DYNOMINER Advance Streamlines Blasting Efficiency at Cosmos Operations
Document type: Case Study
Categories: Case Study

CASE STUDY

DYNOMINER™ ADVANCE STREAMLINES BLASTING
EFFICIENCY AT COSMOS OPERATIONS

PROJECT SUMMARY
SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AND SOLID
SAVINGS
The Xstrata Nickel Cosmos mining operation (formerly
Jubilee Mines) in the North Eastern Goldfields of Western
Australia is experiencing the benefits of the Dynominer™
Advance first hand.

Dyno Nobel provided a Dynominer Advance bulk emulsion
development charging system for Byrnecut Mining to
improve the ease and efficiency of loading explosives
underground at the site.

tion. Jubilee Mines required rapid tunnel development to
access the Prospero and Tapinos ore bodies before ore Safety – By reducing noxious blast fume volumes, the
supply from the Cosmos mine ran out. system improved re-entry times adding to cost efficiencies
 as well as worker comfort and safety. Byrnecut Mining, the mining contractor, chose Sandvik
TCAD computer aided drilling and Dyno Nobel’s TITAN
7000 bulk emulsion to achieve rapid development rates in
a single heading at the lowest total cost.

Using TITAN® 7000 gassed emulsion technology, the PROJECT GOALS
rugged and compact Dynominer Advance system
significantly increased performance and dramatically
 MAXIMIZING DELIVERY PERFORMANCE AND
reduced costs. COST BENEFITS
Developed over a number of years, the Dynominer Dyno Nobel’s charging system meets a wide range of
Advance system achieves the lowest total cost of advance objectives. compared with ANFO-based charging systems. Productivity – The unit was employed to achieve single
 heading advance rates greater than current industry
 benchmarks. What’s more, it improves face advance per
 round. BACKGROUND
 Cost benefits – The efficient delivery of the emulsion helped
RAPID DEVELOPMENT RATES ACHIEVED to maximize cost benefits. The reduced use of explosives
The Helene Decline is part of the Cosmos operations, an and reduced drilling and charge times all added up to
advanced underground mining operation in the heart of significant cost savings. Overall, the Dynominer Advance
Australia’s most productive nickel region. achieved a greater advance per face, which delivered
 substantial value to the operation. Jubilee Mines required rapid tunnel development to
access the Prospero and Tapinos ore bodies before ore Safety – By reducing noxious blast fume volumes, the
supply from the Cosmos mine ran out.

CASE STUDY

TECHNOLOGY APPLIED
THE DYNOMINER ADVANCE UNIT IS A
RELIABLE, SIMPLE TO OPERATE, AND LOW
PRESSURE PUMPING SYSTEM THAT DELIVERS
A SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT AND COST-
EFFECTIVE WAY OF TUNNELING
The IT and work basket based system provides flexibility
in a single heading operation.

The air powered, PLC controlled bulk emulsion system
delivers a gas-sensitized emulsion to the blasthole,
delivering a fully coupled emulsion charge to the main
body of the face.
 Improved lifter performance reduced the number of lifters
The variable density emulsion system allows product and knee holes by four and a further three easer holes
density changes through the round. The PLC controlled were removed from the standard ANFO pattern.
String Loading system allows perimeter holes to be The unit also recorded perimeter performance with
charged at rates as low as 0.70kg/m. string loading equivalent to that of packaged tube-type
 perimeter products.

In addition, the unit provided accurate metering of product
 VALUE ADDED for string and fully charged holes.

The main problems being experienced at the mine were
pulling large rounds and re-entry times. By using the
Dynominer Advance, the site was able to reduce charge
times by up to 30 per cent and reduce explosive costs
by around 25 per cent. The emulsion produces four times
less after firing, which reduces the re-entry time to a
development face and speeds up the mining cycle.
This is, of course, in addition to the health benefits of a
safe and quiet operation with a less demanding routine for
operators at the site.

Disclaimer: This case study is provided for informational purposes only. No representation or warranty is made or intended by Dyno Nobel or
its affiliates as to the applicability of any procedures to any particular situation or circumstance or as to the completeness or accuracy of any
information contained herein, and, to the full extent permitted by law, Dyno Nobel expressly disclaims any liability arising from the use of this
document or the information contained herein. User assumes sole responsibility for all results and consequences. © 2020 Dyno Nobel

The use of superior emulsion product delivery in the
THE BENEFITS OF USING DYNOMINER
 tunneling application greatly increased productivity and
ADVANCE efficiency. Utilizing a tunneling jumbo, the site was able to
DynoMiner Advance outperforms ANFO-based charging take 5.8m rounds in a single heading decline. The TITAN
systems. The advance was improved by 7 percent to 7000 emulsion was an integral part of the cycle. The site is
achieve full advance per round. reporting reduced charging times, improved fragmentation
 and a reduction in the number of boreholes needed. With
Manual handling is greatly reduced as the bulk emulsion faster access to the ore body, the long-term benefits for
is pumped from a storage tank to the Dynominer unit, the site are a higher NPV and the recovery of significant
improving efficiency through quicker handling and charging upfront capital expenditure.
times. The system achieves instantaneous loading rates
of over 90kg per minute.