Blasting Technology for Underground Hard Rock Mining

This book presents the principles and practices of rock blasting for underground hard rock mining. It covers a theoretical background of the rock blasting technology and comprehensive case studies on different stages of rock blasting for underground metalliferous mining. It includes the discussions on burn-cut face blasting pattern, slot raise excavation methodology, and ring blasting methods. It further discusses different practical challenges associated with underground blasting, viz. ore dilution, ground vibration, wall instability, etc., and their possible solutions. The book also covers the recent advancements in methodologies to predict blasting outcomes and instrumentations for monitoring rock blasting operations. The book is a useful reference for rock blasting practitioners, mining engineers, professionals, and researchers. It is also a valuable reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Dr. Vivek Kumar Himanshu is Senior Scientist at CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad. He did his Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad. He graduated in Mining Engineering from B.I.T Sindri and M. Tech. in Mine Safety Engineering from Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad. He joined Hindustan Copper Limited as Graduate Engineer Trainee (Mining) and served for one year in various capacity of underground mine supervision, mine planning, EIA/EMP study, etc. He served as Trainee Scientist at CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad, during his period of post-graduation and worked for various research projects of metalliferous mining and its simulation design. He joined National Institute of Technology Rourkela after his M. Tech. and worked there as Assistant Professor for 8 months. He gathered teaching, research, and academic experience during this period. Currently, he is working at Rock Excavation Engineering Research Group of CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad. He has received Young Engineers Award 2022 from The Institution of Engineers (India) for his contributions in mining engineering. His area of research includes rock excavation by blasting, controlled blasting, blast vibration prediction, blast simulation, etc. He has published more than 30 papers in different journals and proceedings of seminar.

Prof. Arvind Kumar Mishra is Mining Engineer with M. Tech. and Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, having teaching, industrial, and administrative experience of 31 years. Presently, He is Director of CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad. He is also Professor en-lien in the Department of Mining Engineering, IIT(ISM), Dhanbad. After graduation, he joined Coal India Limited as Mining Engineer and served for three years. He then joined the IIT(ISM), Dhanbad, as Faculty Member in 1992. He has also served as Technical Services Manager in Orica Mining Services, Australia, and headed the technical services function of Indian Business during 2005 to 2009. He worked as Chair Professor (Uranium) sponsored by Department of Atomic Energy, GoI. His areas of specialization include opencast and underground mining technology, drilling and blasting technology, rock excavation engineering, tunnelling, geomechanics, ground control, and strata management. Prof Mishra has to his credit, 193 research publications in peer-reviewed reputed journals, international/national conferences, and symposia. He is actively involved in solving real-life problems of mining and allied industry by undertaking R&D and industry sponsored projects in mining and allied areas and has completed more than 139 such projects. He has guided 10 Ph.D. dissertations, while another 15 are ongoing. He has completed 29 Management and Executive Development Programs for various mining, IT, and other allied industries. He has been awarded with the prestigious National Geoscience Award from the Ministry of Mines, GoI by Hon. President of India in 2016. He is also Recipient the Abheraj Baldota Memorial Gold Medal Award—2012 (Young Mining Engineer of the year 2012) from Mining Engineer’s Association of India. 

Dr. Murari Prasad Roy is Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad. He has made notable contributions in blasting science and technology to solve practical problems in the mining industry encompassing the fields of blast vibration and associated correlation with structural damage, wall control, rock fragmentation, blast design in mines and tunnels, cast blast designs in coal mining operations, and controlled blasting in civil construction projects. He has worked as Project Leader in two Mega S & T Project titled “Characterization of rock and explosive parameters for optimal explosive energy utilization in opencast blasting” and “Blast Design and Fragmentation Control-Key to Productivity” and significantly contributed in another five (5) R&D Projects of Ministry of Coal, Govt. of India, in different area of rock blasting. He has published more than 90 scientific papers in international and national journals and conferences. He has received CSIR Technology Awards 2019. 

Dr. PK Singh is Former Director of CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad. He is a Doctorate in Engineering from Institute of Mining Engineering, Technical University, Clausthal, Germany. His areas of research interest include rock mechanics, mining methods, rock excavation engineering, coal characterization, and clean coal technologies. He has published more than 200 papers in scientific journals and proceedings of seminars. He has also authored and edited 13 books. He has been Project Leader and Advisor in about 20 S&T projects sponsored by Government of India. Dr. Singh received different prestigious awards including National Mineral Award, Raman Research Fellowship, German Academic (DAAD) Fellowship, CSIR Technology award, etc. He is Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (FASc), Bengaluru, and National Academy of Sciences (FNASc), Allahabad