📋 Case Study

Canadian Iron Ore Mine: Blast Performance Twin for Fragmentation Optimization

Over-break damaging ore recovery infrastructure and under-break increasing crushing costs

🏗️ Project Overview

Labrador Trough High-Grade Zone, Quebec

🎯 Challenge

Over-break damaging ore recovery infrastructure and under-break increasing crushing costs

🔧 Design Approach

Coupled blast model (ANFO detonation + rock fracture) with post-blast LiDAR fragmentation scan + crusher throughput telemetry to close feedback loop

📐 Design Diagram

AI-generated project design illustration

📐 Key Calculations

Fragmentation Index (Kuz-Ram) Deviation

|Predicted − Measured|/Measured

Result: 9.3%

Drives charge weight and delay pattern updates

Powder Factor Sensitivity Coefficient

∂P80/∂PF

Result: −14.2 mm/kg/m³

Guides PF tuning for target P80 = 250mm

📊 Results

Crusher liner wear reduced by 27%; primary crusher throughput increased 13%; blasting cost per ton decreased 11%

💡 Lessons Learned

• •LiDAR scanning must occur within 2 hrs of muck pile exposure
• •Rock strength variability requires localized Kuz-Ram parameterization

✅ Key Takeaways

• 1LiDAR scanning must occur within 2 hrs of muck pile exposure
• 2Rock strength variability requires localized Kuz-Ram parameterization