Comparison of blasting-induced seismic impact in non-electric and electronic initiation

The article analyzes the operating monitoring data on blasting-induced seismic impact during mining. Since 2022 research fellows of the Natural and Induced Seismicity Laboratory at the Mining Institute UB RAS perform continuous monitoring of blasting-induced seismic impact at an open pit copper–porphyry mine in the Chelyabinsk Region using a network of stationary seismic stations. The aggregated monitoring data make it possible to compare the seismic impacts induced by blasting in case of non-electric and electronic initiation. The main objec tive of the study is to compare the seismic wave amplitudes induced by non-electric and electronic initiation systems. The analysis of over 300 seismograms after 84 large-scale blasts finds out that the electronic system, owing to a better conformity between the actual and project initiation times, enables a statistically significant reduction in the seismic impact magnitude. This allows recommending the electronic initiation systems for the use in the conditions when the seismic load approaches the maximum allowable values and it is required to exercise the maximally precise control of the seismic wave amplitudes. The electronic initiation systems can ensure safety of critical engineering structures and minimize ecological impact. Moreover, in some cases, the electronic initiation systems enable mining operations in infeasible or economically inexpedient areas because of high blasting-induced seismic effect produced on the close-space industrial or civil infrastructure.The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia within the framework of state contract, R&D project registration no. 126012716041-5.