Achieve a desirable rock fragment size at Tororo cement limestone quarry.

Abstract

Tororo cement limestone quarry is experiencing some sub-standard blast results blast results are considered poor when the fragmentation is too big, back break into the new high wall capping is experienced and/or excess overburden material is thrown into the void. Poor blasting leads 10 lower productivity, increased costs, equipment breakdowns, and poor drilling and blasting results on the adjacent blast. An investigation into the causes of poor blast results was done through consultations and use of questionnaires and therefore by use of the rule of thumb equations blasting parameters where established these included hole diameter, Bench height, burden, spacing, subgrade drilling, charge length, stemming; blast hole angle these was done to find basis for optimization, A simulation was developed in Microsoft Excel' with the use of the Kuzram model to predict fragmentation results. it could be seen that a change of blast design could be beneficial, proper. adoption, of drilling and blasting can contribute significantly towards profitability and therefore optimization of these parameters is essential. These results are quite specific and subject to variable inputs. The purpose of the simulation process was done to find the optimal blast parameters most feet to minimize excessive. oversize fragments and demonstrate -how the simulation can be used as a tool to assess blast design variations.