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Blasting hazards of gold mining in sulfide-bearing ore bodies.

Miron Y

Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, IC 9335, 1992 Jun; :1-10

https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB93132132.xhtml

10011486

Two recent unplanned detonations occurred during blasting operations in sulfide-bearing ores in a Nevada surface gold mine. Other premature detonations have also reportedly occurred at other Nevada, California, and Arizona operations within the past few years, with increasing frequency. Unplanned or premature detonations can be extremely hazardous to life and can cause extensive property damage. A miner was injured in one of these occurrences. This report, by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, is intended to acquaint personnel involved in such mining activities with the basic causes for these accidents. These causes include the exothermic oxidation of pyrite (fes2) and formation of ferrous sulfate (feso4), the exothermic and energetic reaction of the ferrous sulfate with ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (anfo)-based explosives, and the associated elevated temperatures that can set off detonators and explosives in the boreholes. Recommendations for safe operation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Fureau, and the mine involved with the recent incidents include monitoring temperatures in the blast holes, analyzing for sulfate and ferrous ions, and limiting the time between loading and firing in accordance with conditions in the blast holes. Other procedures for safe operations should fit specific conditions in the mines.

Sulfides; Detonation; Mining-engineering; Mineral-deposits; Safety-engineering; Oxidation; Blasting; Metalliferous-mineral-deposits; Gold; Hazards; Mining; Gold-mining

19920601

IH; Information Circular

1992

PB93-132132

A03

IC-9335

PRC

Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, IC 9335

AZ; CA; NV; PA