Studies on the effect of burden and field coefficients width on blast induced vibration in open pit mines

This study concerns with the correlation between burden and blast induced vibrations inopen pit mines. For this purpose, some studies were done for two different mines. In thesemines, single hole blasts and production blasts at burdens having widths ranging from 3 to 15meters were carried out. The vibrations caused by explosions measured from various distances.The single hole blasting have been made in SLE and GLE. Four different burden (4, 10, 12 and14 m) have been determined for SLE. 20 blasting have been made and the vibration results weremeasured from various distances (25-150 m). The determined burden thicknesses for GLE are3, 4, 5, 6 m. The vibration results were measured from various different distances (25, 50, 75and 100 m.). Totally 16 blasting have been made in SLE open pit. Production blasts have beenmade in SLE open pit. The burden based on the study, have been changed between 6-15 m. Allthe values of burden thicknesses, measurement distances and the amount of blasting materialper delay time have been noted. Totally 26 blasting have been made. The vibration results havebeen recorded. By considering these results, it was found that the burden width has a significantimpact on vibrations. Consequently, it was concluded that vibrations decrease as burdenincreases.Key words: Blasting, vibration, burden, field coefficients