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Low incendive explosives for non-coal mining operations.

Weiss ES; Sapko MJ; Bazala EM

Proceedings for the 25th International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes, September 13-17, 1993, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. Chambers of Mines, Republic of South Africa, 1993 Sep; :149

10004441

Dust and gas explosions in underground non-coal mining operations have caused fatalities, serious injuries, significant damage to equipment, and lost production. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has engaged in extensive research to help alleviate this problem in both the United States and Canada. Several explosive manufacturers, working in conjunction with the Bureau, have developed lower incendive explosives to replace the higher incendive products that are typically used in non-coal mining operations. Data gathered from laboratory and field tests show that incendivity can be significantly lowered without compromising product safety or efficiency. The Bureau has field tested a new lower incendive bulk loaded emulsion-ANFO product at three oil shale mines. Also, a water gel product and an emulsion blasting agent have been evaluated in the Bureau's Lake Lynn Laboratory Cannon Gallery and are currently being successfully used at several base metal mines. These mines have 149 been previously experiencing dust ignitions when conducting blasting operations in areas with ore of high sulfur content. The results of the laboratory testing and field studies show that these low incendive explosives greatly reduce the occurrence of dust and gas ignitions in non-coal mining operations.

Mining-industry; Dusts; Dust-explosions; Explosive-dusts; Explosions; Explosive-atmospheres; Explosive-hazards; Underground-mining; Metal mining

Eric S. Weiss, Mining Engineer, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Research Center, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 15236

19930901

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

1993

9780958317733

OP 239-93

PRC

Proceedings for the 25th International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes, September 13-17, 1993, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa

PA