Explosive technology improving directions of dimension stone extraction in a deposit with intensive fracturing

The results of analysis of the existing information on the Drugoretskoye deposit of gabbrodiabase geological conditions are given. Special attention was paid to the fractures systems, since this factor largely determines the technological characteristics and profitable development. Information on the dimension stone productivity is presented in graphs. On the basis of these data, it was concluded that there is a problem of a consistent decline in the quality of this deposit development. Since the main factors affecting production of commodity blocks are natural and induced fracturing, it was assumed that this problem is caused by insufficient exploration of the deposit and by the destructive effect of blasting operations on the gabbrodiabase massif during the process of quarrying. Insufficient knowledge does not allow quantative quarrying and blasting operations planning, and the existing blasting technology has several deficiencies, which don’t allow to limit the damage on rock massif. The results of the Russian and foreign experience analysis of existing explosion control methods during the dimension stone extraction, detailed investigation of massif fracturing and modeling of stones divided by fractures are presented. Conclusions were made about the inapplicability of most presented experience in case of this deposit because of gabbrodiabase massif high fracturing for dimension stone deposit and about the fundamentally new methods for increasing deposit development productivity necessity. As a result, research directions are proposed to develop methods and technologies which will allow to react quickly to changes in quarrying and geological conditions and to control the destructive effect of an explosion during the extraction of dimension stone from intensively fractured massifs.