The Influence of Blast Holes Stemming on the Breaking Yield of Rocks Fragmented with Explosives

Stemming of blast holes is an essential operation for controlled explosions, serving the purpose of filling the voids left after loading with explosives. This process prevents the escape of gases produced during the explosion, which have a pressure of around 10,000 daN/cm², and enhances the breaking effect while reducing dust and noise. Efficient use of stemming can significantly reduce the consumption of explosives and, consequently, the costs of rock fragmentation through drilling and blasting operations, allowing a reduction in explosive consumption by 20-25%. Furthermore, improper stemming of blast holes results in low breaking efficiency, large material granulation, misfires, and, in other words, increased costs for drilling, blasting, and crushing operations, as well as potential accident hazards due to misfires. In this article, we will explore the materials used for stemming, the technologies employed, and improvement proposals to maximize the efficiency and safety of mining operations, leading to more efficient and safer use of explosives in rock fragmentation operations, enhancing breaking efficiency while reducing associated costs and risks.