This unit covers the principal methods of rock breakage used in mining including machine mining, drilling and blasting. Machine mining encompasses rock cutting principles, cutting with picks and discs, the design of cutter heads, effect of wear, assessment of rock cut ability, impact breakage and ripping. Drilling encompasses the methods of drilling used in mining and the impact of drilling parameters on performance and selection and costing of drilling equipment. Blasting encompasses the chemistry of explosives and mechanics of explosive-rock interaction, selection of commercial explosives, explosive charging techniques, initiation and delay systems, blast design principles for surface... -- Course Website
