Aeon Engineering Limited focuses on pre-blast, insitu and post-blast monitoring and consulting as well as specialised projects.

High-speed photography – can be used to evaluate the movement or flexing of the face and top of the shot and to determine the velocity of rock moving away from a highwall. 

Fragmentation is the economically significant size range of a definable volume of broken rock. Fragmentation analysis can be calculated by running a particle distribution on the muckpile. Computer software exists to aid in making distribution calculations.

Velocity of Detonation (VOD) – is the velocity at which the shock wave front travels through a detonated explosive. VOD values are normally published by the explosive manufacturer and depend on chemical composition, density and degree of confinement of the explosive. Velocity of detonation in any borehole can be calculated by placing a gage inside the borehole. This gage is wired to an oscilloscope that logs the speed of the detonation wave in the borehole. Aeon makes use of MREL’s Microtrap VOD recorder to monitor and record VODs for different explosive products. 

EXPLOSIVES PRESSURE/ENERGY AND VOD:

• When you sell or buy explosives you are actually selling or buying the pressure and energy that the explosive provides when it detonates. The pressure and energy work to break and throw the rock. The VOD gives an indication of detonation pressure.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MEASURING THE VOD:

• If the VOD is measured and found to be below the published VOD, then either the explosive formulation and/or density is incorrect as delivered from the factory/truck, or the blasting conditions are having a negative effect on the explosive in the blasthole. 
• If the VOD is tested and found to be out of specification, then the blasting results such as fragmentation and throw will usually suffer and it will cost the mine money.
• If you test the VOD and find it out of specification, then you can make appropriate changes to the explosive before the next blast. 
• Your blast design might be perfect, your explosives might be causing bad blasts.

Dust Suppression – While it is inevitable that dust is produced during a construction, mining or excavation operation, it is imperative to have it under control. Excess dust is harmful to not only the men working on site or the neighbours around but also to the machinery that is being used and the land on which the operation is being conducted. 

Damage to machines:

As dust settles on a machine and its internal parts, more moisture is absorbed. This results in reduced efficiency of a machine bringing down its longevity as well. 

Damage to land:

Similarly, as dust settles on the lands on which an operation is being carried out, the topmost fertile layer of the soil is depleted due to its inefficiency to absorb sunlight and moisture.

Damage to men:

Needless to say, construction dust consists of silica which is harmful to anyone who breathes it. It is responsible for many respiratory ailments, prolonged exposure even leading to mortal conditions like cancer, silicosis and COPD.

Damage to neighbours:

Huge dust clouds are bound to be a cause of concern for most neighbours, especially if the project is right in the middle of a residential area. 

Flyrock Control – Flyrock is referred to the splinters of rock which are a byproduct of blasting operation. As flyrock has a lot of stored momentum, the moment it is released, it travels at a high velocity. Since the position of a fly rocks landing is unpredictable, it is the most damaging aspect of a blasting project, capable of causing sudden deaths or huge cracks in the surrounding structures. 

The energy produced during blasting is mainly of two types. Useful energy which is used for rock-breaking and non-useful energy that produces flyrock and dust. The main aim of any blasting project should be to minimise the production of non-useful energy. This is only possible with a good blast design. 

A good blast design should take into account many lesser-known factors like spacing between the feed holes, quality of detonators and flyrock. This is where Aeon Engineering, an expert in blasting advisory, will ensure the design for your blast not only meets project requirements and saves costs, but also has the safety of the neighbouring structures, men involved and your business at the crux of its design plan.