DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY in Surface Gold Mining
Document type: Case Study
Categories: Case Study

CASE STUDY

DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY™ (ΔE) IN SURFACE GOLD
MINING

the average density of each segment in the hole
Measured results confirmed that significant value in was respectively 1.26, 1.22, and 1.09g/cc. productivity, cost and blast performance were delivered. The mine reduced its overall powder factor by 18%,
realized an 8% increase in shovel productivity in both
waste and ore, and in the case of ore, experienced no
reduction in crusher throughput. Additionally, they
completely eliminated visible NOx after blast fumes in
even the wettest areas of the pit.

BACKGROUND
NEWEST TECHNOLOGY OR DIRECT
REPLACEMENT
The mine’s existing fleet of bulk delivery equipment was
ready for replacement. It was an opportune time for mine
management to evaluate upgrading equipment with Dyno
Nobel’s DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY technology against
direct replacement of old delivery equipment.

Over the past 10 years or more, the mine has been
using Dyno Nobel TITAN 2050G (chemically sensitized
Heavy ANFO) and TITAN 2070G (chemically sensitized
repumpable emulsion ANFO blend). Production drill holes
at the mine are 40 feet deep with a 6 ¾ inch diameter.
Burden and spacing varied depending upon geology
which was primarily Breccia and Precambrian.

PROJECT SUMMARY TECHNOLOGY APPLIED
INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AT REDUCED DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
COSTS Using TITAN XL 1000 emulsion and a bulk truck with
Dyno Nobel’s TITAN 1000ΔE was trialed over a period of DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY technology, the blasters were
four months at AngloGold Ashanti’s Cripple Creek and able to precisely load three different density segments
Victor Gold Mining Co. (CC&V) in Cripple Creek, Colorado. into a blast hole, improving material fragmentation. Performance of the TITAN 1000ΔE product was measured
against typically loaded production blasts of similar size, The target was to optimize the energy distribution in the
in similar geology. Blast designs (drill pattern and blast holes by putting a heavier density emulsion explosive
hole sequence) for the performance and baseline blasts at the bottom and a lighter density up top. To do this,
were not altered during the trial, and all blasts, except the bottom, middle, and top segments of the emulsion
for one, were initiated using Dyno Nobel’s DigiShot® Plus explosive column were respectively loaded with cup
electronic initiation system. densities of 1.18, 1.15, and 1.05g/cc. Due to hydrostatic
 pressure, the average density of each segment in the hole
Measured results confirmed that significant value in was respectively 1.26, 1.22, and 1.09g/cc. productivity, cost and blast performance were delivered.

CASE STUDY

The same TITAN 1000ΔE product was loaded into both
wet and dry holes. In dry holes, the hose was placed 10 REDUCE AN DISSOLUTION
feet past the collar of the hole and then loaded. In wet TITAN 1000ΔE has excellent water resistance. As a result,
holes, the hose was lowered to the bottom of the hole and it limits the amount of ammonium nitrate that can dissolve
then auto-retracted as the hole was loaded. in run-off and groundwater. The Heavy ANFO bulk delivery
 trucks left roughly 6% of the total powder weight loaded
 around the collar, which makes it available to contaminate
 VALUE ADDED groundwater. TITAN 1000ΔE eliminated this problem with
 bottom up loading.
PUT POWDER WHERE IT IS NEEDED
Using DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY technology, overall
powder factor was reduced from 0.82 to 0.67 lbs/ton.
Limiting higher explosive energy and detonation pressure
to the bottom of the hole helped break the toe. Putting
a lighter density, lower energy, lower detonation pressure
explosive load in the upper portion of the hole, improved
explosive distribution throughout the rock. This allowed
the mine to reduce their overall stemming by 17%.

INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY
Shovel productivity was measured in tons/hr and Figure 2 (L-R) Heavy ANFO after loading vs. ΔE after
increased overall by 8%. At the same time, there was an loading
overall increase of 1% in the primary crusher throughput.

ELIMINATE NOX
Post blast NOx fumes were readily apparent when the
mine’s normal Heavy ANFO blends were used in rock that
 DISPLACE, DON’T DEWATER
was damp, wet, and unconsolidated. The TITAN 1000ΔE With Heavy ANFO blends, the mine was required to
blasts showed no visual signs of NOx in any areas. dewater wet holes before loading. With TITAN 1000ΔE
 there was no need to dewater. The blaster simply put
 the hose down to the bottom of the hole and loaded the
 hole, effectively displacing the water with TITAN 1000ΔE.
 This eliminated the need for the dewatering truck and
 significantly reduced the overall loading time for wet holes.

Figure 1 (L-R) Baseline blast fumes vs. TITAN ΔE blast
fumes

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