Ael Mining Services Limited

African Explosives Limited

Robert James Holdcroft

Neville Robert Marillier

Laurence Justin Pienaar Wilson

Andre Pienaar

Derek Luke Anthony

Pieter Etienne Dreyer

An open cast mining method includes sinking a blasting borehole () for receiving an explosive charge into a ground body () which is to be mined, taking an initial measurement of one or more borehole conditions, including at least a temperature inside a bottom half () of the borehole (), and loading the borehole () with a base explosive charge () only if the initial measurement of all of the one or more measured borehole conditions are within predefined limits indicating that the borehole () will not be subject to uncontrolled detonation of the base explosive charge (). The one or more borehole conditions, including at least said temperature, are further measured and monitored after the base explosive charge () has been loaded. An alarm signal external of the borehole () is provided if any of the one or more measured borehole conditions are not within predefined limits so that there is a risk of uncontrolled detonation of the explosive charge ().

Mining method

Borehole condition monitors

Growing community of inventors

Johannesburg, South Africa

Robert James Holdcroft