The Role of Delays in the Performance of Blasting

When researching rock blasting, the design parameters typically used for analysis are the geometric and charging parameters. This study focuses on a different approach based on the effect of timing, specifically the role of delays in the initiation sequence. Data were obtained from the results of full-scale blasts. The experimental setting and location allowed us to consider all parameters, other than the number of delays, as constants. The experimental results were analyzed, relating the delay variables to the fragmentation and KPIs of downstream operations. It was found that increasing the number of delays per unit of blasted rock and reducing simultaneous adjacent holes produces finer fragmentation, reduces the amount of fines, facilitates secondary operations, and reduces the risk of flyrock.