• K1. Analyze drilling and blasting in mines
• K2. Evaluate Drilling and Blasting systems used in mining operations
• K3. Design systems to use explosives and initiation systems

Skills:

• S1. Review, analyse, consolidate and synthesize knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex drilling and blasting problems
• S2. Evaluate complex ideas drilling and blasting
• S3. Apply appropriate tools to solve problems in drilling and blasting.
• S4. Develop communication strategies to share knowledge with others

Application of knowledge and skills:

• A1. Formulate high level, independent judgements relating to drilling and blasting in a

• PRODUCTION DRILLING & BLASTING
• range of technical or management functions in varied specialized contexts
• A2. Plan, implement and evaluate short, medium and long term plans and
• schedules for drilling and blasting in a surface mine and in underground mining
• A3. Act responsibly and be accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or
• function of others

Values and Graduate Attributes:

Values:

• V1. Appreciate how the geological, petrological and mineralogical nature of a deposit determines the method and manner of extraction
• V2. Appreciate how a mine is developed
• V3. Appreciate how the production rate dictates the number and size of equipment required for the operation
• V4. Appreciate the environmental effects of blasting

Graduate Attributes:

This course reinforces present knowledge in production drilling and blasting, and examines up-to-date production drilling and blasting methods. Content includes production drilling methods and equipment, bits and drilling accessories, explosive types, explosive properties and characteristics, principles of blasting, initiation systems, small- scale methods of drilling and blasting, large-scale methods and mass blasting, crater blasting systems, controlled blasting techniques, vibrations and air blast, secondary breaking, case studies and costs

Topics may include:

• Production drilling and blasting for surface and underground operations

• Optimizing fragmentation

• Analysis and optimization of drilling and blasting in mining what is optimal in terms of

Energy partitioning from explosives

• New explosive and initiation systems

• Environmental effects of blasting, minimizing the impacts of blasting

• Case studies and costs

Assessment:

(Production Drilling & Blasting)