IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Engineering and Modern Technology (IJEMT )

E-ISSN 2504-8848
P-ISSN 2695-2149
VOL. 11 NO. 1 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijemt.vol.11.no1.2025.pg108.122

---

Optimization of Blast Design Parameters for Improved Loading- Haulage Performance at CGC Quarry, Itakpe, Kogi State, Nigeria

Adebayo, B. and Thomas, A.

---

Abstract

The first phase of production cycle in quarrying operation is rock breaking by drilling and blasting. At CGC quarry, Itakpe in Kogi State, this study was carried out to understanding the existing method of fragmentation and the impacts on the loading and hauling performance. The conventional method of blasting which is trial and error has not been able to give a consistent result of 90% passing which is about 1000mm in diameter, this challenge was well analyzed and this research deployed O-Pitblast software solution to solve this challenge. Mechanical properties of the granite rock like density, uniaxial compressive strength, porosity, point-load and tensile strength were carried out. The properties serves to guide the choice of the blast parameters for the design of the blasting operations. The fragmentation that results from the series of blasts were analyzed to determine their uniformity which was at its best after the application of O-Pitblast solution. These uniform fragmentation that ranges from 650- 950mm passing were obtained which invariably enhanced efficient blasted rock movement, trucking capacity and reduced unnecessary idling.

keywords:

Blasting, optimization, fragmentation, loading, haulage, O-pitblast.

---

References:

Bhadawdekar R.M., Tonnizan M.E., Singh T.N., Pathak P. and Armaghani D.J.
(2021): Rock Mass Classification for the Assessment of Blastability index in Tropically
weathered Limestone. In X-N. Bui, C. Leci; Proceeding of the International Conference
of Innovation for Sustainable Responsible Mining, Springer International Publishing.
(pp. 13-14).
Goswami, T., Martin, E., Rothery, M., Genge, D. (2015): A Holistic Approach to
Managing Blast Outcomes. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium
Mehmmet, S., Ebrahim G., and Mohammed, A. (2013): Stochastic Approach for
Evaluation of Back-Break due to Blasting Operations in Open Pit Mines. Rock
Mechanics Engineering, 2020, 9490807.
Munir T., Rahman Z.A., Saad R., Yilmaz N. and Ozturk H. (2019). Influence of
Rock Mass Structure on Fragmentation using Discrete Element Method. Minerals,
9(4), 230.
Nday I.N.M. and Thomas, H. (2019): Optimization of the Cycle Time to increase
Productivity at Ruashi Mining. The South Africa Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Pyra, J., and Gadek, K. (2020). Possible ways of Optimizing Blast Operations using
O-Pitblast Software. Materialy Wysokonergrtczne/High Energy Materials, vol. 12(2),
pp. 124-138.
Sayadi A., Mojezi M., Talebi N., and Khandelwal M.A. (2020). Comparative study
on the Application of various Artificial Neural Networks to Simultaneous Prediction
of Rock Fragmentation and Backbreak, Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical
Engineering, Vol. 5(4), pp. 18-24.

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back