Precision Rock Excavation: Beyond Controlled Blasting and Line Drilling

Abstract

The strictness of the result of an excavation, whether mechanical or by means of explosives, is naturally conditioned by its objective and, therefore, by the type of technique applied to achieve it. To attain the best results in terms of rock breakage, and with respect to the final profile, it is important to evaluate the specific excavation energy and its optimization. This study, being a revision of different techniques to achieve good quality of the final walls, focuses on evaluating the effects of those techniques on the quality of the result, in both open-pit and underground operations. Different geometries and configurations can be applied to both quarrying and tunneling blasts. This study aims to push contour blasts to their limits, and the main aspects are discussed in order to improve the blast parameters in daily practice.