A controlled blasting technique used to create a clean, continuous fracture plane in solid rock prior to detonating the primary production blast. Drillers space small-diameter holes closely along the final excavation limit and fire them first. This prevents the main blast energy from damaging the remaining rock wall, resulting in a stable, smooth highwall.
Heard on the job
We need to presplit the final wall on the west pit to keep the crest from failing.
Also heard as
- pre-split