Comparative Analysis of the Performance of ANFO and Ammonium Nitrate using Fragment Size Distribution during Blasting Operations

Abstract

This research was carried out to compare the performance of ANFO and Ammonium Nitrate on fragment size distribution by using the ANFO and AN as the column charge in blasting operations, measuring the fragmentation size after each blasting operation, characterizing the fumes evolving from the blasting operation in each case and compare the performance of the ANFO and AN. The densities of the rock deposit were derived as 2.638 g/m3 and 2.622 g/m3 for Block A and Block B respectively. The rebound hardness tests ranged from 47 to 61 for Block A and Block B from 48 to 54. The total explosive charge used for each of the blocks was 0.1 kg. The muckpile magnification ratio for Block A was 0.008 and Block B was 0.004. The fragmentation sizes for Block A range from 1.869 cm to 19.411 cm and Block B from 2.414 cm to 37.177 cm. The magnification ratio and fragment sizes show that Block A has better fragmentation than Block B. Ammonia gas was not present in the area of study before blasting but the fume emitted after first blasting with ANFO produced 0.08% of Ammonia gas and after the second blasting with AN 0.07% were produced. The oxygen level was reduced from 20.9% before blasting to 19.2% after the first blasting and 19.1% after the second blasting. It was deduced that blasting with ANFO generated more Ammonia gas than blasting with AN but the Oxygen level when ANFO is used was higher than when AN is used. Keywords: Blasting, density, explosive, fragmentation, magnification ratio