Method of stemming a blast hole

A method of stemming a blast hole loaded with an explosive charge, said blast hole having side walls, an outwardly opening mouth and a central axis extending longitudinally of the blast hole, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a conduit having a discharge end inwardly through the mouth of the blast hole and positioning the discharge end of the conduit within the blast hole generally adjacent the explosive charge;
• forcing particulate stemming material through said conduit to form a slug of packed stemming material in the blast hole axially outwardly of said explosive charge;
• removing the conduit from the blast hole;
• releasably attaching a blast plug to the discharge end of the conduit;
• inserting the discharge end of the conduit with the blast plug thereon into the blast hole;
• detaching the blast plug from the conduit;
• forcing particulate stemming material through the discharge end of the conduit into the blast hole in a generally axially inward direction to retain the plug adjacent said slug of stemming material;
• and
• as stemming material is being forced out the discharge end of the conduit, moving the discharge end of the conduit generally axially outwardly relative to the blast hole toward the mouth of the blast hole to simultaneously fill and pack the blast hole with stemming material.

A method of stemming a blast hole loaded with an explosive charge, said blast hole having side walls, an outwardly opening mouth and a central axis extending longitudinally of the blast hole, the method comprising the steps of:

• releasably attaching a blast plug to a discharge end of a conduit, said conduit being adapted for pressurized delivery of particulate stemming material through the conduit for exit from its discharge end;
• inserting the discharge end of the conduit with the blast plug thereon through the mouth of the blast hole and positioning the blast plug within the blast hole axially outwardly of the explosive charge;
• detaching the blast plug from the conduit;
• forcing particulate stemming material under pressure through the discharge end of the conduit axially inwardly toward the explosive charge and against the blast plug to pack stemming material in the blast hole adjacent the blast plug;
• and
• as stemming material is forced out the discharge end of the conduit, moving the discharge end of the conduit axially outwardly with respect to the blast hole toward the mouth of the blast hole to fill and pack the blast hole with stemming material.

A method of stemming a blast hole loaded with an explosive charge, said blast hole having side walls, an outwardly opening mouth and a central axis extending longitudinally of the blast hole, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a blast plug through the mouth of the blast hole;
• inserting a conduit having a discharge end inwardly through the mouth of the blast hole;
• manipulating the blast plug by means of the conduit to position the blast plug axially outwardly of the explosive charge;
• forcing particulate stemming material under pressure through the discharge end of the conduit axially inwardly toward the explosive charge and against the blast plug to pack stemming material in the blast hole adjacent the blast plug;
• and
• as stemming material is forced out the discharge end of the conduit, moving the discharge end of the conduit axially outwardly with respect to the blast hole toward the mouth of the blast hole to fill and pack the blast hole with stemming material.