ht t ps://www.miningweekly.

com/art icle/repump-emulsion-explosives-reduce-cost s-says-firm-

2002-11-22

Repump emulsion explosives reduce costs, says firm

22ND NOVEMBER 2002

The application of Megapump, a repump emulsion explosive, can

increase blast performance and reduce costs in underground
operations. This was the focus of a paper presented by Bulk Mining
Explosives’ (BME) blasting expert Tony Rorke, at a recent
South
African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM)
conference.
“Traditionally either blow-loaded ANFO, a
broadly-used explosive,
or cartridged explosives have been used in
small-diameter holes in
underground mining, “It has the
advantage that it is an inexpensive
explosive, but suffers from the
fact that it dissolves in water and
cannot be successfully applied
in wet holes,” he explains. “In wet
conditions, mines
have had to use waterproof cartridged explosives
that are more
expensive and do not necessarily properly fill the
blastholes,” Rorke continues.

Megapump is a repump emulsion explosive that is waterproof. It is

carried underground in bulk containers and pumped into blastholes
in a similar fashion, but with modified technology, to charging
holes
in opencast mines. The nonexplosive emulsion is transported
as a
chemical to the mine, stored in silos or tanks at the shaft
head or
underground and is then sensitised and pumped into the
blastholes
using a specialised delivery unit.

BME’s Megapump emulsion explosive is a high-energy product

designed to fire in smaller-diameter underground holes and is
viscous so that it can be charged into up-holes without running
back
out.

The emulsion is classified as nonexplosive. Therefore, there is no

need for special magazines or secure storage facilities either on
surface or underground. The emulsion is sensitised and becomes an
explosive only when it is pumped into a blasthole. This has
advantages for safety as well as transport. The emulsion can be
transported using regular mine equipment without requiring
specially-licensed explosives vehicles and shaft time can be better
used as the emulsion can be transported at the same time as other
materials. Additional advantages are gained by the fact that the
emulsion is waterproof. Where a mine is wet or faces are mined
down-dip, most holes will contain water after drilling. When using
an emulsion explosive, holes do not need to be dewatered.

The Megapump fills the cross-sectional diameter of each hole,

resulting in better utilisation of energy and efficient transfer of
the
shockwave into the rock mass. Generally, mines that have
changed
to Megapump have experienced better fragmentation and
increased
face advance, says Rorke.

Labour productivity is also increased when using Megapump

emulsions
due to quick and easy transportation and short charging
times.
Rorke says a detailed cost comparison illustrates that repump
emulsion can be significantly less expensive to use than ANFO or
cartridged explosives, provided there are sufficient faces or ends
 available to ensure full utilisation of the productive capacity
offered
by the system. The success of the repump emulsion product
has
enabled BME to offer clients an underground prime-and-load
blasting service where the company takes responsibility for
blasting
performance by guaranteeing face advance and taking
accountability for all products used.

BME is about service, far more than it is about product, according

to
MD Trevor Grant. “We are 90% service orientated and 10%
product
orientated,” he says.

“Our overriding focus is on the customer and helping him to

run his
business as efficiently as possible,” Grant states.

Phone: +27 (0)11 622 3744

Fax: +27 (0)11 622 9350
Email: [email protected]
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