Shotfiring is the controlled use of explosives to fragment solid rock or ore. It involves drilling blast holes, loading them with explosive charges, wiring the detonation sequence, and triggering the blast. The goal is to break the rock into pieces small enough for loading and transport while minimizing damage to the surrounding excavation.
Clear the face and secure the perimeter, we have shotfiring scheduled for 1400 hours.
Proper shotfiring relies heavily on the delay sequence to direct the rock movement and reduce ground vibration.
Also heard as
- blasting
Related terms
Shotfirer
A certified worker responsible for loading explosives into drill holes and initiating the blast.
Tamping
The process of packing material over an explosive charge to direct the blast energy.
Presplit
To detonate a line of lightly loaded blast holes to create a fracture plane before the main blast.