MiningWeekly.com | Features Library

https://www.miningweekly.com

Explosives in Mining

Blast tools aid sustainability

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 21st October 2022 Building on the flexibility and accuracy of electronic detonation, digital blasting tools can assist in enhancing mines’ efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, says blasting and explosives solutions provider BME MD Ralf Hennecke. He emphasises that software platform integration is key to... →

Real-time tailoring of explosive energy a reality

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 21st October 2022 Mining and infrastructure solutions company Orica notes that its “revolutionary” 4D bulk system is available for surface mining, and is being trialled for underground mining, with subsequent market introduction planned for 2023. 4D capability, having been introduced to Australia and Indonesia in... →

Safer blasts shield communities

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 21st October 2022 Explosives and blasting contractor Master Blasters uses only the safest primary and secondary explosives – resulting in the least damage to the environment and impact on surrounding communities – for blasts. Explosives can produce toxic gasses after detonation; therefore, the company uses... →

DETONATE IN 3, 2, 1 Master Blasters blast volumes range from 10 000 m3 of rock to 300 000 m3 of rock a month

Green ammonia to reduce mines’ Scope 3 emissions

By: Leah Shelene Asaram 21st October 2022 As explosives and blasting services contribute largely to carbon emissions, the mining sector needs to implement alternative explosives production processes to reduce its carbon footprint, and one way of doing this is to creating green ammonia through water-electrolysis, says explosives and... →

Explosives growth follows industry growth

By: Nadine Ramdass 15th October 2021 The African explosives sector remains steady, owing to an increase in African mining opportunities and positive market conditions, says BME Southern African Development Community (SADC) MD Ralf Hennecke. With the growing interest in battery minerals such as lithium and cobalt, there is a further... →

An image of BME's Double Salt Emulsion in beaker.

DOUBLE SALT EMULSIONS Highly stable formulations are robust and provide optimal blasting outcomes

Differential GPS brings much needed autonomy to blasting

15th October 2021 AECI Mining Explosives’ new, high-accuracy (sub-1m) Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) brings autonomy to the blast hole tagging process, thus maximising efficiency by eliminating potential human error on the bench and ensuring integrity of drill and blast operations. Safety and good... →

An image of the Differential Global Positioning System on a mining blast site

PEAK ACCURACY The Differential Global Positioning System enables faster blast deployment, greater accuracy and increased efficiency

Explosives tech aims to humanise mining

By: Nadine Ramdass 15th October 2021 The lack of new investment in the form of new mining projects has resulted in little growth for the explosives industry, and while the expansion projects of existing operations have helped the industry somewhat, greenfield projects can facilitate more significant growth. The mining explosives... →

An image of a mine worker using Enaex's Mine I-Truck to delivers down-the-hole explosives

MINE I-TRUCK Tele-operated mobile mixing unit mixes and delivers down-the-hole explosives

MAXAM

16th October 2020 Global technology company MAXAM specialises in the manufacture and distribution of energetic materials. As a value-creation company, MAXAM strives to develop the most advanced adaptive solutions to ensure quality, safety, environmental care and improved productivity. →

High demand for TES in blasting sector

By: Tracy Hancock 16th October 2020 The use of temporary employment services (TES) is common among South African blasting companies, and demand for this service is high, says TES provider Workforce Staffing area manager Hendri Poolman. The scarcity of skills in the field presents a challenge for blasting companies. →

FINDING FLEXIBILITY Temporary staffing services can address the fluctuating staffing requirements of blasting companies

Explosives manufacturer helps fight illicit explosives

16th October 2020 To promote the fight against the illegal use of explosives, commercial explosives supplier AECI Mining Explosives has partnered with private-sector canine programme Vapor Wake K9 South Africa (VWK9SA) by providing explosives samples to assist in the training of its dogs. Criminal activities... →

CRITICAL COLLABORATION AECI Mining Explosives’ Michelle Le Roux and Christo Peltz with South African Civil Aviation Authority-certified dogs and handlers from Vapor Wake K9 South Africa

FRAGTrack wins international Good Design award

16th October 2020 Explosives and blasting systems provider Orica announced last month that its innovative fragmentation measurement technology FRAGTrack was awarded a Good Design accolade in the engineering category, for outstanding design and innovation. The yearly Good Design Awards recognise and celebrate... →

AWARD WINNING FRAGTrack is an automated fragmentation measurement device that accurately and reliably measures rock size and fragmentation after the blasting stage in mining and quarrying

Company sets detonator new record

16th October 2020 The Enaex Africa team set another record for the highest number of detonators (3 876 units) fired in a single blast in South Africa, using DaveyTronic detonators at United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK). The average hole depth of the 1 938 holes was 14 m, with two detonators per hole. →

PRIORITISING SAFETY Record-breaking feats can only be celebrated when all involved are safe

Sustaining security of supply, efficiency amid state of disaster

By: Tracy Hancock 16th October 2020 Adapting to the ‘new normal’ bought on by the Covid-19 outbreak will require companies to listen to and meet the changing needs of customers by adopting new working methods and complying with evolving lockdown regulations, says explosives and blasting services provider BME technology and... →

SOLID SUPPLY Omnia Group’s Sasolburg nitric acid plant enhances supply security in the group and ensured that BME had no stockouts during the hard lockdown

Industry changes impact on explosives sector

By: Mamaili Mamaila 18th October 2019 Owing to low overall business confidence, year-on-year mining production declining by more than 4% and volatility across all mineral commodities, the explosives industry has remained relatively undynamic, says explosives and blasting company BME commercial marketing GM Ralf Hennecke. →

MINERAL POTENTIAL South Africa’s reserves of key minerals are still high, but that it will take a long time to unlock them

Transformation in explosives sector yet to ignite

By: Cameron Mackay 18th October 2019 Economic transformation in the mining, drilling and blasting industry remains slow and requires greater engagement from critical roleplayers, such as government, who should encourage the industry to realise the benefits of transformation, says rock blasting and demolition company Master Blasters... →

TRANSFORMATION TROUBLES Despite legislation, emerging black-owned companies still struggle with access to larger mining projects, owing to a lack of resources, experience and support

Water-gel technology allows for customised blasting solutions

By: Cameron Mackay 18th October 2019 Global blasting solutions provider MAXAM’s premium bulk water-gel technology range of blends, referred to as RIOFLEX, has been well received by the South African market and will allow the company to build on its presence in the country for over 20 years, says MAXAM Southern Africa regional sales... →

CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT MAXAM has been implementing continuous improvement programmes targeting cost reduction over the mine-to-mill process

Growing explosives sales in a declining market

By: Erin Steenhoff-Snethlage 19th October 2018 Although rising mineral production costs have led to declining competitiveness for the South African mining industry, which has negatively affected the sale of explosives materials company MAXAM regional director Brett Wheatcroft says this has created opportunities for the introduction of... →

EXPLOSIVES SOLUTIONS MAXAM helps customers optimise their drilling and blasting operations, bringing transparency, cost control and improved rock output

CTC sees increase in surface explosives

By: Erin Steenhoff-Snethlage 19th October 2018 Mpumalanga-based training college Colliery Training College (CTC) has noted an increase in enrolments for surface explosives courses, while the number of enrolments for courses pertaining to underground explosives remains constant, says CTC MD Johan Venter. →

Solar Mining Services

19th October 2018 Solar Group is a dynamic and established PLC company with aspirations to achieve a significant global presence and market share. As a growing international explosives manufacturer and supplier of related accessories and delivery systems, the group has a global footprint that currently extends to... →

Blasting solutions that take mines into digital age

19th October 2018 As mining companies rapidly shift their strategies and operating models to leverage digital transformation, new technologies in blasting and explosives are making an ever more vital contribution to bottom-line improvements. A combination of market volatility, changing global demand and radically... →

JOE KEENAN The Internet of Things will be an important driver of blasting safety and efficiency

Miners need to focus on long-term economic benefits

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th October 2017 To alter the cheaper-cost mindset miners sometimes adopt in trying economic times, explosives technical services company R.A. McClure president Robert McClure recommends focusing on long-term downstream gains and valuable technological investments. →

LEARNING CURVE R.A. McClure presents courses that are suitable for individuals involved in blasting operations such as drillers, blasters, managers and operators

Photo by Bloomberg
LEARNING CURVE R.A. McClure presents courses that are suitable for individuals involved in blasting operations such as drillers, blasters, managers and operators

Nondetonating timing system promoted to Africa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th October 2017 Unless mines pursue safer options, explosives suppliers will continue to supply more dangerous traditional products, stresses initiation system provider Master Blaster CEO Mark Davis. →

ENHANCED RECOVERY By using the Maxclip solution with a propellant-based nondetonating cartridge, narrow reef mines can reduce the crush zone around holes and recover more minerals

Safer rock-breaking alternatives offered

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th October 2017 Rock-breaking technology supplier Nxco Mining Technologies offers nondetonating cartridges that use a pyrotechnic composition to break rock based on its tensile strength, rather than on its compressive strength as is the case with traditional explosives. →

CARTRIDGE BENEFITS Using expanding gas improves workplace safety, recovery, reduces costs and also reduces the impact of the mining process on the environment

Reactive ground detection tech advancing, conference nears

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th October 2017 Explosives and blasting company BME is in the testing and development stage of adapting its XRF Delta Pro mineral scanning technology to quickly identify reactive ground conditions on-the-spot to prevent blast site incidents, thereby ensuring safer blasting practices. →

GROUNDWORK TESTING BME is adapting its XRF Delta Pro mineral scanning technology to quickly identify reactive ground conditions

Introducing change could yield financial value

By: Kimberley Smuts 18th November 2016 Introducing a proactive blast design approach and new technology can be intimidating for mining companies, as it requires change, but they should keep an open mind as downstream improvements are a catalyst for financial value, says international blast engineering and consulting firm RA McClure... →

Photo by Bloomberg
EXCAVATION EFFICIENCY Overcoming blasting inaccuracies improves all the downstream processes

Mining’s future needs innovation from suppliers

18th November 2016 The fate of mining does not lie in the hands of mines alone, everyone involved in the mining supply chain must accept that the recovery and future of the industry relies on the best value creation at every step in that chain, emphasises South Africa-based cold emulsion explosives innovator BME.... →

JOSEPH KEENAN BME continues to respond to potential in global markets; however, its strategy remains driven by the sobering acceptance that unless every blast can help customers become more sustainable

Importance of using lightning prediction networks emphasised

By: Kimberley Smuts 18th November 2016 Globally, every year there are about two recorded explosions at opencast mining operations due to lightning strikes during blasting activities, explosives firm BME blasting science director Tony Rorke tells Mining Weekly. He adds that if lightning strikes a blast area that has been charged, the... →

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY Modern electronic delay detonators are equipped with effective protection barriers to prevent them from being initiated by the majority of nearby or direct lightning strikes

Mobile technology helps eliminate blasting obstacles

By: Kimberley Smuts 18th November 2016 Explosives firm BME explored how mobile technology and centralised data could provide mine managers with an edge to comprehensively eliminate potential blast problems, through among others management of blast inputs, thereby improving blast results, at its annual Drilling and Blasting Conference.... →

Muckpile-fragmentation monitoring system provides fast, economical solution when blasting

20th November 2015 Miners are now able to quantify the post-blast fragmentation of rocks using the Split-ShovelCam system, an economical alternative to manual sampling that provides an instant objective measure, as opposed to subjective qualitative estimates. The system, whose latest version was released in... →

ACCURATE RESULTS The Split-ShovelCam system automatically captures images of post-blast muckpiles so that operators can be immediately updated with rock fragmentation results

New blasting company MD to focus on customer engagement

By: Bruce Montiea 20th November 2015 A continuous focus on customers to better understand their requirements and include their voice in in-house decision-making processes will be the main strategy of newly appointed explosives supply chain company BME MD Joseph Keenan. “In the early days of my role, I have had the opportunity to... →

WIDELY USED TECHNOLOGY BME’s AXXIS electronic detonators are used across Africa and other mining markets such as Australia and Colombia

3D blasting method achieves safe and effective results

By: Bruce Montiea 20th November 2015 Stereo photogrammetry has proven its value in the mining industry as an easy and cost-effective way to profile rock faces for blast design and characterisation, says blast engineering and consulting firm RA McClure (RAM) president Robert McClure. McClure stated this at explosives supply chain... →

PROFILING ROCK FACES Photogrammetric reconstruction recovers three-dimensional information using at least two photos showing the same part of a scene, such as a rock surface, from different angles

Editorial Insight

South Africa must open the way for critical minerals exploration

more

Mining Personality

Oscar van Antwerpen

more

Cartoon

WAVES OF PAIN

more

Photo of the week

CHIP RATIONING

more

RSS Feed

About

Mining Weekly is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on MiningWeekly.com is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe