INFLUENCE OF STEMMING MATERIAL ON PERFORMANCE OF BLASTING

Abstract

This paper discusses the application of 3 types of stemming materials used in road metal quarry for blasting. During blasting, stemming plays a key role in confining the explosives and making effective utilisation of blasting energy. In our case study, we had used 3 types of stemming materials that are drill cuttings, crushed aggregate, and clay. The trial blasts were conducted in a basalt stone quarry situated at Malkapur village in Medak district of Telangana state. The uniaxial compressive strength of the rock in consideration, i.e., basalt is 300MPa. Post blast examination was done by using image photography. Keeping all other parameters unchanged(spacing, burden, depth of the hole, type of explosive, and stemming height), influence of stemming material on muck pile profile, mean fragment size, and throw of material were studied in this research work.