DRILL & BLAST
M
ining is a hugely energy-intensive business. Te drill and blast part of the process is very important in so far as how it influences
other downstream processes. For example, the Coalition for Eco Efficient Comminution (CEEC) group of industry experts has recently compiled some thought-provoking figures. Comminution of gold and copper in Australia alone consumes 0.2% of global energy; that’s 1.3% of the country’s energy. And in the USA it consumes 1.3% of the electrical power.
Blasting sensors are enabling more sustainable operations
For the world as a whole, comminution uses 1.8% of electricity generated. Obviously drill and blast significantly impacts how process ore and gangue is transported and separated. Taking advantage of the latest technologies and smart drilling and blasting approaches can offer planners and leaders a critical lever to smarter mining and procession, considerably lifting productivity as well as reducing the footprint including energy, emissions, water and its actual physical footprint. Tose things are very important to senior executives now, for shareholder value and community support. It is crucial for leaders in this industry to consider the whole of asset net present value gains by approaching their improvements, starting with smarter drilling and blasting designed to maximise value of their product and output. So how is technology being used here?
One way is to look at these downstream processes and see what improvements can be made. So taking the fragmentation as an example, improving modelling can help here.
Steven Putt is director of Mining
Software Solutions at DataCloud. He says, “Te key to better blasting is better orebody knowledge and better feedback from downstream processing. You need to know the rock to blast correctly, and also know how that blast did at the mill to perfect operations further. For example, there are many hard rock cases where continuing to load more explosives in the extremely hard zones will diminish your return. Using data and analysis for true measurements and continuous feedback loops will enlighten you to a better way forward. “It’s similar to using GPS on a phone. I
know how to get to downtown Denver from my house, but I do not know the quickest way to get there based on the current traffic or road works. I use GPS because I do not want to waste my time, money or gas. Tis is what I work on at DataCloud. Our software, MinePortal, integrates geology and downstream data to achieve the most efficient fragmentation without overspending on explosives or hauling.” Putt is convinced everything in a mine is closely connected. “Tey all affect one
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