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Introduction to Decking Hole decking is a system where the explosives in a blast pattern is layered in the blast holes to achieve a certain powder factor. The blasting TULIP that we sell is simply the easiest most effective way to achieve decking of explosives at the bottom of the blast hole. Using this alternative blasting method in conjunction with the blasting tulip has the effect that the blast dynamics change radically from the conventional way of blasting in the following way: 1) When using the 'tulip' to create a bottom deck, we often find that in order to improve fragmentation, the powder factor has to be decreased. This often clashes with the conventional midset where the idea has always been that in order to get better fragmentation one would need to increase the powder factor (add more explosives...) Instead of putting more energy into the blasthole, using the tulip system allows us to optimize energy usage more effectively where it's needed most - namely at the bottom of the hole. Hence the effect that more often than not - the powder factor can be reduced in stead of being increased. 2) Upon detonation of the blasthole the gap below the tulip plug now becomes the 'path of least resistance'. This alters the first movement in the blasthole to be downward rather than upward as in a conventionally charged blast hole. These basic but crucial differences make a world of difference to the outcome of the blast. It literally impacts the whole operation from the Mine to Mill. |
