Author 1:
Name & Surname: Fokin V. A.
Company: Mining Institute, Kola Science center, Russian Academy of Sciences (Apatity, Russia)
Work Position: Principal Researcher
Scientific Degree: Doctor of Engineering Sciences
Contacts: e-mail: fva666@goi.kolasc.net.ru

Author 2:
Name & Surname: Togunov M. B.
Company: Rosvzryvbezopasnost Science and Technology Center (Moscow, Russia)
Work Position: Advisor to General Director

Author 3:
Name & Surname: Semkin S. V.
Company: Kovdor Mining-and-Processing Integrated Works (Kovdor, Russia)
Work Position: Chief Engineer, Zhelezny mine

Author 4:
Name & Surname: Shitov Yu. A.
Company: Kovdor Mining-and-Processing Integrated Works (Kovdor, Russia)
Work Position: Deputy Chief Engineer for Drilling-and-Blasting

rilling-and-blasting design calculations for traditional benches 12, 15, 20 m high become incorrect as with short explosive charges the axial symmetry is broken. In this regard, in terms of a deep open pit of Kovdor MPIW, the article describes the accomplished research and the developed method for calculating parameters of drilling, charging and detonation of shotholes for low benches based on the approach to truncated borehole charges of concentrated explosive when loosening of rocks is reached in the form of a funnel on a terrestrial surface. The derived formulas and the related schedules show that height of a bench influences such parameters and characteristics as the diameter and pattern of blastholes, their depth and overdrill; explosive type (brand), mass of a charge and length of uncharged top part of blastholes; features of charging blastholes with emulsion explosive; strength characteristics of the blasted rocks. For expeditious practical application of the developed technique, the calculated results are tabulated and brought in the standard project of drillingandblasting as a part of the process guidelines “The organization and execution of drilling-and-blasting in Zhelezny mine of the Kovdor Mining-and-Processing Works.”

1. Fokin V. A., Tarasov G. E., Togunov M. B., Danilkin A. A., Shitov Yu. A. Sovershenstvovanie tekhnologii burovzryvnykh rabot na predelnom konture karerov (Improvement of drilling and blasting operation technology on final pit boundary). Almaty : Publishing House of Kola Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, 2008. 220 p. 

2. Fokin V. A. Proektirovanie i proizvodstvo burovzryvnykh rabot pri postanovke ustupov v konechnoe polozhenie na predelnom konture glubokikh karerov (Design and carrying out of drilling and blasting operations during stope placement in final position on final boundary of deep pits). Apatity : Publishing House of Kola Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004. 210 p.