DRILL AND BLAST

DESIGN PROCEDURE
For Dikulushi Copper Mine

This procedure outlines the basic steps need to successfully

design drill and blast patterns using SURPAC.

Craig Barendrecht
3/28/2008
Table of Contents
Table of Figures.....................................................................................................................................3
1.0 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................4
1.1 Explanation of Terms.............................................................................................................4
2.0 GETTING STARTED IN SURPAC...................................................................................................5
2.1 Basic Commands in SURPAC..................................................................................................6
2.2 Basic Commands in Ring Design.............................................................................................8
3.0 WHAT YOU WILL NEED..............................................................................................................9
3.1 Geology..................................................................................................................................9
3.2 Survey....................................................................................................................................9
3.3 General..................................................................................................................................9
4.0 DESIGNING DRILL HOLES..........................................................................................................10
4.1 Creating Centrelines and Slices............................................................................................11
4.2 Rise and Slot Rings...............................................................................................................15
4.3 Ring Drilling..........................................................................................................................16
5.0 SAVING HOLES FOR PLOTTING AND CREATING PLOT FILES.....................................................16
6.0 CREATING LASER OFFSETS FOR SURVEY..................................................................................18
7.0 CREATING A LEVEL PLAN..........................................................................................................19
8.0 COLLATING INFORMATION......................................................................................................20
9.0 CREATING BLAST PLANS...........................................................................................................20
9.1 Setting Up Charging Parameters..........................................................................................21
9.2 Adding Charge to Holes.......................................................................................................21
9.3 Creating Blast Reports.........................................................................................................22
9.4 Saving Blast Plans for Plotting..............................................................................................22
9.5 Assigning Delays and Primer Locations................................................................................22
10.0 CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................23

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Table of Figures
Figure 1.1.1: Hole burden......................................................................................................................4
Figure 1.1.2: Toe spacing.......................................................................................................................4
Figure 2.1: SURPAC start-up..................................................................................................................6
Figure 4.1: SURPAC directory tree.......................................................................................................11
Figure 4.1.1: Digitising a centreline for slicing.....................................................................................12
Figure 4.1.2: Setting the design string number....................................................................................12
Figure 4.1.3: Saving a string file...........................................................................................................12
Figure 4.1.4: Segmenting the centreline..............................................................................................13
Figure 4.1.5: Centreline after segmenting...........................................................................................14
Figure 4.1.6: Slicing with the centreline..............................................................................................14
Figure 4.2.1: Loading slices for use in ring design................................................................................15
Figure 4.2.2: Designing slot and rise holes...........................................................................................16
Figure 5.1: Save Holes for Plotting macro............................................................................................16
Figure 5.2: Working out coordinates for plotting................................................................................17
Figure 5.3: Save for Plotting macro......................................................................................................17
Figure 5.4: Print multiple plot files macro...........................................................................................18
Figure 7.1: Autoplotting to create level plan.......................................................................................20
Figure 9.1.1: Setting explosive density.................................................................................................21
Figure 9.1.2: Setting explosive parameters..........................................................................................21
Figure 9.4.1: Creating charge plans using the Save for Plotting macro................................................22

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The aim of this procedure is to simplify and explain the process of underground drill and blast design
at Dikulushi Copper mine. All steps needed to successfully design blast holes and their subsequent
firing patterns will be explained, from the theory behind the design to the steps taken to achieve the
desired outcome on the relevant computer programmes.

1.1 Explanation of Terms

The following list is a summary of the terminology that will be used in this procedure:

 Burden – The perpendicular distance between each individual ring.

Figure 1.1.1: Hole burden

 Spacing (toe) – The perpendicular “in-ring” distance between individual holes of a

ring.

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 Figure 1.1.2: Toe spacing

 Angle – The amount of rotation around the pivot point in degrees.

 Dump – The amount of pitch forward or backwards on the drill mast in degrees.
 Pivot Point – The point on the drill rig where rotation takes place.
 Dongle – A USB stick that has the license information for a certain computer
program.
 String - A way of grouping certain points or lines together. Strings are numbered
between 1-31999, and can be made up of many segments.
 Segment - A single point or group of points, differentiated by what string they
belong to, and what segment number of that particular string.
 DTM - Digital Terrain Model. It is essentially a 3D shape created by the joining of
several segments of the same string (segments must be closed). Ore shapes and all
solids you will encounter will be DTM's.
 Slice - A section through solids used to create drill designs.

2.0 GETTING STARTED IN SURPAC

The primary tool that will be used to design blastholes will be the computer programme, SURPAC.
This is a CAD based mining specific programme that can be used for everything from surveying to
block modelling to drill and blast design. The instructions that form part of this procedure will relate
to ONLY those steps needed to design blastholes and their firing patterns in SURPAC. Any associated
work (ie solids creation, orebody modelling) will not be discussed, as different departments will be
doing this work.

SURPAC is already set up on the Byrnecut mine design laptop, so getting started will not be difficult.
All that is needed is to make sure the mine design dongle is inserted in a USB port, and double click
on the SURPAC icon on the desktop. (There are several dongles that allow different functions in
SURPAC, but for ring design, the U/G Mine Design dongle is required). The following screen will
appear:

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 Figure 2.1: SURPAC start-up

You are now ready to begin using SURPAC.

2.1 Basic Commands in SURPAC

In order to be able use SURPAC to design holes, you will need to have a basic grasp on what
the program can do in terms of drawing, modelling and surveying. There are thousands of
different functions and commands that are possible, but we will only run through the most
important and commonly used ones (in terms of ring design).

Almost every command has the option of a button to click with a mouse, or a shortcut
command to type in. While learning, it will be easier to just use the shortcut commands, as
everyone sets out their profiles with buttons etc differently; however commands always
remain the same. As you use SURPAC more and more you will find you may use buttons for
some commands more or less than typing them in. Everyone has different preferences. The
following is a list of common commands that will be used in the course of using basic
SURPAC (it is my no means a comprehensive list – only constant use will make you more
familiar with all the commands).

SHORT
COMMAND CUT FUNCTION
File Save SF Saves a string or DTM file under a certain directory.
Clears the entire screen, resets the layers and removes all
Exit Graphics EXG underlying strings and DTM's.
Clears the screen of strings and DTM's, but does not remove
Clear Screen CS them. They just cannot be seen.
Undo UN Very handy.

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Recall File RF Loads a string or DTM file from a certain directory.
Autoplot AUTO Creates a plot file of information shown on screen at time.
Zoom All ZA Resizes screen to fit in all visible strings and DTM's.
Resizes screen to show all strings and DTM's from directly
Plan P above (ie plan view).
Shows each individual point on the screen as a cross, with its
Draw Markers DRWM description.
Erases temporary markers left from digitising or querying
Erase Temp Markers ERTM points.
Bearing & Distance BD Gives the bearing and distance between 2 point.
Point Move PNTMV Allows you to move a point graphically.
Segment Move SEGM Allows you to move a segment graphically.
String Move SM Allows you to move a string graphically.
PNTDE
Point Delete L Allows you to delete a point graphically.
Segment Delete SEGDEL Allows you to delete a segment graphically.
String Delete SDEL Allows you to delete a string graphically.
String Delete Range SDELR Allows you to delete a range of strings.
Point Insert PNTINS Allows you to insert a point graphically.
Segment Copy SEGCP Allows you to copy a segment graphically.
String Copy SCOPY Allows you to copy a string graphically.
SEGRE
Renumber Segment N Renumbers a segment to whatever string you want.
Renumbers a string (with all associated segments) to
Renumber String SREN whatever string you want.
Digitise D Creates a point at the mouse location.
Creates a point at the nearest point to the mouse location
Digitiser Select S (snaps to point).
Digitiser Close Segment DIGCS Close a segment that is being digitised to create a polygon.
Segment Close SEGCP Closes a segment of your choice.
Segment Join GSEGJ Joins two segments on the same string to make one segment.
Breaks one segment to make two segments of the same
Segment Break GSEGB string.
Locate on Line LOL Locates a point at a specific distance along a line.
Locates a point at a specific distance along a vector (ie 2
Locate Along Vector LAV points).
Move Segment by SEGMB Moves segment a certain distance along a certain bearing and
Bearing/Distance BAD inclination.
Move String by SMBBA Moves string a certain distance along a certain bearing and
Bearing/Distance D inclination.
Copy Segment by Copies segment a certain distance along a certain bearing and
Bearing/Distance inclination.
Copy String by Copies string a certain distance along a certain bearing and
Bearing/Distance inclination.
Plot Grid PG Shows 2D grid in graphics mode

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 2.2 Basic Commands in Ring Design
The ring design or underground design function in SURPAC that is used to design drill and
blast patterns is an add-on feature of the programme, and as such it has its own unique
commands. Once you have figured out the basics of how SURPAC works, it should be
possible to learn how to use the ring design module. The following is a list of common
commands that will be used in the course of designing holes for drilling and blasting.

SHORT
COMMAND CUT FUNCTION
Initiate Ring Starts the SURPAC ring design module to allow you to use the ring
Design INITR design functions.
Loads up sections that have been created for designing drilling and
Recall Sections RSEC charging patterns.
Load Prior Shuffles back one section in the range of sections that have been
Section LPS recalled.
Load Next Shuffles forward one section in the range of sections that have been
Section LNS recalled.
Edit Rig ER Allows you to modify parameters of the drill rig being used.
NEWP Allows you to select which drive you want the drill rig to be located
New Position OS in, and the stope you want it to drill.
Move Mast by
Graphics MMBG Allows you to move the drill mast in the drive graphically.
Move mast by Allows you to move the drill mast in the drive by a specified distance
Distance MMBD vertically and horizontally.
Move Mast to
Setup MMTS Moves the drill rig to its previous position in the drive.
Rotate Mast by
Graphics RMBG Allows you to rotate the drill mast graphically.
Rotate Mast to
Angle RMTA Allows you to rotate the drill mast to a specified angle.
DRLPA Allows you to modify any drilling parameters, such as hole size, toe
Drill Parameters RAM spacing algorithm etc.
Drill Single DRILLS Drills a hole at the current mast setup.
Start Holes SH Drills a hole at cursor location.
Drills a series of holes at the specified toe spacing (in specified
Cardinal Holes CH direction).
Drills a certain amount of holes a certain distance parallel to a
Parallel Holes PH selected hole.
Delete Hole DELH Deletes selected hole.
Clear Ring CLRR Deletes all holes in ring.
EDDIA
Edit Diameter M Allows you to change the diameter of a specified hole.
Renumber
Holes RENH Allows you to change the numbering on a group of holes.
Display Hole DSPHID
ID's S Shows the number or ID of each hole.
Hole Length HL Allows you to change the length of a specified hole graphically.
Set Length of SETLO
Hole H Allows you to set the length of a specified hole.

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Move Hole MH Allows you to move a hole graphically.
Rotate Hole RH Allows you to rotate a hole graphically.
Snap Hole SNPH Stops hole at stope outline.
CHOLE
Charge Holes S Allows you to add explosive charge to specified holes.
Edit Charge EDC Allows you to vary amount of charge to specified holes.
Clear Charge CLRC Removes charge for specified holes.
Clear Charges CLRCS Removes charging for all holes.
Charging CPARA Allows you to modify any charging parameters, such as stemming
Parameters MS and critical radius.
Explosive
Properties EDEXP Allows you to change density of charge.
Recall Ring RRING Loads up holes that have been saved in ring design.

3.0 WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Before you can begin physically designing holes, you will need all relevant information from all
departments. If all the correct and up to date information is not there, the holes you design will be
incorrect and a waste of everyone’s time and money. Several key pieces of information will be
needed.

3.1 Geology
Geology need to supply the orebody shape so you know where to drill. Typically, this should
be ready as soon as the ore drive for the stope is completed. At this stage, geology are also
looking after geotechnical issues, so any specific issues regarding geotech should be
addressed by them as well, such as additional support (cablebolting), modified layoff
distances from footwall, sludge drilling etc.

3.2 Survey
Survey will need to supply a detailed pickup of the drive where drilling is to take place. They
are already aware of this process. They will now also be required to process the pickup and
create a DTM void of the drive. You must ensure that the drive solid is numbered as its RL
(for example, the 870 drive must be numbered 870. The reason for this will be explained
later on).

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 3.3 General
General design information is also needed. Based on previous drill and blast results, the
following table summarises the parameters that should be adhered to when drilling.

Burden 2.0 – 2.2m

Spacing 2.5 – 3.5m (depending on stope geometry)
Layoff distance from footwall 1.2 - 1.5m
Dump 20° where possible

4.0 DESIGNING DRILL HOLES

Now you are ready to begin the ring design process, there are a few steps that need to be done in
order to make the job simpler and easier. First of all, you must set up the directories on the
computer in the correct manner. There are two reasons to do this:

 To make the directories easy to follow and understand. Possible hundreds of files will be
created while designing one stope, and a messy directory system will make it difficult to
track your work and come back in the future to make changes.
 There are several macros that are used further on in the ring design process that require a
certain directory structure in order to work. If it is not set up exactly right, the macros will
not work, making the design process a lot more difficult.

The pathway where all SURPAC mine design is to take place is C:\Documents and Settings\coneng\
My Documents\~~~International\Sites\Dikulushi - Congo\Mine Design. In that directory, you will find
folders under stopes and vent rises, so you use whichever you are designing at the time. In stopes,
each stope will be named as told by geology. A folder will be created under the stope name, and ALL
relevant information for that stope will be saved in the folder (this includes the stope shape from
geology, the drive solid from survey etc).

In this folder, the following sub-directories must be created exactly:

 Charge_reports
 Holes
 Ring_plots
 Ring_reports
 Slices
 T&G

The directory tree should look like this on SURPAC.

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 Figure 4.1: SURPAC directory tree

Note the tick on the 850 Stope folder. This is achieved by right clicking the mouse on the folder and
choosing Set as Work Directory. You must make the stope folder the working directory when
designing and saving holes, as the macros again need this setup to work correctly.

4.1 Creating Centrelines and Slices

The first and most difficult step in designing drill holes is getting the slices right. It is the
generally the most fiddly part of the design process, but getting it right is extremely
important. Basically, slicing is the process of setting up and locking in the burden and dump
of the holes you are to drill. The distance between the slices will be the burden, while than
angle you set them to will be the dump. The greatest difficulty lies in having to change the
dump from 0° (vertical – at the rise and slot) to 20° (the preferred dump for safety when
charging). The problems with this will be explained in practical lessons.

Initially, you need to decide where the rise and slot will be drilled, as this dictates the layout
of all the slices. To do this, you just have to look at the ore shape from geology and the drive
shape from survey, and see where you can fit the rise (it will generally be at the end of the
ore drive). If the ore does not extend to the end of the drive, then the rise/slot will be put at
the extent of the orebody. If it does extend to the end of the drive, the rise/slot will be put
as close as possible to the end of the drive (remember to pull it back ~2m from the end to
allow room for the boom and driller). You must digitise a point on the drive, and then
another running as parallel as possible to the drive up to the end.

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 Figure 4.1.1: Digitising a centreline for slicing

This is called a centreline. Ensure that the RL (z axis) of this centreline is the same as the
floor of the drive (for example in the 870 OD, make sure the Z value of the string being
digitised is ~870. This can be done using string/segment maths). Use the same string number
for all your centrelines, so you always know what you are looking at. Let’s say string 100 in
this case. The control for this can be found in the bottom left of the window.

Figure 4.1.2: Setting the design string number.

The reason for the line to be as parallel to the drive as possible is so that the rig does not
have to articulate too much to set up on the laser mark-ups, as they will be perpendicular to
this line. You must now save this string under the “Slices” directory, called something like
CL1 or centreline1 etc. To do this select save file (SF), and save it, remembering to only save
string 100 (otherwise all other items on the screen will save along with the centreline).

Figure 4.1.3: Saving a string file

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Now that you have a centreline on the correct bearing, RL and starting (and finishing) at the
correct point in the drive, you must segment it to divide your slices into slot slices and main
ring slices. You must first know how big your slot/rise is going to be, and the pattern you are
going to drill. Rise patterns will be discussed later on, but let’s assume that we are going to
drill a 2m x 2m rise, which contains 5 separate rings.

You must clear all unwanted information off the screen, and only deal with the centreline,
otherwise things become messy. Exit graphics (EXG), then import your centreline again. This
means nothing other than the centreline string is loaded. You now need to segment the
string. To do this, choose command locate on line (LOL) and select the beginning point of the
line, and the end point. It will now ask you how far along the line you wish to insert a point.
As we have decided on 2m rise and slot, we choose 2m, as this will now become the end of
the slot slice centreline. We now repeat the process, and next time, we put in 4-4.5m
(depending on ground conditions), as this new point will be the beginning of the main ring
slice centreline.

Figure 4.1.4: Segmenting the centreline

Now you must break the string into its individual points, and rejoin them in the correct
order. To do this, select segment break (GSEGB) and click on the string in between the points
you have created. You should be left with just points. Now connect up the 1 st and 2nd points,
and the 3rd and 4th points, using command segment join (GSEGJ). Save this centreline over
the old one.

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 Figure 4.1.5: Centreline after segmenting

You are now ready to slice the stope and drive solids to create slice through the proposed
slot location. All we have to do now is drag the orebody and drive DTM’s onto the screen.
Once they are there, you need to hide them, by the command erase objects (ERO). This
doesn’t erase them, it just hides them. You should be left with just the centreline string. Use
the command centreline slice (CLS) and select the start and end of the slot centreline.
Remember we decided on 5 rows over 2m, which gives us a spacing of 0.4m (you may need
to put in 3.98 or something as it sometimes plays up if the combined slice distance is exactly
the same length as the segment. Dip will be 90° (ie vertical) in this case, as there is no dump.
How to dump will be explained shortly. The slice files will be saved in the designated
directory, as shown.

Figure 4.1.6: Slicing with the centreline

Slicing at 90° is relatively simple. When you have to work the dump forward to 70° (which
gives the 20° forward dump) and then back again is when things get a little more
complicated. You must take into account the fact that as the holes are dumped forward
more, the toes of the drill holes will overlap if drilled to the same length. You must also be
wary of having too great a collar distance between rings. In the zone between 90° and 70°
dump, there may be different slice distances, shortened rings and several centreline
segments. Due to its complexity, the best way to learn about this is to do them practically.
Trial and error is the order of the day when setting this part of the slices up. Once you have

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managed to get the slices to dump down evenly to 70°, it is just a matter of setting the
spacing to the correct burden (2 - 2.2m), and slicing up the rest of the centreline.

4.2 Rise and Slot Rings

Once all the slices have been created, it is time to start designing the drill holes. The usual
place to start is with the rise and slot. It is generally easier to design the rise holes and slot
rings together (ie on the same slices) when the stopes are quite small and simple as they are
here. You must have decided in advance what rise pattern you wanted to drill, as this would
have affected the spacing of the slot slices. Obviously rise patterns are numerous and
everyone has their ideas on what works. With a lot of rises here being single shot uphole
rises, it is important that we get it right first shot. This means that it is better to have too
many holes rather than not enough, and a lot of reamers to ensure there is enough void
space to fire into. A simple and effective way to set out the rises and slots before drawing
them on SURPAC is to just sketch them to scale on paper and visually see if it looks right.
Working out the spacing and holes sizes in plan view makes setting the holes out in section
(which is what happens in SURPAC) a lot easier.

The first step is to initialize ring design (INITR). This allows you to use the ring design module.
You next need to load all the sections or slices that you have created (RSEC). This will show a
section at a time on your screen, and you can shuffle through them with the load next or
prior section command (LNS/LPS). Note that the range of sections to be looked at is variable,
so if you only wanting to work on the first ring, you would only load slice 1, but if there were
20 slices, you would load 1,20. The string range for stope outlines and survey openings is the
DTM number of the drive solid (as explained in section 3.2 & 3.2). The program needs to
differentiate between the drive and the stope outline in order to place the drill rig in the
drive correctly.

Figure 4.2.1: Loading slices for use in ring design

Now that the first section is loaded, you need to place the drill rig in the drilling drive. Select
new rig position (NEWPOS) and follow the prompts, clicking on the drive and stope outlines.
A lot of the time, the program places the rig outside the drive outline slightly, and you must
move or rotate the mast to bring it inside the drive otherwise it will not allow you to place
the rig. You are now ready to create holes!

Place rig in the desired position using the move and rotate rig commands. You can now use
the drill hole commands to design the rise and slot holes. We generally try to design the rise

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 holes vertical, so it’s best to start with these. Practical training will be used to show the
details of this process.

Figure 4.2.2: Designing slot and rise holes

4.3 Ring Drilling

The process for designing the main rings for each stope is the same as that for slot and rise,
the only difference being the parameters for drilling (toes spacing, footwall offset etc). Again
with this process, practical training will be most beneficial.

5.0 SAVING HOLES FOR PLOTTING AND CREATING PLOT FILES

Once a ring has been designed to your satisfaction, the holes that have been created must be saved
as a string file, as well as a plot file that can be printed to be used as plans for drillers. Fortunately,
macros have been written which greatly simplify this process, allowing multiple holes to be saved as
.str, .pf and .not files with few commands.

All that is needed is to activate the “Save Holes for Plotting” macro. The button for this can be found
on the toolbar . Once this button is pressed, the following screen appears:

Figure 5.1: Save Holes for Plotting macro

The inputs are self-explanatory. You just need to enter the slice or ring number you are on, and the
stope and drive description. Applying these inputs allows the macro to create 3 different files: a
string file which will be used to create the plot file (in Ring_plots), a note file to include in the plot
file (in Ring_Reports), and a string file containing just the holes designed (in Holes). This is the reason
why the directory structure must be exactly right – it will not save the files if incorrect. As also
mentioned previously, you must have the stope folder as the working directory. You run this macro
for every ring that you design and are satisfied with.

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Once all holes have been completed and saved using aforementioned macro, it is time to process the
strings files to create a plot file which can then be printed. To do this, you must use the “Create Plot
Files” macro, the button for which can be found next to the “Save for Plotting” button .

Before you activate the macro, you must work out the lower bounds (bottom left on screen) for the
X and Z axis for the plots to be processed. To do this, you must drag in the string files in the
Ring_plots directory, and then use the command plot grid (PG) to see where the plots lie in real
coordinates. In this case, you would take X to be -10, and Y to be -5.

Figure 5.2: Working out coordinates for plotting

Now you can activate the “Save for Plotting” macro. Once activated, the following prompt will
appear:

Figure 5.3: Save for Plotting macro

Again, the inputs are self-explanatory. The Id range is the range of rings you want processed, the
string and note file locations must be entered correctly, the stope name for the holes in question,
the X and Y reference worked out previously, then you must enter what you want to appear on the
lower right of the plots as information (in this case, what drive the holes are drilled from, if they are
drill or charge plans, and what way the rig is facing in relation to the plans so the drillers have a
reference point).

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After applying this information, the macro will work through all the information and create plot files
in the Ring_plots directory which are able to be printed. There is another macro that can be used to
quickly print numerous plot files at once. All that is needed is to ensure you set the working
directory to the one containing the plot files and press F9. All that is needed is to then check the
boxes of the plot files you want to print.

Figure 5.4: Print multiple plot files macro

6.0 CREATING LASER OFFSETS FOR SURVEY

As the rig works on laser lines, it is also necessary to indicate to survey where they should mark up
the laser offsets in the drive in which drilling is occurring. The process for doing this first begins by
delineating the actual ring lines on the floor of the drive. You need to find out where on the floor of
the drive the ring line (slice) intersects, as that in effect is where the rig dumps forward and back
from, and where we base our offsets from. The easiest way to do this is to drag in the slices for each
ring, and just break the segment on each side of the floor, and delete all leftover segments and
strings. You should be left with parallel lines that are on the floor of the drive. These lines will mark
the point where the rig dumps forward. All that is needed is to now move these lines a specified
distance back, to align them with where the lasers in the rig shoot from. The following table shows
how much the lines need to be moved in order to be exactly on the laser line of the rig.

DUMP (Forward) LASER OFFSET DUMP (Back) LASER OFFSET

90 0 1.915 90 0 1.915
89 1 1.921 -89 -1 1.909
88 2 1.927 -88 -2 1.903
87 3 1.933 -87 -3 1.897
86 4 1.939 -86 -4 1.891
85 5 1.946 -85 -5 1.884
84 6 1.952 -84 -6 1.878
83 7 1.958 -83 -7 1.872
82 8 1.964 -82 -8 1.866
81 9 1.970 -81 -9 1.860
80 10 1.977 -80 -10 1.853
79 11 1.983 -79 -11 1.847
78 12 1.989 -78 -12 1.841
77 13 1.996 -77 -13 1.834

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 76 14 2.002 -76 -14 1.828
75 15 2.009 -75 -15 1.821
74 16 2.015 -74 -16 1.815
73 17 2.022 -73 -17 1.808
72 18 2.029 -72 -18 1.801
71 19 2.036 -71 -19 1.794
70 20 2.042 -70 -20 1.788
69 21 2.049 -69 -21 1.781
68 22 2.056 -68 -22 1.774
67 23 2.064 -67 -23 1.766
66 24 2.071 -66 -24 1.759
65 25 2.078 -65 -25 1.752
64 26 2.086 -64 -26 1.744
63 27 2.093 -63 -27 1.737
62 28 2.101 -62 -28 1.729
61 29 2.109 -61 -29 1.721
60 30 2.117 -60 -30 1.713

The lines can be moved using the move segment/string by bearing and distance commands
(SEGMBBAD/SMBBAD), along the bearing of the centreline, away from where the rig is facing. You
now can save these strings in the Holes directory.

7.0 CREATING A LEVEL PLAN

It is always necessary to show the holes to be drilled in a plan view, so that the driller has a
reference, knows which way to face, where laser offsets should be located etc. This is quite simple to
do. You need to obtain the level plan from survey, with the string file for the floor of the level in
question. Drag in the offsets file and any other file you think is important to show in plan view, and
ensure everything you want to show is in the graphics window.

You can now use the autoplot function (AUTO) to create a basic plan showing the strings that you
have up on screen. You must input what you want to call the plot file, and the scale you want to plot
in (usually 1:250 will do, but sometimes you may have to increase to 1:500 – always use scales that
are on scale rules so you can measure later if needed!). Keep the title block and drawing area as is,
as it has been set up correctly. After you accept, it will ask you to input information for the lower
corner of the plan, like the “Save for Plotting” macro.

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 Figure 7.1: Autoplotting to create level plan

Once you accept these, you will be asked to position window where you want your limits to be. Do
this and press F2 to apply. The plot file that you have created will now pop up on your screen,
showing the information that you have captured. You now have to just add symbols or text to
indicate such things as which way the rig should be facing, which offset is which, what drive is what
etc. This will be demonstrated practically.

8.0 COLLATING INFORMATION

Now that you have designed all the holes for a stope and finalised and printed plot files for the
drillers and records, you must send through the correct information to survey. The following is a list
of what needs to be sent through:

 All strings of rings drilled (found in Holes directory)

 Offsets file
 Level plan (so they can check holes are marked up correctly)

You must also make up a folder with all drill plans printed in order to mark off from driller’s plods
which holes have been drilled.

9.0 CREATING BLAST PLANS

Once holes have been drilled, it is necessary to create plans for charging and blasting of the holes.
These plans are also created in the ring design module of SURPAC, so first you must initialize ring
design, recall the slices of the rings you wish to create charge plans for, and recall the first ring to
charge (RRING).

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9.1 Setting Up Charging Parameters
The first thing that must be done is to apply the density of the explosive being used. If this is
not done, the explosive mass will not be calculated when creating blast reports (it is a bit of
a glitch in the program). To do this, you must go into the Underground Design toolbar, then
into Ring Design, then Setup, and into Explosive Properties. After this, you just need to hit
apply.

Figure 9.1.1: Setting explosive density

Once the density is set, you must set the charging parameters (CPARAMS) to suit what you
are charging. You must work out what critical radius you require for the blast holes, as well
as the minimum collar distance (stemming). In the critical radius method of charging holes,
each hole is charged from the toe back to the first point that is inside a specified radius of an
existing charge. So for example, if the critical radius is 2.0m, and you have charged the first
hole, the hole that you charge next to it will stop the charge column when it is 2.0m away
from the already charged hole. This value may need to be changed throughout the ring
depending on circumstances, which will be explained when doing practical training.

Figure 9.1.2: Setting explosive parameters

9.2 Adding Charge to Holes

You are now able to start adding a charge column to each of your charge holes. To do this,
use the charge holes commands, and select the holes you want to charge, keeping in mind
the order you want to fire them, the critical radius and uncharged collars. Charge lengths can
be deleted or edited as well. The steps for this entire process will explained in the practical
training. The main thing to consider is how you plan on firing the ring, as this will affect
where the shothole will be, and the individual charge lengths in each hole.

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9.3 Creating Blast Reports
Once the ring has had charge added to it to your satisfaction, you must create a blast report
which shows the amount of charge, collar etc in each hole in the ring (similar to the drill
report created previously). All that is needed is to use the blast report command (BLSTR),
and follow the prompts. Apply the current position information, as it has no affect on the
process, ensure the ring name is correct and matches the ring number (you can change this
to give more information, so rather than just a number, like 9, you can put “Slot Ring 9” or
“Transverse Ring 9”, which will show up in the report file. Apply the blasting report
attributes, as they have already been set up correctly, and then choose the file name to save
it. In this case, you need to save it in the Charge_reports directory as ring1, slotring3 or
similar.

Once you have created all the blast reports, you must open them and delete the delays that
have automatically been added (all 0). This gives you room to write the delays next to holes
if necessary.

9.4 Saving Blast Plans for Plotting

You must now create plot files that are able to be printed. The process for this is exactly the
same as for drill plans. You must use the “Save for Plotting” macro, and instead of taking the
reports from the Ring_reports directory, you must just take them from the Charge_reports
directory. The same strings for plotting can be used, so the outer limits again have to be
determined using the plot grid (PG) command, and the inputs filled in correctly.

Figure 9.4.1: Creating charge plans using the Save for Plotting macro

This process will save over the top of the drill plans that have been previously processed
(although the only thing that is changes is the information box in the top right, and the
bottom left). The plans can now be printed using the “Print Multiple Plot Files” macro, and
numbering of delays and marking of primer locations can occur.

9.5 Assigning Delays and Primer Locations

There are infinite numbers of ways that a blast can be numbered up to achieve a satisfactory
result. Every blast is different and it will be impossible to go through every scenario that may
occur. There are a few basic rules to follow however:

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  Double prime any holes with more than 10m of charge. The longer the hole, the
greater the risks of cut-offs due to hole dislocation.
 Toe prime any holes where the hole ends in solid rock, and centre prime any holes
that breakthrough. This reduces the risk of the energy being ejected out the end of
the hole when the primer initiates.
 Use small delays in rings (~25-50ms), and longer delays between rings (~100-200ms),
as this allows for better fragmentation and less ground vibration. An exception to
this rule is when a ring has to gain ground (when the stope/orebody gets wider), in
which case the delay on holes which are gaining ground needs to be larger to allow
them to fire in 2 directions.
 Note on the plans where the collars and primers are. Visual indications help the
operators when charging up. Also ensure that delays are written clearly and legibly
for each hole.

More will be discussed in practical training.

10.0 CONCLUSION

The above steps and processes are just a basic rundown of what is needed to successfully design drill
and blast plans on SURPAC. They are by no means conclusive – they are really only applicable to
simple design using certain functions and macros. Practical training and constant use of the program
will be needed to ensure that these instructions make sense. Peer review will be essential to make
sure mistakes are minimised and no issued overlooked.

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