IMPROVEMENT AN COST ANALYSIS OF BLASTING OPERATIONS AT WESTERN LIGNITE OPEN CAST MINE

Abstract

Drilling and blasting operations have a great importance in mining operations. By means of drillingand blasting operations, ease of excavability is provided and production can be made in desiredparticle sizes especially for ore. In this study, state-operated blasting operations in Western LigniteCorporation mining sites and problems encountered in these blasting operations are investigated. Itwas aimed to solve the problem of encountering blocks after blasting by using nitroglycerine basedcast boosters instead of emulsion based cast boosters. The blasting shots and excavation loadingworks in the blasting area were recorded. The muckpile images obtained after blasting operationswere examined with WipFrag software and particle size distributions were checked. According to thedata obtained, cost analyzes related to blasting and transportation were performed. It was found thatafter the change, the problems decreased and the company economically gained 25% annually interms of blasting costs.