Amplats Starts Trials of Emulsion Explosives Technology

Mineweb reported that Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (LSE:AAL) has commenced with the trials of a new underground blasting technique to enhance safety as well as productivity.

As quoted in the market news:

Mining companies in South Africa face weeks of safety stoppages when injuries or death occur at their underground operations, and the transport of explosives through the shafts is a slow and hazardous process.

But in the new trial Amplats is instead piping an inert emulsion of nitrate and other ingredients underground which is then injected into the rock face along with a delayed-reaction sensitising solution that triggers the explosion, the technology’s developers said.

The technology could save lives because live explosives will no longer be carried through shafts where miners are working.

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