Dyno Nobel DigiShot used for world’s biggest blast by BHP – video

Explosives manufacturer Dyno Nobel’s DigiShot electronic blasting technology has been used by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) Caval Ridge Mine in the Bowen Basin to create the world’s largest electronic blast (main picture and video, below).

The DigiShot electronic initiation system is an easy-to-use, reliable accurate electronic initiation system primarily for use in large surface blasting applications. I

The blast in December saw 4.7 million cubic metres of overburden shifted in a blast fired with 2,194 tonnes of bulk explosives across 3,899 holes.

Caval Ridge Drill and Blast Superintendent Dallas Gostelow said there were significant safety, efficiency and cost improvements to be made using the electronic technology.

Gostelow said: “Timings for the detonators are fully programmable and each blast hole is physically connected to the surface by a wire, but the systems is less complicated and fully digitised, which means higher fidelity of tie in to reduce misfire potential.”

The ability to fire larger blasts, or multiple blast patterns in one event, means downtime for equipment is kept to a minimum.

Jason Smith, Principal Category Management TCO, Drill Blast & Geology said Caval Ridge worked with Dyno Nobel to deliver improved technology that would provide bigger and more accurate shots with significant improvements to safety, productivity and cost.

Smith said: “The significance of it is the precision timing you can get from using electronics rather than pyrotechnical blasting, which requires thousands of metres of on bench tie-in work, and can lead to poor blast fragmentation.

“With the collaboration between Dyno and BMA, it is allowing Dyno to improve their product and giving BMA the advantage of better blasting and fragmentation and larger shots.”

Media: BHP

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