6
CONCLUSIONS
The study accomplished approx 15% reduction in drill &
blast costs and increased manpower utilization by:
1. Reducing the cycle time by an average of 5 min
yielding more truck dump count at the crusher
dump.
2. Optimization of the Base Case by increasing pat-
tern size from a square 10 ft. x 10 ft. (3-meter x
3 meter) drill pattern to a staggered pattern size of
10 ft. x 12 ft (3 meters x 3.6 meter).
3. Increased pattern and hole diameter size allows the
use of two drills 4-inch on the top bench and a
5.5-inch drill on the new bench.
4. Use of shot service fee as a cost-effective alternative
to the contractor loading and blasting.
5. This shot service fee lets the contractor to drill con-
tinuously and keep drilling for subsequent shots
with either drill available, increasing drill produc-
tivity and efficiency.
The entire improvement program has only recently
been fully implemented. However, it has become appar-
ent that small improvements in shots have good returns
in overall mine costs. All costs associated with drilling are
included in this analysis, including labor, maintenance,
fuel, lubricants, supplies, and depreciation. The fixed costs
have declined steadily since 2020, however, the variable
costs went up with global inflation.
As a result, Pike plan to spend the capital on both the
processing and asphalt plants upgrades to meet the needs
of local markets or support existing customers. Because of
these reductions in cost, the Quarry continues to deliver
production rock to the plant at lower cost despite having to
mine ever-increasing overburden and tailings.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Brian Slevin, Andrew Moffett,
and Gabriel Gaudete from Pike Industries Management for
their encouragement, mentoring, and assistance with this
study. Also, thanks to John Krysa, Gordon Tibbetts, and
Brian Knowlton Jr, Blasters-in-charge from Austin Powder,
for their expertise and support for this study.
REFERENCES
Andreas Gaich, M. P. (2020). Blast Optimization from
Drone Imagery. European Union’s Horizon.
Andreas Gaich, M. P. (2020). Blast optimization includ-
ing automatic borehole placement and automatic rock
mass characterization. Bergdagarna. Stockholm.
Austin Powder. (2022 Revised). Retrieved from Bulk
Hydromites 4000 Series: www.austinpowder.com
/unitedstates/products/hydromite-bulk-products/.
ISEE Blasters Handbook, 18th Edition. (2020). Cleveland,
Ohio.
Oshberg, P. (1968). Stratigraphy, Structural Geology, and
Metamorphism of the Waterville-Vassalboro Area, Maine.
Retrieved from National Geologic Map Database
USGS: ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_63867.
htm.
Vizalogix -VantagePoint. (2023, June). Case Study.
Retrieved from www.vizalogix.com/wp-content/
uploads/2023/06/LS-VantagePoint-Case-Study
CONCLUSIONS
The study accomplished approx 15% reduction in drill &
blast costs and increased manpower utilization by:
1. Reducing the cycle time by an average of 5 min
yielding more truck dump count at the crusher
dump.
2. Optimization of the Base Case by increasing pat-
tern size from a square 10 ft. x 10 ft. (3-meter x
3 meter) drill pattern to a staggered pattern size of
10 ft. x 12 ft (3 meters x 3.6 meter).
3. Increased pattern and hole diameter size allows the
use of two drills 4-inch on the top bench and a
5.5-inch drill on the new bench.
4. Use of shot service fee as a cost-effective alternative
to the contractor loading and blasting.
5. This shot service fee lets the contractor to drill con-
tinuously and keep drilling for subsequent shots
with either drill available, increasing drill produc-
tivity and efficiency.
The entire improvement program has only recently
been fully implemented. However, it has become appar-
ent that small improvements in shots have good returns
in overall mine costs. All costs associated with drilling are
included in this analysis, including labor, maintenance,
fuel, lubricants, supplies, and depreciation. The fixed costs
have declined steadily since 2020, however, the variable
costs went up with global inflation.
As a result, Pike plan to spend the capital on both the
processing and asphalt plants upgrades to meet the needs
of local markets or support existing customers. Because of
these reductions in cost, the Quarry continues to deliver
production rock to the plant at lower cost despite having to
mine ever-increasing overburden and tailings.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Brian Slevin, Andrew Moffett,
and Gabriel Gaudete from Pike Industries Management for
their encouragement, mentoring, and assistance with this
study. Also, thanks to John Krysa, Gordon Tibbetts, and
Brian Knowlton Jr, Blasters-in-charge from Austin Powder,
for their expertise and support for this study.
REFERENCES
Andreas Gaich, M. P. (2020). Blast Optimization from
Drone Imagery. European Union’s Horizon.
Andreas Gaich, M. P. (2020). Blast optimization includ-
ing automatic borehole placement and automatic rock
mass characterization. Bergdagarna. Stockholm.
Austin Powder. (2022 Revised). Retrieved from Bulk
Hydromites 4000 Series: www.austinpowder.com
/unitedstates/products/hydromite-bulk-products/.
ISEE Blasters Handbook, 18th Edition. (2020). Cleveland,
Ohio.
Oshberg, P. (1968). Stratigraphy, Structural Geology, and
Metamorphism of the Waterville-Vassalboro Area, Maine.
Retrieved from National Geologic Map Database
USGS: ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_63867.
htm.
Vizalogix -VantagePoint. (2023, June). Case Study.
Retrieved from www.vizalogix.com/wp-content/
uploads/2023/06/LS-VantagePoint-Case-Study