580 Figure 12 – Fragmentation Long-length blasts of 28 feet. 10. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS As a result of this technical project, the following conclusions are established: • Improved blasting efficiency: The combination of electronic and non-electric detonators allowed for more precise timing, optimizing the advance per shot from 6.13 m to 7.58 m. This represents an increase of 1.45 m per shot, equivalent to a 23.65% improvement in blasting performance. • Reduced Overbreak: The initial overbreak, estimated at 30%, was reduced to 17.1%, equating to a 43% decrease in the volume of unwanted broken material, improving contour quality and reducing the need for additional support. • Increased operational safety: The use of electronic detonators allowed greater control over the initiation sequence, reducing the operational risks associated with firing errors and contributing to improving safety conditions on the work front. • Decreased operating costs: The cost per meter of progress decreased from $179.44/m (24-foot blasts) to $144.74/m (28-foot blasts), representing savings of $34.70/m. This adjustment translates into projected savings of approximately US$ 420,000 per year in the costs associated with the development, without even considering the additional value generated by the reduction of overbreak. • Increased productivity: The improvement in blasting efficiency, with an increase of 1.45 meters per shot, contributed to the fulfillment of the monthly progress targets. The adoption of a new mining cycle with 28-foot drilling, instead of 24, allowed a significant increase in productivity per cycle, reducing the frequency of operations and optimizing the available resources. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Orica would like to thank the Drilling and Blasting, Operations and Planning areas of Company Mining Condestable for their support and permission to publish this technical paper.
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