An explosive formulation

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an explosive formulation for use in reactive ground, and methods and compositions for loading blast holes in reactive ground with such explosive formulations. The explosive formulation comprises: a treatment component, comprising an oxidant; and a blasting component, comprising an explosive.

1 . An explosive formulation, comprising:
 a treatment component, comprising an oxidant; and   a blasting component, comprising an explosive.   
     
     
         2 . The explosive formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant of the treatment component is selected from the group consisting of nitrates, hypochlorites, percarbonates, perchlorates, and peroxides, optionally selected from the group consisting of sodium hypochlorite, sodium percarbonate, and/or hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         3 . The explosive formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive of the blasting component comprises a nitrate, optionally ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
         4 . The explosive formulation of  claim 1 , where the treatment component and the blasting component are suitable to be applied sequentially to a blast hole. 
     
     
         5 . A method for loading a blast hole in reactive ground with the explosive formulation of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 a) applying or loading a treatment component comprising an oxidant to the blast hole comprising or containing oxidisable material to thereby form a treated blasthole; and   b) loading the treated blast hole with a blasting component comprising an explosive.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the oxidant of the treatment component of the explosive formulation comprises ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium perchlorate, sodium nitrate, sodium hypochlorite, sodium percarbonate, and/or hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the treatment component of the explosive formulation comprises about 20 wt. % or less of the oxidant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the treatment component of the explosive formulation further comprises an acid or a buffer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pH of the treatment component of the explosive formulation is from about 2.5 to about 7, about 2.5 to about 6, about 2.5 to about 4.5, or about 3 to about 4. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the oxidisable material comprised or contained in the blast hole in the reactive ground comprises one or more sulphides or disulphides. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the explosive of the blasting component of the explosive formulation comprises a reducible material. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the reactive ground in which the blast hole is located is hot reactive ground. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5 , to wherein the treatment component of the explosive formulation comprises a sulphide dissolution enhancer. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the treatment component of the explosive formulation comprises a reaction status reporter. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the blast hole is charged with a non-explosive fluid, optionally water, until sufficiently cool prior to, or during step a). 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein step b) is performed at a time after step a), preferably of from about 1 hour to about 5 days, until most or all or a sufficient amount of the oxidisable material which is contactable with the treatment component of the explosive formulation has been oxidised. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises a step of: monitoring the progress of oxidation of the oxidisable material prior to step b). 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The explosive formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment component comprises from about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % sodium nitrate, and from about 5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % citric acid. 
     
     
         25 . A system for loading a blast hole in reactive ground with an explosive formulation, the system comprising:
 means for applying or loading a treatment component comprising an oxidant to the blast hole; and   means for loading a blasting component comprising an explosive into the blast hole,   wherein the blast hole is loaded sequentially with the treatment component and the blasting component.   
     
     
         26 . A kit for loading a blast hole in reactive ground with an explosive, the kit comprising:
 a first component, which is a treatment component comprising an oxidant, and   a second component, which is a blasting component comprising an explosive,   wherein the first and second components are loaded sequentially into the blast hole.   
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled)