Technical Reports

Our Latest Webinar: Tackling Ore Grade Misclassification with BMT

Join our Technical Lead and Senior Consultant Harrison Ingham as he disseminates intel on the real issues of Ore Grade Misclassification If you would like to know more or continue the conversation of how we can help your Mines grade control … reach out to us today

Unexpected Ore Movement – Webinar

With Jeff Loeb and Alyssa Kendir If you missed our recent live webinar … you can view the recorded event below. Jeff and Alyssa, both based in North America, outline the importance of accounting for ore movement during blasting and what unexpected movements can happen The live event enabled the viewers to ask some really […]

Modelling is a Guess; Measure for Success

A technical evaluation of the benefit of measuring 3-D blast movement over modelling to maximize ore recovery This paper, supported by publicly available technical papers and case studies carried out by leaders in the blast movement space as well as employees and customers of BMT, shows that measured 3D vectors are an integral part of […]

“Redefining Grade Control Resilience in Challenging Ore Bodies” BMT featured in the latest Mining Executive Magazine

The latest edition of The Mining Executive features a comprehensive 360-degree look at Blast Movement Technologies. So great to see such a well-written article talking all things BMT with our CEO, Jacques Janse. Thank you to all the team at the magazine that put so much effort into collating such a telling story ! Pause […]

“Leaving nothing to chance” … Endeavour Magazine July 2019

Thank you Endeavour Magazine for such a great article in this months edition. Joined by our very own Jeff Loeb, BMT’s Head Global Consultant, readers are taken on a journey that delves deep into the core and culture of BMT. Click on image below to link to the full article … starting on page 37

Cost-benefit comparison of polypipe (BVIs) vs blast movement monitors at White Foil Gold Mine, WA

This summary outlines the cost benefit of using BMMs vs lower cost polypipe method of blast movement monitoring. White Foil’s geology team compared polypipe (BVIs) to the BMM system1. Read the complete AusIMM paper here. While polypipe is a cheaper alternative, the BMM system was shown to track ore and waste boundaries more effectively, resulting in better […]

Model or measure blast movement to maximise ore recovery in open cast mines?

This study compares the economic impact of modelling versus measuring blast movement at a Canadian gold mine. Movement of ore-waste boundaries to post-blast positions was identified by direct measurement and also by modeled distance in four blasts. The paper contents includes: Can blast movement be modelled? Blast movement variability Blast dynamics Modelling vs measurement examples […]

Minimizing Mining Dilution, Ore Loss, and Misclassification in South American Porphyry-Skarn and Manto Copper Mines

This paper quantifies the blast movement at three major porphyry-skarn and manto copper mines in South America. It compared the pre-blast ore polygons positions to the post-blast polygons, using measured movement, to evaluate the effect of blast movement on ore loss, dilution and misclassification at each mine. There is significant variation in each blast movement […]

Blast Movement Monitors or Polypipe? A study into cost-effective blast movement monitoring at White Foil Gold Mine

Minimising dilution and ore loss is an important part of ensuring profitability of a gold mining operation. White Foil open pit gold deposit is a low grade deposit and therefore managing ore quality is a high priority. Ground movement through blasting can displace ore and waste boundaries up to 10 m from their in-situ location […]

Control of Blast-induced Ore Loss and Dilution at AngloGold Ashanti

Blast movement monitoring was introduced at AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem (AAIL) Mine in the first quarter of 2013 as a result of reconciliation challenges. Since the introduction, reconciliation has improved through reducing ore loss and dilution. The main objective of this paper is to assess the benefits of the BMT solution on blast-induced movement at Iduapriem […]

A Cost Benefit Analysis to Explore the Optimal Number of Blast Movement Monitoring Locations

Blast movement measurement is a key component of grade control, enabling mines to carry all of the precision involved in locating ore blocks, through a chaotic blast, to production. A monitoring system was developed about ten years ago so that mine operation personnel can measure three dimensional movement in every production blast. Research has shown that blast movement […]

Modeling Vs. Monitoring Blast Movement: The Cost of Variation

In March of 2013, an undisclosed gold mine (MINE X), located in the Western United States, performed blast movement monitoring of three blasts occurring in one of two active pits. Blast Movement Monitors (BMMs) were placed in the bench before blasting, and located after the blast to determine vectors of movement. Using blast movement software, […]

Break it Better: optimizing blast fragmentation for material haulage, comminution and mineral processing

Blast fragmentation should be optimised for material haulage, comminution and mineral processing. John Chadwick examines some technologies and the benefits accruing in International Mining SEPTEMBER 2011. The BMM system works by placing hardened transponders into drill holes in an orebody prior to blasting. After the blast a portable detector is used to locate the new position of the markers, thereby determining the movement vector […]

Case Study of a Grade Improvement Project at the Fimiston Pit

Fimiston Open Pit is operated by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) as a joint venture between Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining. Over 110 years of underground mining resulted in the development of nearly 3500 km of underground workings including backfilled and open stopes up to half a million tonnes in size. These voids significantly complicate blasting processes at […]

Blast Movement Measurement vs Modelling and Surface Markers

Geologists use large data sets and spend many hours and much computing time modelling the distribution of minerals throughout a rock mass. Significant investments in drilling, assaying and quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) are made before sophisticated geostatistical techniques are applied to the collected data. A large amount of research has been done in this field such that […]

Blast-induced movement measurement for grade control at Newmont Mining Corp.’s Phoenix Mine

A BMM program trial and implementation was carried out at Newmont Mining Corp.’s Phoenix Mine, in northern Nevada near the town of Battle Mountain. The mine is in a historic mining district that contains gold, silver and copper. The geology of the pit consists of different formations made up of sandstone, siltstone, limestone, chert-pebble conglomerate, […]

The Implications of Blast-Induced Movement to Grade Control

Grade control is an important process for most mining operations since the sole reason for the existence of the mine is to extract the valuable mineral from the ground. As the first step of the beneficiation process, if grade control is not optimised, then no matter how good the downstream processes are the full potential […]

How to measure blast movement and improve blast designs

Blasting is a critical process at most hard-rock mines that affects almost every other stage of the operation but the detailed dynamics are not well understood. One reason for this is the difficulty of measurement and this lack of data has lead to myths and conflicting theories. The University of Queensland developed an electronic blast movement monitor primarily […]

Measuring Blast Movement to Reduce Ore Loss And Dilution

Blasting causes movement of the rock and can be detrimental to the accurate delineation of the ore and waste regions within the resulting muck pile. The consequences can be ore loss and dilution. However, ore loss and dilution can be minimized and significant increases in profit can be realized if the movement can be accurately […]

A New Technology for Measuring Blast Movement

The movement of ore within a blast can have significant economic impact on open pit metal mines. The deposits are often heterogeneous with valuable mineralization disseminated throughout the planned mining blocks and benches. Blasting of these blocks is necessary to fragment the rock mass and loosen the resulting muckpile for efficient excavation however blasting causes […]

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