Abstract: The invention provides a method of Wasting an open cast blast hole the method including placing one or more explosive charge in the blast hole, stemming the blast hole with stemming material above said one or more explosive charge, placing a propellant powder cartridge into the stemming material so that there is a layer of stemming material between the propellant powder cartridge and the explosive charge which is closest to the open end of the blast hole, and initiating the propellant powder charge with an igniter, or a detonator, or a fuse head, or any electronic initiation system.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-way tubular connector block including a body having a primary tubular channel of a first diameter, one or more resiliently deformable plug portions having secondary tubular channels of a secondary diameter there through, and a securing mechanism for securing the plug portions to the body, wherein the body has at least two openings or ports in communication with the primary tubular channel, and wherein the secondary diameters of the secondary channels are sized and dimensioned to permit snug fitting of a shock tube therein so that, in use, a plurality of shock tubes are secured in the plug portions so that at least some open ends of the shock tubes are in communication with the primary tubular channel. The invention extends to a multi-way composite connector block having a plurality of multi-way tubular connector block portions substantially as described above.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-way tubular connector block including a body having a primary tubular channel of a first diameter, one or more resiliently deformable plug portions having secondary tubular channels of a secondary diameter there through, and a securing mechanism for securing the plug portions to the body, wherein the body has at least two openings or ports in communication with the primary tubular channel, and wherein the secondary diameters of the secondary channels are sized and dimensioned to permit snug fitting of a shock tube therein so that, in use, a plurality of shock tubes are secured in the plug portions so that at least some open ends of the shock tubes are in communication with the primary tubular channel. The invention extends to a multi-way composite connector block having a plurality of multi-way tubular connector block portions substantially as described above.

Abstract: A multi-port transmission line connector (10) having a body (11) which has at least four ports and channels (12, 14, 16, 17) therein for connecting one signal transmission line (20) with multiple signal transmission lines (20) in a blasting system for transferring blasting signals, the at least four ports (24, 26, 27, 28) having a bore therethrough in which is located an inner sleeve (30) of deformable material and located between the inner sleeve (30) and the body (11) a crimpable secondary sleeve (32) such that, in use, when a shock tube (20) has been inserted into the port (24, 26, 27, 28) and passes through the inner sleeve (30), a portion of the secondary sleeve (32) is crimped thereby to deform the inner sleeve (30) and to seal against the shock tube (20) thereby retaining the shock tube (20) in position and inhibiting the ingress of water into the connector (10) through said port (24, 26, 27, 28). The connector (10) may have 5 ports (24, 26, 27, 28).