To date, blasting techniques using air decks have undergone significant development and attracted significant attention in recent decades. This is particularly true in efforts to improve blasting efficiency, reduce explosives use, mitigate blast-induced vibrations, protect the mine walls, and other aspects that undoubtedly provide extraordinary benefits to mining.

An air deck is defined as a hollow space in a blast hole filled with explosives. This hollow space is created for various purposes. The air deck serves to trap energy and reduce vertical energy loss. The blast energy is distributed evenly throughout the hole, creating uniform fragmentation.

A variety of tools can be used to create an air deck in a blast hole, ranging from recycled materials to high-tech methods such as gas bags. Our company has a product called BLASTBAG™, which is used to create an air deck in a blast hole.

The application of an air deck with BLASTBAG™ provides optimal results in rock with soft to medium hardness (Rules of Thumb <200 MPa). This aligns with the application of BLASTBAG™ in various countries such as Australia, Chile, Indonesia, and others.

BLASTBAG™ can be used to create an air deck in various positions within the blasthole, including the bottom, middle, and top of the blasthole. This can be seen in the image below.

The use of BLASTBAG™ has proven safe, fast installation, high accuracy, and repeatability with results similar to those found in other blastholes. Failure to use BLASTBAG™, also known as air deck degradation, can result in misfires (incomplete blasting, requiring re-blasting), which reduces productivity and leads to production losses. Therefore, selecting high-quality tools and accessories is crucial.

When the application of an air deck to a blasthole is successful under suitable geological conditions, it results in a 15–30% increase in rock fragmentation in the target area compared to conventional blasting without an air deck. This increased rock fragmentation provides benefits at various stages of the process, from more efficient excavation and transportation to faster demolition.

Conclusion

This is the time for MTi GROUP BLASTBAG™ to emerge as an effective solution for implementing air decks in mine blasting. This mine blasting opens the door to the future of blasting, considered the key to success in the mining industry. So, don’t hesitate to contact us for all your blasting accessory needs for your project. We’ll be happy to provide fast and efficient service to meet your mining blasting needs.