Synopsis

PROJECT SYNOPSIS
NAME: ACKAH, Rocklyn Tinwah

DEPARTMENT: Mining Engineering
FACULTY: Mining and Minerals Technology
TITLE OF PROGRAMME: PGD (Mining Engineering)
DURATION: Full-Time (1-Year)
ESTIMATED DATE OF SUBMISSION: November, 2023.
A. PROJECT TITLE
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FRAGMENTATION AND COST EFFICIENCY OF
SAVER PLUGS BLASTING AND CONVENTIONAL BLASTING METHODS AT
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI IDUAPRIEM MINE, TARKWA GHANA.
B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The process of extracting metal, materials and minerals from the earth and other heavenly
bodies safely at a profit is referred to as mining. Mining essentially entails drilling,
charging, blasting of blastholes and mucking the fragmented materials to the stockpile. In
mining, the idea of drill and blast is to acquire desired fragmentation from intact rock
while minimizing the cost of drilling, blasting as well as environmental impacts, and
adhering to the recommended safety standards.
In conventional blasting, an efficient blast is produced by only filling the blastholes with
explosives to the required column and stemming with inert materials afterwards (Atta,
2015). However, there have been couple of problems associated this conventional way of
blasting. Among them include the fact that, when blasting is launched, the detonators'
energy is opposed by the explosives' increased mass and density due to the extended
explosive column and higher explosive densities (Anon., 2020a).
Furthermore, a significant amount of resources goes into the purchase of explosives in

order to achieve an effective fragmentation. The quantity of explosives increases with the
length of the explosive column, which in turn increases the cost of purchasing explosives
(Anon., 2020a). Additionally, the state of groundwater condition greatly influences
conventional blasting. This is due to the possibility that, the explosives, which are the first
1
materials to be filled into the blastholes, may get in contact with this groundwater which
will dissolve the explosives and consequently reducing the explosive energy.
AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem open pit mine, was used to the conventional blasting
method in the drilling and blasting department until the few past months where saver plugs
blasting was adopted in the operation.
Saver plug is a technique that involves the use of specialized plugs placed strategically
within the blastholes to control and redirect the blasting energy. It is new technological
development on the increase of blasting efficiency in relation to several parameters like,
reduction to cost, optimal fragmentation of intact rocks, decreased emission of harmful
gases, enhanced ore recovery and decreased energy consumption during subsequent
processing stages They are used in the charging zone of the blast hole to replace and save
some quantity of explosives by occupying a percentage of the explosive column.
This project aims to analyze the cost and fragmentation benefit involved in saver plugs
blasting to the conventional method of blasting.
C. OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT
The objectives of this project are to:
• Review the Saver plugs and the Conventional blasting method parameters.
• Analyze the effectiveness of the Saver plugs to the Conventional blasting method
on fragmentation.
• Evaluate the cost benefit of the Saver plugs to the Conventional blasting method.
D. EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The project is expected to help us know:
• the impact of Plug stemming (Saver plugs) on production.
• the cost efficient blasting method.

• The blasting method with improved fragmentation.
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E. METHODS TO BE USED
Methods to be employed in carrying out the project include:
• Review of relevant literature.
• Field visit for observation and data collection.
• Analysis of data with the use of Microsoft Excel.
F. FACILITIES TO BE USED
Facilities to be used for the project include:
• University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa library and internet facilities

• Data obtained from AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine.
• Personal computer
G. SIGNATURES
……………………………….. ………………………............……..
ACKAH, Rocklyn Tinwah Dr. Clement Kweku Arthur
(STUDENT) (SUPERVISOR)
Recommended by Head of Department
Name: ……………………………………………….
Signature: ……………………………………………
Date: …………………………………………………

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Synopsis

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PROJECT SYNOPSIS

NAME: ACKAH, Rocklyn Tinwah

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Furthermore, a significant amount of resources goes into the purchase of explosives in

• the impact of Plug stemming (Saver plugs) on production.

• the cost efficient blasting method.

• Review of relevant literature.

• Field visit for observation and data collection.

• Analysis of data with the use of Microsoft Excel.

• University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa library and internet facilities

Recommended by Head of Department

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