THE USAGE OF GROUND PENETRATING RADAR (GPR) IN DESIGNING BLAST PATTERN

Abstract

The most powerful and determinant step affecting the efficiency and economy of a quarry is the rock fragmentation by blasting techniques. Economic investigations, considering sequential costs prove that blasting techniques affect the efficiency of drilling, loading, hauling, auxiliary equipment and finally the crushing units. Although it is necessary for the blast to break the rock mass effectively, it is essential that the rock should not be internally damaged as consumers require good-quality material of different grain sizes. For this reason, the controllable parameters of blasting operations, which are explosive type and amount, ignition system and geometrical pattern, should be studied carefully in order to prevent over-break, back-break and environmental impacts like ground vibration, fly-rock and air blast.