Institute of Comprehensive Utilization of Mineral Resources, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia):

Viktorov S. D., Deputy Director, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Zakalinsky V. M., Principal Researcher, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Kochanov A. N., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: kochanov@mail.ru

Gidrospetsproekt LLC (Moscow, Russia):

Etkin M. B., General Director’s Counsellor

The study focuses on dynamics of dust cloud formation and expansion in terms of directed throw blast-fill dam construction at Kambaratinskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant 2. Concentration of dust particles at different distances from explosion center, and their mineral composition and dispersiveness are evaluated. It is found that the principal source of the dust cloud formation is the explosive charge-adjacent area exposed to stress waves that overtop ultimate crushing strength of rocks. Also surface dust from explosion constitutes considerable proportion in the dust cloud. Per-unit-area concentration of dust particle is 1000 times higher than their background concentration at the distance of 1 km from explosion center while these values are almost equal 5–6 km away from explosion center. Dust particles are mainly quartz and feldspar. Laser spectrometry-aided analysis of distribution of particles under 10 μm in size shows high concentrations of 1–3 μm size particles. Ecological consequences of large-scale throw blast in terms of gas and dust are altogether at the level of standard open pit mine blasting.

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