2
Blasting in geothermally high temperature ground and/
or extremely reactive ground is an increasing common chal-
lenge for surface and underground mines. Many current
PETN based non-electric and electronic detonators have
manufacturer published in-hole temperature limits ranging
from 55°C to 65°C (131°F to 150°F). When confronting
blasthole temperatures above the manufacturer published
limits, operations may request site-specific guidance and
qualification for use. The advised safe loading window for
in-hole PETN based detonators is often too short to be
practicable for production blasting.
To overcome limitations of PETN based initiation sys-
tems, surface mines with high temperature ground and/or
reactive ground are known to load blastholes with a quali-
fied high temperature bulk emulsion that is top primed
with a cartridge of temperature qualified detonator sensitive
emulsion plus an RDX detonating cord downline (typically
8 g/m, 40 gr/ft). The primer assembly of emulsion cartridge
and detonating cord is sometimes used in conjunction with
a thermally resistant plastic shell. The exposure time of this
primer assembly is typically qualified for 8 hours at a maxi-
mum temperature of 150°C (302°F).
As there is no in-hole delay detonator in this system,
blasthole timing is accomplished with surface delays.
Although this system is safe, top priming and surface
delaying does usually negatively influence floor level qual-
ity, muckpile fragmentation uniformity, and top size.
Additionally, product safe loading windows times reduce
blast block size and increase blasting frequency.
DYNAENERGETICS IGNEO HIGH
TEMPERATURE ELECTRONIC
INITIATION SYSTEM
Newcrest Mining Limited desires to improve blast-
ing performance at the Lihir Mine in Papua New Guinea
by moving to an in-hole delay initiation system that can
withstand the geothermally high temperature ground
and extremely reactive ground characteristic to the mine.
The Lihir Mine is in the crater of a inactive volcano and
is the hottest open cut gold mine in the world. In mid-
2017, Newcrest approached DynaEnergetics to develop
a very high temperature electronic initiation system that
would enable in-hole timing delays as opposed to surface
timing delays. Since this time, DynaEnergetics has devel-
oped an HMX (High Melting Explosive) based in-hole
electronic initiation system specifically for blasting in geo-
thermally hot and/or extremely reactive ground conditions.
Restrictions due to the pandemic paused field evaluations
of the system at the Lihir site, and this work is anticipated
to resume in 2023.
DynaEnergetics is a provider of well-completion and
well de-commissioning solutions to the global oil and gas
industry. DynaEnergetics integrated perforating systems
are recognized by the unconventional oil and gas sector as
being safe, efficient, and reliable. DynaEnergetics perforat-
ing systems include a intrinsically safe initiation system that
is immune to voltage, stray current, and radio frequency
energy. Key components of the system include an igniter,
surface tester, and firing panel. Electronic detonators for oil
field applications can withstand temperatures up to 260°C
(500°F) for a limited time.
DynaEnergetics has adapted their seismic perforation
system technology to a very high temperature electronic
initiation system designed for the mining industry. The
IGNEO system can withstand in-hole temperatures up
to 150°C (302°F) for up to 48 hours. It is intrinsically
safe from stray current, stray voltage, and radio frequency
energy. In the field, the system handles very much like other
electronic initiation systems.
The foundation of the system is the HT150 high tem-
perature electronic detonator. The detonator has an HMX
base charge that is encapsulated in a copper shell with an
anti-corrosion coating. HMX has a decomposition tem-
perature of 287°C (549°F) as compared to PETN with a
decomposition temperature of 202°C (396°F). The down-
line is double coated thermally resistant wire with a harness
wire surface connector clip. The detonator is pressure rated
to 3 Bar. The time delay is user programable from 1 ms to
1500 ms in 1 ms intervals. The detonators are Class 1.4B
and can be shipped by air.
The system also has a unique booster charge to com-
plete the primer assembly. The business end of the booster
charge is made of an encapsulated 20+ gram HMX per-
forating shaped charge. The detonator and booster charge
assembly measures 6.5 cm x 23.0 cm (2.6 in x 9.1 in). The
booster charges are Class 1.4D and suitable for air cargo
shipment. See Figure 1 and Figure 2.
The shape charge generates a high pressure, high
velocity jet that reliably detonates bulk emulsion charges,
Figure 1. IGNEO HT150 electronic detonator and booster
charge assembly
Blasting in geothermally high temperature ground and/
or extremely reactive ground is an increasing common chal-
lenge for surface and underground mines. Many current
PETN based non-electric and electronic detonators have
manufacturer published in-hole temperature limits ranging
from 55°C to 65°C (131°F to 150°F). When confronting
blasthole temperatures above the manufacturer published
limits, operations may request site-specific guidance and
qualification for use. The advised safe loading window for
in-hole PETN based detonators is often too short to be
practicable for production blasting.
To overcome limitations of PETN based initiation sys-
tems, surface mines with high temperature ground and/or
reactive ground are known to load blastholes with a quali-
fied high temperature bulk emulsion that is top primed
with a cartridge of temperature qualified detonator sensitive
emulsion plus an RDX detonating cord downline (typically
8 g/m, 40 gr/ft). The primer assembly of emulsion cartridge
and detonating cord is sometimes used in conjunction with
a thermally resistant plastic shell. The exposure time of this
primer assembly is typically qualified for 8 hours at a maxi-
mum temperature of 150°C (302°F).
As there is no in-hole delay detonator in this system,
blasthole timing is accomplished with surface delays.
Although this system is safe, top priming and surface
delaying does usually negatively influence floor level qual-
ity, muckpile fragmentation uniformity, and top size.
Additionally, product safe loading windows times reduce
blast block size and increase blasting frequency.
DYNAENERGETICS IGNEO HIGH
TEMPERATURE ELECTRONIC
INITIATION SYSTEM
Newcrest Mining Limited desires to improve blast-
ing performance at the Lihir Mine in Papua New Guinea
by moving to an in-hole delay initiation system that can
withstand the geothermally high temperature ground
and extremely reactive ground characteristic to the mine.
The Lihir Mine is in the crater of a inactive volcano and
is the hottest open cut gold mine in the world. In mid-
2017, Newcrest approached DynaEnergetics to develop
a very high temperature electronic initiation system that
would enable in-hole timing delays as opposed to surface
timing delays. Since this time, DynaEnergetics has devel-
oped an HMX (High Melting Explosive) based in-hole
electronic initiation system specifically for blasting in geo-
thermally hot and/or extremely reactive ground conditions.
Restrictions due to the pandemic paused field evaluations
of the system at the Lihir site, and this work is anticipated
to resume in 2023.
DynaEnergetics is a provider of well-completion and
well de-commissioning solutions to the global oil and gas
industry. DynaEnergetics integrated perforating systems
are recognized by the unconventional oil and gas sector as
being safe, efficient, and reliable. DynaEnergetics perforat-
ing systems include a intrinsically safe initiation system that
is immune to voltage, stray current, and radio frequency
energy. Key components of the system include an igniter,
surface tester, and firing panel. Electronic detonators for oil
field applications can withstand temperatures up to 260°C
(500°F) for a limited time.
DynaEnergetics has adapted their seismic perforation
system technology to a very high temperature electronic
initiation system designed for the mining industry. The
IGNEO system can withstand in-hole temperatures up
to 150°C (302°F) for up to 48 hours. It is intrinsically
safe from stray current, stray voltage, and radio frequency
energy. In the field, the system handles very much like other
electronic initiation systems.
The foundation of the system is the HT150 high tem-
perature electronic detonator. The detonator has an HMX
base charge that is encapsulated in a copper shell with an
anti-corrosion coating. HMX has a decomposition tem-
perature of 287°C (549°F) as compared to PETN with a
decomposition temperature of 202°C (396°F). The down-
line is double coated thermally resistant wire with a harness
wire surface connector clip. The detonator is pressure rated
to 3 Bar. The time delay is user programable from 1 ms to
1500 ms in 1 ms intervals. The detonators are Class 1.4B
and can be shipped by air.
The system also has a unique booster charge to com-
plete the primer assembly. The business end of the booster
charge is made of an encapsulated 20+ gram HMX per-
forating shaped charge. The detonator and booster charge
assembly measures 6.5 cm x 23.0 cm (2.6 in x 9.1 in). The
booster charges are Class 1.4D and suitable for air cargo
shipment. See Figure 1 and Figure 2.
The shape charge generates a high pressure, high
velocity jet that reliably detonates bulk emulsion charges,
Figure 1. IGNEO HT150 electronic detonator and booster
charge assembly