A new technology to pump emulsion explosives into narrow reef mines will take centre stage at the seventeenth yearly BME conference, to be held in Johannesburg on November 5.
BME supplies explosives and services to the African mining, quarrying and construction industries.
BME director for blasting technology Tony Rorke says the new techn<a href="http://forsale.orecrushers.net/applications/find-mineral-water-plant-machinery-providers-in-calcium carbonate grinding plant flow chartsindia.php“>find mineral water plant machinery providers in indiaology will revolutionise blasting in the platinum- and the gold-mining industries, where mines are characterised by narrow reefs.
“The emulsion will be pumped into the drill holes in the stope faces using small portable pumps. The emulsion differs from cartridged explosives as it is nonexplosive until pumped into the holes,” says Rorke.
He adds that a criticism of conventional cartridged explosives is that they are difficult to control from a security vdetails and specifications of limestone quarry mining machinesiewpoint and theft can lead to unwanted criminal activity.
This new technology is designed and manufactured at BME’s flagship production facility, in Losberg, in the North West province. The facility is a stone’s throw away from Carltonville, which is home to some of the deepest mines in the world. Rorke reports that the new technology is currently undergoing tests in gold and platinum mines.
The aim of the BME conference series, launched in 1992, has always been to highlight technological advances in the explosives and blasting industry to clients and this year will be no different. The conference will include both underground blasting and the surface technology in one venue. Last year, the conference was split into two breakaway sessions. This gained mixed reactions as there were delegates who attended the underground breakaway sessions and also wanted to attend the surface session, and the other way round.
Rorke reports that the event has a bright future. “The conference is already the biggest conference of its kind in Southern Africa, with delegates coming from across Africa to attend. “In the future, BME is planning to extend the conference over two days, which will give the international delegates a chance to enjoy the conference at a leisurely pace,” says Rorke.
Meanwhile, Rorke reports that the company is making headway in developing its next generation of electronic detonators. Manufacturing of the detonators is planned to be done at the Losberg production facility.