BlastPED Receiver/Exploder

SONS OF GWALIA GOLD MINE CHOOSE BLASTPED FOR SAFE, REMOTE BLASTING

MINE: SONS OF GWALIA MINE
OWNER: SONS OF GWALIA
TYPE: GOLD
LOCATION: LEONORA, WA, AUSTRALIA

BACKGROUND

As the underground mine ramps up to full roduction SOGS needed to upgrade the blasting system. After reviewing various options for remote centralised blasting, the BlastPED System was chosen because it offered the most flexibility and reliability. The Leaky Feeder version of the BlastPED was chosen because of the mine’s confidence in the signal coverage and reliability offered by their leaky feeder system (a VDV System).

COMPOSITION

Transmission System with 5km leaky coax antenna 4 BlastPED, Remote Blasting Receivers

DESCRIPTION

The system uses the mine”s existing VDV Leaky Feeder System to carry the BlastPED codes, instead of using a PED Transmission System as used at other BlastPED installations. A radio interface unit is used to link the leaky feeder system with the main computer running the blasting software.

JUSTIFICATION

SOG’s justified the system on the improved safety benefits offered by remote blasting. The actual choice of BlastPED was primarily based on its proven track record of use at other mines. To date most BlastPED Systems have used the PED Transmission System, because of its broad signal coverage, even if a leaky feeder system was installed. However SOGs justified the use of leaky feeder because their leaky feeder is well maintained and provides signal coverage to all areas they want to blast from.