Fragmentation, vibration, and cratering relationships from enhanced signature test blasts at a limestone quarry

Blasting performance is influenced by rock fragmentation, seismic vibrations, and breakout profiles, which are traditionally assessed using empirical methods and field trials due to the lack of a unified blastability framework. This study presents an operational implementation of enhanced signature tests combining Single-hole blastablity indexing and traditional signature hole tests to systematically quantify burden-dependent blasting conditions and requirements. The method addresses key parameters such as specific charge, fragmentation, and vibration attenuation, combining empirical field measurements with analytical and computational tools. Two enhanced signature hole tests, four conventional signature shots, and two large-scale production blasts were conducted at a limestone quarry in Montreal Canada. Results demonstrate how enhanced tests can derive site-specific relationships between burden, energy input, and blast outcomes, enabling improved prediction of blast efficiency and fragmentation. This work establishes a consistent procedural framework for blastability indexing, supporting more reliable, scalable, and data-driven blast design practices across varying geological conditions.