Rock blasting

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Blast hole drilling with Tamrock Scout 700
Blast hole drilling with Tamrock Scout 700

Rock blasting is the controlled use of explosives to excavate or remove rock. It is a technique used most often in mining and civil engineering such as dam construction.

Sideling Hill road cut formed by rock blasting
Sideling Hill road cut formed by rock blasting

In 1990, 2.1 Tg of commercial explosives was consumed in the USA, representing an estimated expenditure of 3.5 to 4 billion 1993 dollars on blasting. Australia had the highest explosives consumption that year at 500 Tg, and the Scandinavian countries are also big blasters.

Charging drilled holes with ANFO
Charging drilled holes with ANFO
Rock surface newly blasted.
Rock surface newly blasted.

[edit] References

  • Persson, Per-Anders; Roger Holmberg, and Jaimin Lee (1994). Rock Blasting and Explosives Engineering. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-8978-X. 


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