Improved Blast Performance -- Savings In Downstream Costs

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Gold Mine Blast - Demonstration of ANFO detonation with Stemming Plugs

Drill Dust as Stemming - Drill Cuttings used as Stemming Material

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Gold Mine Blast

The following video contains two separate clips, each which demonstrates the VARISTEM's ability to confine the blast force inside the ore mass, which allows for greater ore fragmentation and ore milling savings, and less fly rock, noise, and dust.


These videos show a side-by-side blast comparison in the same ore consistency. You clearly see the difference in blast containment between the Varistem and the non-plugged blasts. The Varistem provided blast confinement resulting in better ore fragmentation, greater crusher throughput, reduced milling time, and blast control (less fly rock, noise and dust).

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Drill Dust as Stemming

In this video, the VARISTEM worked with drill cuttings (dust) as the stemming material. Only three drill holes blew, and the drill book showed excessive ANFO used.


This limestone quarry reduced the drill size from 7⅞” (200mm) to 7⅜” (187mm) for a 10% ANFO savings. The improvement in blast containment also allowed them to increase the burden by 5% and the pattern spread by 10% for additional savings in ANFO and drill costs.

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