AN ASSESSMENT OF STEMMING TECHNIQUES AND THE PERFORMANCE OF STEMMING PLUGS IN BENCH BLASTING OPERATIONS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This research article presents a comparative analysis of stemming techniques and the performance of stemming plugs in bench blasting operations, based on a case study carried out in cement quarries of Pakistan. For Image analysis, the Wip-Frag software is utilized in order to demonstrates the benefits of stemming plugs over traditional methods. Real time images captured during blasting at various cement quarries reveal a substantial presence of boulders within the muck pile when using conventional stemming materials such as drill cuttings and clay. This typically requires additional time and costs for secondary drilling and blasting or hydraulic hammering. Blast tests results indicate that stemming plugs improved the throw and shape of the muck pile, and significantly decreased the boulders percentage. This study also compares the results of Wip-Frag software with sieve analysis of drill cuttings, indicating potential limitations in the software's reliability for particle size distribution. These results contribute to improve blasting operations and emphasize the importance of proper stemming techniques. improving blasting efficiency, the use of stemming plugs can potentially minimize the operational costs and improve overall performance.