Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy used Orica's automated fragmentation measurement device on operating hydraulic front shovels to capture real-time fragmentation measurement data, using it for downstream unit productivity improvement.
Boliden Kevitsa said for instance that the data helped it identify that areas with high amphibole content gave a 20% coarser fragmentation when compared to equivalent blasts with lower content, wrote an Orica statement.
It has also used the solution for adjustments of the primary crusher to ensure optimal particle size distribution input to the semi-autogenous grinding mill.
"Optimised fragmentation sizes speed up the shovel loading cycle and decrease maintenance costs. This has a positive effect on the economy of the operation", said Pekka Bergström, Boliden Kevitsa OY senior drill and blast and geotechnical engineer.
