Microsoft paint imaging system – a photogrammetric approach to fragmentation measurement in rock and aggregate production

Thomas B. Afeni¹, Emmanuel O. Okeleye¹

¹Federal University of Technology, Akure, 340001, Nigeria

Min. miner. depos. 2020, 14(3):15-20

https://doi.org/10.33271/mining14.03.015

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ABSTRACT

Purpose. To evaluate the fragment sizes of blasted material using Microsoft paint imaging system. It focuses on digital imaging fragmentation analysis of rocks and aggregates using the Microsoft paint, putting into consideration, the camera’s specifications to define the fragment size.

Methods. Five blast tests were conducted in the field to examine the effectiveness of this method of fragmentation analysis and also investigate the influence of burden, spacing and specific charge on degree of fragmentation.

Findings. The particle size distribution obtained from Microsoft-paint imaging analysis shows that the mean run-off-mine sizes are 0.6, 0.58, 0.42, 0.36 and 0.54 m, and the average boulder sizes of fragmented particles are 1.19, 1.11, 0.93, 0.81 and 1.03 m, for blast test 1, blast test 2, blast test 3, blast test 4 and blast test 5 respectively. Blast test 1 produced the highest boulder size of 1.15 m followed by blast test 2 while blast test 4 has the minimum boulder size. The results also shows that with increasing burden and spacing distances, the mean run-off-mine size, average boulder particle size increased. As expected, the mean run-off-mine size, average boulder size also decreased as specific charge increases.

Originality.The results of this research can be compared to fragmentation analysis using analytical software such as Wipfrag, Blastfrag, Fragscan, Powersieve, e.t.c.

Practical implications. Microsoft paint imaging system can be used as a fragmentation analytical tool. Thus, results of the fragmentation analysis can be used for better decision making in future blast designs of a mine.

Keywords: digital imaging, fragmentation, resolution effect, blast shot designs, boulders, particle size distribution

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