Abstract: A method of charging explosives in a substantially vertical blast borehole, with a loading density reduced in relation to that corresponding to the complete fill up of the borehole diameter. The method includes the step of introducing a charging hose in fluid connection with a nozzle into an end opening of the vertical blast borehole. The charging hose and nozzle are then moved along the blast borehole along a travel direction at a controlled rate. As the nozzle is being moved, an explosive emulsion is forced though the nozzle at a controlled pumping rate such that the emulsion is sprayed by the nozzle laterally relative to the travel direction, in an arc formation extending around an axis of the nozzle, which axis is parallel to the travel direction, and onto an inner wall of the blast hole. The pumping rate and the controlled moving rate are adjusted so as to form a coherent string of the explosive emulsion exiting from the nozzle, whereby the string only partially fills up the blast borehole diameter.

Abstract: A method of blasting a segment in a ground mass, the method comprising: forming an array of holes around a central portion of the ground mass segment; placing explosives in the array of holes; and detonating the explosives.

Abstract: A method of charging explosives in a substantially vertical blast borehole, with a loading density reduced in relation to that corresponding to the complete fill up of the borehole diameter. The method includes the step of introducing a charging hose in fluid connection with a nozzle into an end opening of the vertical blast borehole. The charging hose and nozzle are then moved along the blast borehole along a travel direction at a controlled rate. As the nozzle is being moved, an explosive emulsion is forced though the nozzle at a controlled pumping rate such that the emulsion is sprayed by the nozzle laterally relative to the travel direction, in an arc formation extending around an axis of the nozzle, which axis is parallel to the travel direction, and onto an inner wall of the blast hole. The pumping rate and the controlled moving rate are adjusted so as to form a coherent string of the explosive emulsion exiting from the nozzle, whereby the string only partially fills up the blast borehole diameter.