 93 13.4 Sources of energy 130
9.4 Thermochemistry of the explosives 94 13.5 Other accessories 132
9.5 Heat of explosion 94 References 135
9.6 Oxygen balance 95
9.7 Volume of explosion 95 14 INITIATION AND PRIMING SYSTEMS 136
9.8 Minimum energy available 96 14.1 Introduction 136
9.9 Temperature of the explosion 96 • 14.2 Priming and boostering bulk ANEO-type
9.10 Pressure of the explosion 96 blasting agents 136
References 97 J 14.3 Priming cartridge ANFO type blasting
agents 138
10 PROPERTIES OF EXPLOSIVES 98 14.4 Priming pumped or poured slurry and
10.1 Introduction 98 emulsion blasting agents 139
10.2 Strength and energy 98 14.5 Priming cartridged watergel and emulsion
10.3 Detonation velocity 101 blasting agents 140
10.4 Density 102 14.6 Location of primers 140
10.5 Detonation pressure 102 14.7 Priming conventional cartridged
10.6 Stability 102 explosives 143
10.7 Water resistance 102 References 143
10.8 Sensitivity 102
10.9 Detonation transmission 103 15 MECHANIZED SYSTEMS EOR CHARGING
10.10 Desensitization 104 A N D DEWATERING BLASTHOLES 144
* 10.11 Resistance to low temperatures 104 15.1 Introduction 144
10.12 Eumes 104 15.2 Mechanized blasthole charging systems 144
References 105 15.3 Blasthole dewatering systems 152
References 153
11 INDUSTRIAL EXPLOSIVES 106
11.1 Introduction 106 16 MECHANISMS OF ROCK BREAKAGE 154
11.2 Dry blasting agents 106 16.1 Introduction 154
11.3 Slurries 110 16.2 Rock breakage mechanisms 154
11.4 Emulsions III 16.3 Transmission of the strain wave through
11.5 Heavy ANFO 113 the rock mass 156
11.6 Gelatin dynamites 115 16.4 Energetic yield of the blastings 157
11.7 Granular dynamite 115 References 159
11.8 Permissible explosives 116
11.9 Blackpowders 116 17 ROCK AND ROCK MASS PROPERTIES
11.10 Two-component explosives 117 AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE
11.11 Explosives commercialized in Spain 117 RESULTS OF BLASTING 160
References 117 17.1 Introduction 160
17.2 Rock properties 160
12 EXPLOSIVE SELECTION CRITERIA 119 17.3 Properties of the rock mass 161
12.1 Introduction 119 References 166
 Contents Vll

18 CHARAC I'bRIZATION OF THE ROCK 213 Trench blastine 208

^ X* X X WX IWX X x / x x x o xxxx^^
MASSES FOR BLAST DESIGNING 167 9 1 4 R a m n hlasHnp ('sinking ciiO 210
^ L .~ IXUlllL/ L/lxXoLlxl^ lOllln.lllg
' i 18.1 Introduction 167 9 1 S RlfiQtincT T o r orniinH l/*vf*lin<7 212
18.2 Diamond drilling with core recovery and 9 1 (S RlflstiriQs "for fniinHations 213
•~r geomechanic testing 10/ z i . / iviini-noic Diasung 214
;. 18.3 Characteristics of the joint systems 167 9 1 8 LPrphla<;Hnp<!
4, L .o I d J i a a i i i i g o 215
. ;. 18.4 Seismic survey 170 216
18.5 Geophysical techniques to obtain rock
• mass data 170
L f\J
22 B l A STING FOR TUNNELS AND DRIFTS 217
U l _ ^ x V O 1 1 1 1 V J 1 A 7 1 X 1 \ _ / 1 1 1 1 L ^ l _ ( x J ILL. 1 1 7 1 ^ 1 X 1 1 1 \J
18.6 Logging of production blastholes 170 22 1 Introduction 217
X XXI LX V/\X XXV/XM
18.7 Characterization of the rock mass during 22 2 Advance svstems 217
.L. I XXX V LXXX^Xp' Cf T OX^^'XXXkX
blasthole drilling 171 9 9 9 Rlactino n a t t p m Q for tiinnplQ 218
18.8 The attempt to correlate drilling indexes 99 4 Ti/npc
l y p c s KJL C U l d aQTiH
/ifpiifc pialfiil
liU C irfl Ltfip
a l L U i aQl tl iUn lnl U l i C hlactc
Ulaotd 219
with the blasting design parameters 174
1 9 9 ^ IRniiinmpnt
4.4..O Z / i ^ U i p i U C U L ifr\r
U l lmiirlcinfr nut
U c U K l l l g U U L Hrillino
U i l l l l l l g

• 18.9 System of drilling data management in 230

actual time 177 R XXTPfCXtm^C 230
III ixCiClCliCCiS

References 178
I / O
9T
4.D ^ H A F T ^TNICINri A N D R A T 8 F 1D7 1RX 1T VV lI iNi xGj
o n / x r 1 o i i i r v i i i v j / x i i i 7 r w x i o i j 231
19 CONTROLLABLE PARAMETERS OF 9 T 1 TntrnHiirtioti 231
BLASTING 11 7ly
0 XM7> 1 Shaft
23.2 l l l L l v / vsinking
xUx.'LlA/ll 231
19.1 Introduction 170ly
1 23.3 Raise driving 232
19.2 Blasthole diameter 179 References 237
19.3 Height of bench 1l O8 1 1

19.4 Blasthole inclination 181 24 UNDERGROUND PRODUC l ION BLASTING

1 O 1
19.5 Stemming length 189 I N MINING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING 239
19.6 Subdrilling 189
1-04.
24.1 Introduction 239
19.7 Burden and spacing 18T
lOJ
24.2 Crater retreat method 239
19.8 Blasthole patterns 18T 24.3 Longhole method 243
19.9 Geometry of the free face 184 24.4 Sublevel stoping with blastholes in fan
19.10 Size and shape of the blast 18S
1 O J
pattern 245
19.11 Available expansion volume 186 24.5 Room and pillar mining 248
1 ou
19.12 Charge configuration 1 a/t 24.6 Cut and fill mining 248
19.13 Decoupling of the charges 11(30
86
1 ou 24.7 Underground chambers in civil
19.14 Explosives 1 87
l O / engineering projects 249
19.15 Distribution of explosives in the References 251
blastholes 187
1 o/
19.16 Powder factor 188 25 CONTOUR BLASTING 252
1 oo
i 19.17 Initiation and priming 1 88
1 oo 25.1 Introduction 252
, 19.18 Delay timing and initiation sequences 11 88
oo 25.2 Mechanisms responsable for overbreak 252
19.19 Influence of loading equipment on the 25.3 The theory of contour blasting 253
design of the blasts 1 ao 25.4 Types of contour blasts 254
toy
• 19.20 Specific drilling 1 ao 25.5 The parameters that intervene in a
lo!7
19.21 Blasthole deviation ion contour blasting 256
References 190 25.6 Tendencies in the field of contour blasting 264
1 y\j
25.7 Evaluation of the results 267
20 BENCH BLASTING 191 25.8 Example 268
20.1 Introduction 191 25.9 Extraction of ornamental rock with
20.2 Small diameter bench blasting 191 contour blasting 268
1 7 1
20.3 Large diameter blasting 1QT
1 7 J
References 270
20.4 Bench blasting with horizontal blastholes 195
20.5 Rip-rap production blasting 195 26 UNDERWATER BLASTING 272
20.6 Cast blasting 196 26.1 Introduction 272
1 yyj
Appendix 1: Eormulas to calculate bench 26.2 Methods of execution 272
blasting patterns 1 7 7 26.3 Calculations for charges and drilling
References ZUJ patterns 247
26.4 Charging the blastholes and priming
21 BLASTING IN OTHER SUREACE systems 275
OPERATIONS 205 26.5 Types of explosives 276
21.1 Introduction 205 26.6 Environmental effects associated with
21.2 Excavations for highways and railways 205 underwater blastings 276
VIII Contents

26.7 Shaped or concussion charges 278 32 OPTIMIZING COSTS OE FRAGMENTATION

References 279 WITH DRILLING AND BLAS1ING ooo
323
32.1 Introduction 323
INITIATION SEQUENCE AND DELAY 32.2 Economical aspects of drilling and
1/11
TIMING OO 1
blasting 323
281
27.1 Introduction oo 1 32.3 Model for determining cost optimization T - ) C
281 325
27.2 Single-row delayed blast OO 1
32.4 Predicting the fragmentation 326
281 /i/i c r> u. X* 1 *• ..x.»-xJ.-.i 111
27.3 Multi-row sequenced bench blastings 282
/^^^ 4 T
"\ 1 1 1 . ' f 1
32.5 Probabilistic analysis optimization model 331
XI 7 1 1 1

27.4 Bench blasting sequences for under- References 331

ground stopes 284
0 T
27.5 Delay timings 285 T A MTA \ /TDD A XT/AMC A TD D T A C T A X T H

O OO 33 LAND
T T T D T D VlBRAflONS,
X / T A T T D d T AIR BLAS 1 A N D
27.6 Underground blasts m tunnels and dnfts 333
287 THEIR CON 1ROL 1 1 1
References O OO
33.1 Introduction
289 o o o r \ X 1 ' 1 74? X ' i_ X•
333
1*11 T X X T T X rxix>—V V T x
^"v
x"i x-\ X X / i n 1 T1 x*i/IX Tx r x i / i
33.2 Parameters which affect vibration
290 characteristics 333
EVALUATION OE BLAST RESULTS i n
28.1 Introduction 290 33.3 Charactenstics ot ground vibrations
/I i i /I 1 « 1 11' I* tt O O A A * L 1 ... X _ a, aa aaA. -a. - ' a. 4. ^ aa aa 337
339
28.2 Fragmentation and swelling of the 33.4 Air blast charactenstics
a a ' C 1" 1
muckpile 290 33.5 Instrumentation for recording and
A /I ^ ^—s i->l 1 *1 * . 1 * 1 .
analyzing vibrations and air blast 3 4 0
28.3 Geometry of the muckpile, its height 1^ 7 71 1 1 . 7 . ' 1 7 1 1
and displacement 293 33.6 Calculators of propogation laws for land
28.4 Condition of the remaining mass 294 and air vibrations 342
-11 71. 1
* 7 '1 .' 1 • 1 1 J 1 A 7
28.5 Analysis of the bench floor 295 33.7 Studies of vibration and air blast 346
28.6 Boulders in the muckpile 295 33.8 Damage prevention cntena tor buildings 1 c r \
/I 1-1 ^1 X T'l * I ' l l . 1 1 (1 T*" 77 x _ IT * l _ - . X * 1 X
350
28.7 XVibrations and1 airblast 1 296 33.9 Effects of vibrations and air blast on
/I H /-|
I /II /* . •
296 people 357
28.8 Profiles of underground excavations
28.9 Conclusions 296 33.10 Effects of vibrations on rock masses 358

References on^ 33.11 Effect of vibrations on freshly poured

296 concrete 360
1 1 11 n j x ' C i _ " 1
SECONDARY FRAGMENTATION AND 33.12 Recommendations for reducing ground
HXIX'l^'IX X X XIX X xi rxix'X T 71 XI
299 vibration and air blast levels 361
SPECIAL BLASTINGS
29.1 Introduction 299 References 364
29.2 Pop shooting 299
1 Xi 1 1 1 1 1 * 1 .1 A •' n T r x i 71 7*1 X 7 71 X V TX1 Pill XX"»XX1 71 71^ If ^1 1 71X
29.3 Secondary breakage by mechanical 366
34 FLYROCKS AND THEIR CONTROL
means and special methods 299 34.1 Introduction 366
/I A / I 1 X 1 1 1 1 . . I .1 7 /I 1
29.4 Special blastings 302 34.2 Models to calculate the throw of flyrock 366
1 X 1 71 1 7O
References 304
34.3 Covenngs 368
1 A 4 XI I x * 7 • x l 1
X1T A X TX T T X T 71 XnX X XI X X T 71 XI X X 71XI X-X XI XX X X ^ T 71 34.4 blastings
Recommendations for carrying out bench 370
PLANNING THE WORK OF DRILLING
AND BLASTING 305 References 51\J
T O C
30.1 Introduction
/I 7\ y1 XI .1.1 • n a1 305 /I ^ 71 X • IPWIX t 1 7in X 71X TXI XI71 XI7-1XI XIXI XX X XI T7n X 1 TX1

30.2 Factors that have influence on the 35 SAFETY MEASURES

XIX X nTITI T7~<
EOR DRILLING AND n 1
TITIXTI A T'T71'A.TO
planning of drillling and blasting 305 BLASTING OPERATIONS 371
30.3 Planning the stages of excavation 308 35.1 Introduction 371
References 311 35.2 Blasthole drilling 371
1 C 1 XI1
375
35.3 Blastings
STRUCTURE AND BUILDING References 381
DEMOLITION 312
31.1 Introduction 312 CONVERSION FACTORS 382
31.2 Drilling diameters and types of explosives 312
31.3 Demolition of structural elements 313 GENERAL INFORMATION, WEIGHT OF
31.4 Demolition of structures 316 MATERIALS 383
31.5 Demolition of buildings 320
GLOSSARY 385
31.6 Demolition of steel structures 322
References 322 SUBJECT INDEX 389

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