In December 2019 DIG were awarded the drill rig access works at DM1 and DM2 mining locations as part of the wider storm water management infrastructure system on behalf of our client Sierra Rutile limited.
The works involved the drilling and blasting of approximately 100,000m3 of residual bed rock and boulders obstructing the flow of water through storm water drainage channels at the mining locations.
The rock and boulders were generally in the lower sections and floor of the channels and accessed with a tracked Atlas Copco D55 drill rig over the full length of the drains.
A range of explosives were used depending on the type, quantity and economy of the scheduled blasts, including commercial bulk ANFO, high explosive boosters, cartridges and det cord. The isolation and distance between the boulders posed a significant challenge in blast economy and safety, resulting in many blasts scheduled on the same day, with constant exclusion zone enforcement to the surrounding areas and populations.
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