SmartShot® and DynoConsult® expertise delivers record mass blast
Document type: Case Study

SmartShot® Initiation System and DynoConsult
 Expertise Delivers Record Mass Blast

Project Summary
MASS BLAST REQUIRED FOR MINE TO
TRANSITION FROM OPEN PIT TO UNDERGROUND
To successfully transition from an Open Pit operation to an
underground sub-level cave it was identified that this mine
needed to complete a complex extraction sequence for the first
two production sub-levels. To further complicate the situation
the following factors had to be considered:

 The mining sequence was essentially locked in by
 completed development;
 The presence of reactive ground limited product sleep time;
 Instability of the pit wall prevented completion of the final
 open pit shell;
 Ground conditions and seismicity were associated with
 regional fault slip; Background
 Limited void was available for blasting;
 The ground was making water and the wet season loomed;
 CHALLENGING CONDITIONS IN THE OPEN PIT
 Blast vibration, over-pressure and fumes had the potential
 to affect major mine infrastructure and delay re-entry. The mine has been in production since 1996. The pit wall had
 a history of instability and failures due to intersecting faults and
In order to undertake such a complex blasting project the an aggressive wall angle. During the final stages of open pit
Principal engaged the services of DynoConsult ® to: mining, geotechnical monitoring and analysis identified
 potential impacts to underground workings. Consequently, the
 Develop a suitable blasting solution covering all aspects of
 decision was made to leave some material behind to confine
 the transition;
 dominant faults and structures as risk mitigation to prevent
 Provide both technical and operational support for the
 premature wall failure.

o leave some material behind to confine
 the transition;
 dominant faults and structures as risk mitigation to prevent
 Provide both technical and operational support for the
 premature wall failure. This significantly increased the volume
 duration of the project;
 of unmined material, identified as “transition” ore, that
 Project manage all tasks associated with the charging and
 remained for underground extraction. Comprising
 firing of the blast. The transition blast was one of the
 approximately 2 Mt of relatively high grade ore, this material
 largest known firings conducted in an Australian
 formed an inclined crown pillar and barrier that prevented cave
 underground metalliferous mine. After forty one days of
 progression to the wall. charging, the blast was successfully initiated via wireless
 communication link utilising Dyno Nobel’s SmartShot
 initiation system. No direct blast damage was sustained to
 surface or underground infrastructure. As a result of this Project Goals
 firing, a large section of the inclined crown pillar between
 the pit and underground mine was fragmented and formed COMPLEX SOLUTION REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN
 an ore blanket for air blast management and prevention of MINE PRODUCTION
 early waste dilution.

between
 the pit and underground mine was fragmented and formed COMPLEX SOLUTION REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN
 an ore blanket for air blast management and prevention of MINE PRODUCTION
 early waste dilution. In simplistic terms, the mine’s goal was to mass fire the
 transition block ensuring the mine could safely transition from
 open pit to underground sub level cave without impacting on
 mine production performance.

SmartShot® Initiation System assists with
 Improving Stope Productivity

DynoConsult’s specific goal was to provide the Principal with a
complete technical blasting solution to achieve the project Value Added
objectives. The challenging part was achieving this with all the
associated complexities of a project this large subject to the SMARTSHOT AND DYNOCONSULT DELIVER THE
identified constraints. RIGHT SOLUTION
 DynoConsult successfully delivered a technical solution for one
 of the world’s largest underground blasts. The complex blast
 Technology Applied design was developed involving a multidirectional firing
 sequence, consideration for vibration management, limited
 available void (18%), reactive ground and extended sleep
DYNOCONSULT EXPERTISE WITH SMARTSHOT
 times. The degree of difficulty of the blast was further
SYSTEM CAPABILITY AND T7000SX
 increased due to charging and blasting in both geotechnically
DynoConsult were able to deliver a technical solution that:
 challenging ground and wet conditions.

further
SYSTEM CAPABILITY AND T7000SX
 increased due to charging and blasting in both geotechnically
DynoConsult were able to deliver a technical solution that:
 challenging ground and wet conditions.  Provided the greatest volume and coverage of pre-firing
 void for the mass blast The final outcome of this project included:
 Maintained void stability, wall integrity and did not break out  Successful initiation of the transition blast within the
 into the overlying pit, as that would result in lower mine allowable sleep time limit and prior to damaging seasonal
 level ventilation impacts due to short-circuiting rainfalls and significant wall failure in the pit.  Maximised stability to allow for continued safe access to  No immediate post blast damage to the rock mass and
 the mass blast area via access drives ground support in underground access drives and
 Optimised the timing sequence with multi-directional firing excavations. fronts to reduce blast induced ground vibration and  Air blast and concussion were successfully minimised. resultant damage to surrounding infrastructure and  The design maximum instantaneous charge (MIC) of 273kg
 development was achieved through single hole timing, that minimised
 blast vibration. The entire mass firing was achieved within
In order to achieve the necessary sleep times for charging a
 the firing system time limit of 20,000ms.

single hole timing, that minimised
 blast vibration. The entire mass firing was achieved within
In order to achieve the necessary sleep times for charging a
 the firing system time limit of 20,000ms. blast of this size in reactive ground, it was essential to utilise
  No blast damage was incurred to mine infrastructure. T7000SX emulsion. Isothermal testing with T7000SX
  The mine was fully re-entered within 16 hours of firing,
confirmed an extended sleep time of 42 days – theoretically
 which was ahead of expectations. more than enough time to get the shot away. There is no doubt that the transition from an open pit to
The complex nature of this blast required an electronic
 underground SLC operation was a challenging and complex
initiation system to provide precision timing and the capability
 undertaking. The successful completion of the transition blast
of being successfully initiated remotely from the surface. The
 heralds the next phase of underground ore production,
initiation solution for the job was Dyno Nobel’s SmartShot
 allowing the operation to continue to be productive, profitable
System – with wireless initiation from the surface coupled with
 and safe into the next decade. the synchronisation of four SmartShot Bench Boxes and over
4,500 Smartshot detonators.

®

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