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Drill and Blast Design Optimisation and Fragmentation Control

Equips drill and blast practitioners to design blast patterns that improve fragmentation, reduce oversize and control dilution across African surface and underground operations. Participants learn to balance burden, spacing, timing and energy factor against downstream loading, hauling and crusher performance. Practical work uses fragmentation measurement and blast reconciliation techniques drawn from Southern and West African mines.

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What you will be able to do

  • Design blast patterns using burden, spacing, stemming and timing principles for target fragmentation.
  • Calculate powder factor and energy distribution for varying rock mass conditions.
  • Apply electronic and pyrotechnic initiation sequencing to control muckpile shape and movement.
  • Measure fragmentation outcomes and reconcile results against design intent.
  • Reduce oversize, toe and dilution through pattern and drilling accuracy improvements.
  • Link blast performance to loading, hauling and comminution efficiency.

Course outline

  1. 01Rock mass characterisation and blastability
  2. 02Burden, spacing and stemming design fundamentals
  3. 03Powder factor and energy distribution calculations
  4. 04Initiation sequencing and timing design
  5. 05Drilling accuracy and pattern quality control
  6. 06Fragmentation measurement techniques
  7. 07Blast reconciliation and continuous improvement
  8. 08Linking fragmentation to downstream productivity

Who should attend

This programme suits drill and blast engineers, blasting officers, mine planners and production supervisors responsible for blast performance in surface and underground operations.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendarRegister
28 to 30 Sep 2026Lusaka3US$1,500Closed
29 Sep to 1 Oct 2026Harare3US$1,500Closed
30 Sep to 2 Oct 2026Lilongwe3US$1,500Closed
5 to 7 Oct 2026Blantyre3US$1,500Closed
6 to 8 Oct 2026Mozambique3US$1,500Closed
7 to 9 Oct 2026Nairobi3US$1,500Closed
12 to 14 Oct 2026Dar es Salaam3US$1,500Closed
13 to 15 Oct 2026Kigali3US$1,500Register
14 to 16 Oct 2026Kampala3US$1,500Register
19 to 21 Oct 2026Accra3US$1,500Register
20 to 22 Oct 2026Lagos3US$1,500Register
21 to 23 Oct 2026Cairo3US$1,500Register
26 to 28 Oct 2026Mauritius3US$1,500Register
27 to 29 Oct 2026Dubai3US$1,500Register
28 to 30 Oct 2026Online3US$900Register
24 to 26 Nov 2026Johannesburg3R13,000Register
25 to 27 Nov 2026Cape Town3R13,000Register
30 Nov to 2 Dec 2026Durban3R13,000Register
1 to 3 Dec 2026Pretoria3R13,000Register
2 to 4 Dec 2026Windhoek3US$1,500Register
7 to 9 Dec 2026Gaborone3US$1,500Register
8 to 10 Dec 2026Maseru3US$1,500Register
9 to 11 Dec 2026Mbabane3US$1,500Register

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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Next session
19 to 23 Oct 2026
Venue
Dar es Salaam
5 day programme
FromR18,000
See all Mining Health, Safety and Operations courses