Optimization of drilling and blasting parameters to minimize boulders :

Abstract

Tororo cement limestone quarry is located' at a distance of 35 km (2.2 miles) to the South East of Tororo downtown. Drilling and blasting operations are used to extract the limestone for the urgent need to manufacture cement; lime and aggregate. Drilling and blasting have been associated with a number -of challenges like fly rocks, vibrations, slope instabilities and boulders. The drilling and blasting crew is facing many difficulties due to the geological complexity of the area and poor blast designs, significantly —boulders. However, most important is the drilling and. blasting parameters implemented for such geologic- complexities, Recent studies about drilling and blasting has it that parameters rely-on each other —spacing, burden and charge length correlate most of the parameters like drill hole depth, stemming, sub-drilling, among many others. Some parameters can be fixed for the sake of avoiding costs for changing conditions. So the procedures consist of acquiring the current drilling and blasting parameters, then analyzing these data to determine, specifically which parameters have influence on the generation of boulders and a simulation was done to provide optimal parameters for which they yield desirable fragment size at a minimum cost as compared to the rest. The Kuz-Ram model has been essential in fragmentation analysis in which the parameters established from the Rule of Thumb were inputs to model, Smart iteration was done 10 cater tar significant changes. The results of this study spells out the parameters that seek to minimize the generation of boulder whilst ensuring minimum drilling and blasting costs. In. conclusions though drilling and blasting has been often apprehended with the challenge of boulders, and this hikes the company's costs as boulders necessitate secondary blasting. Identifying and optimizing drilling and blasting parameters identified help to reduce cost hence profits are realised as desired. Then adopted practices has been recommended for the future drilling and blasting for achieving desired fragmentation whereas ensuring the company's profit.