Rock breakage with explosives has existed since the seventeenth century when black powder came into use in mining. Since then it has progressed from the invention of dynamite to the use of heavy ANFO. During the past two decades, there have been numerous technical contributions which have brought a better understanding of rock fragmentation with explosives, an improvement in drilling equipment and a noticeable evolution in the development of new explosives and blasting accessories. The Geomining Technological Institute of Spain (ITCE), aware of this progress and of the importance which the breakage process has acquired in mining and civil engineering projects, has ordered the publication of Drilling and Blasting of Rocks.

    The purpose of this Handbook is to give basic knowledge of the drilling systems, the types of available explosives and the accessories and the parameters that intervene in blast designing, whether controllable or not; at the same time the objectives and contents contribute to improved safety in mining. The Handbook is meant for all professionals who are involved with explosives in mining operations and civil engineering projects, as well as for students of technical schools.

    Foreword
    Preface
    Acknowledgements
    1. Rock Drilling Methods
    2. Rotary Percussive Drilling
    3. Rotary Percussive Drilling Accessories
    4. Rotary Drilling with Rolling Tricone Bits
    5. Rolling Cone Rock Bits
    6. Rotary Drilling with Cutting Action
    7. Special Drilling Methods and Mounting Systems
    8. Compressors
    9. Thermochemistry of Explosives and the Detonation Process
    10. Properties of Explosives
    11. Industrial Explosives
    12. Explosive Selection Criteria
    13. Blasting Accessories
    14. Initiation and Priming Systems
    15. Mechanized Systems for Charging and Dewatering Blastholes
    16. Mechanics of Rock Breakage
    17. Rock and Rock Mass Properties and their Influence on the Result of Blasting
    18. Characterization of the Rock Masses For Blast Designing
    19. Controllable Parameters of Blasting
    20. Bench Blasting
    21. Blasting in other Surface Operations
    22. Blasting for Tunnels and Drifts
    23. Shafts Sinking and Raise Driving
    24. Underground Production Blasting in Mining and Civil Engineering
    25. Counter Blasting
    26. Underwater Blasting
    27. Initiation Sequence and Delay Timing
    28. Evaluation of Blast Results
    29. Secondary Fragmentation and Special Blastings
    30. Planning the Work of Drilling and Blasting
    31. Structure and Building Demolition
    32. Optimization Costs of Fragmentation with Drilling and Blasting
    33. Land Vibrations, Air Blast and their Control
    34. Flyrocks and their Control
    35. Safety Measures fro Drilling and Blasting Operations
    Conversion factors
    General Information, Weight of Materials
    Glossary
    Subject Index

    Biography

    FranciscoJavier AyalaCarcedo