Application of digital image analysis for monitoring the behavior of factors that control the rock fragmentation in opencast bench blasting: A case study conducted over four opencast coal mines of the Talcher Coalfields, India

Drilling and blasting play a very important role in driving the economy of opencast mines, as various mining activities related to strata handling are dependent on size rock mass created due blasting. Thus analysis fragments from explosion is essential order monitor its compatibility with deployed machineries/HEMMs (such shovel, dumper, dragline, etc.). As over fragmentation well under both tend increase cost mining, generation fragment desired range necessary. Several factors control blasting, such burden, bench height/drilling depth, stemming column, powder factor hole diameter. The assessment respect aforementioned parameters helps enhance blast performance and, hence, this study intends carry out digital image for monitoring mean boulder percentage. A highly consistent result has been obtained using forty datasets carried four different mines Talcher Coalfield (India), namely Balram OCP, Ananta Lakhanpur Lajkura OCP.