Evaluating Blast
Fragmentation: A Comparative Study of Electronic and Shock-Tube Initiation Systems
in a Limestone Mine
Vinith Kumar P.V., Raina A.K., Balamadeswaran P., Sambasivam V.S., Saravanan K.
and Karra Ram Chandar
Disaster Advances; Vol. 18(5); 153-162;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/185da1530162; (2025)
Abstract
Explosive energy is the most widely used method for fragmenting rock masses and
mineral deposits in mining operations. The fragmentation achieved during blasting
significantly impacts downstream operations including loading, transportation, crushing
and processing costs. Among the various factors affecting blast fragmentation, the
initiation system plays a crucial role. A study was carried out to compare the performance
of electronic detonators with shock-tube detonators, in terms of fragmentation in
a limestone mine. Field experiments were conducted to assess the fragment size using
digital image analysis technique (DIAT).
The results indicated that electronic initiated blasts produced finer average fragment
sizes (k50) ranging from 0.31- 0.44 m, while as in non-electric shock-tube (NeSt)
initiated blasts produced larger fragmentation with k50 values between 0.39 - 0.51
m. The analysis revealed that average k50 values of blasts initiated with electronic
detonator were 20% less than that of nonelectric shock tube (NeSt) initiated blasts.
This is primarily due to precise delays planned and executed for the rock mass that
aid in proper fragmentation.
