Fragmentation Assessment Studies for Mining

New possibilities to quantitatively compare fragmentation in blasting and caving.

In this article Dr Matthew Thurley explains why commercial in-pit rock fragmentation measurement systems cannot be reliable due to using photographic based imaging in an environment with uncontrolled lighting and conditions unsuited to this measurement method.

IMV can provide fully automated particle identification and sizing from 3D image data of your fragmented rock. We work with leading blasting researchers and coordinate with your blast design team, surveying team or third party laser scanning service providers.

Fragmentation measurement by IMV's Principal Scientist Dr Matthew Thurley provides;

• Confidence that the fragmentation analysis is a reliable and realistic representation of the material that was visible on the muckpile at the time of measurement
• Accurate measurement of size based on 3D imaging (no scaling and perspective distortion errors)
• Reliable fragmentation analysis as key opposing errors from overlapped particles and areas-of-fines are mitigated
• Fragmentation analysis based on a solid foundation of 20 years of evidence-based research, peer-reviewed publications, products and industry prototypes

Fragmentation results of a study of six blasts in an open-pit operation have been published in the peer-reviewed IMMM Mining Technology journal. Onederra, I., Thurley, M.J. & Catalan, A. 2015, 'Measuring blast fragmentation at Esperanza mine using high resolution 3D laser scanning' IMMM Transactions. Section A: Mining Technology, vol 124, no. 1, pp. 34-46.  doi:10.1179/1743286314Y.0000000076

Fragmentation measurement and analysis for an ongoing measurement campaign at a sub-level cave published in the peer reviewed IMMM Mining Technology Journal. Campbell, A.D. & Thurley M.J. 2017, 'Application of laser scanning to measure fragmentation in underground mines' IMMM Transactions, Section A: Mining Technology, pp 1-8, doi:10.1080/14749009.2017.1296668