Orica Blasting Part 2: The Power of 4D™ Underground Bulk Technology in Mining #351
As underground mining operations move deeper and encounter increasingly complex geology, blasting strategies must become more precise and adaptable. Greater selectivity, tighter control, and improved efficiency are now essential for maintaining productivity while minimizing dilution and unnecessary excavation.
In this Mining NOW episode, specialists from Orica discuss how the company’s 4D Underground Bulk Technology is changing underground blasting practices through advanced in-hole energy management. Rather than applying a uniform energy profile throughout a blast hole, the system allows operators to vary delivered energy during loading to better match specific ground conditions.
Ben Taylor and Adam Aubin explain how this approach moves beyond traditional density-based blasting methods by combining emulsion chemistry, automated delivery technology, and digital controls into a more responsive blasting system. The ability to tailor energy placement can improve fragmentation and ore recovery while helping reduce overbreak, dilution, and excess waste.
The discussion also highlights how adaptable blasting strategies can support infrastructure protection in sensitive zones while concentrating higher energy where stronger ore breakage is required. By integrating chemistry, hardware, and digital systems into a single workflow, operations can achieve more consistent underground blast performance and reduce the need for rework.
For mining professionals focused on underground productivity, precision blasting, and operational efficiency, this episode offers insight into how advanced blasting technologies are evolving to meet the demands of deeper and more challenging ore bodies. Follow Mining NOW for more conversations on the innovations shaping modern mining operations.
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