Training · Course
Drill & Blast Training
A practical drill and blast course covering design, charging and initiation, fragmentation and ground/vibration control — for open pit and underground operations.
Better blasting, by design
From first principles to practical optimisation
Drill and blast is where a lot of downstream cost and value is decided. This course builds a sound understanding of blast design and the levers that drive fragmentation, dilution, damage and cost — then puts them to work on practical examples.
It suits both open pit and underground contexts and can be tailored to your commodity, equipment and ground conditions.
Get the blast right and everything downstream — loading, hauling, crushing, ground conditions — gets easier.
What the course covers
Modules
Blast design fundamentals
Burden, spacing, hole diameter, bench/round geometry and powder factor — and why each matters.
Charging & initiation
Explosive selection, charging practice, initiation systems and timing design.
Fragmentation & outcomes
Predicting and controlling fragmentation, dilution and muckpile shape for downstream performance.
Vibration & control
Ground vibration, airblast, flyrock and damage control — monitoring and compliance.
Underground vs open pit
Development and production rings, stoping, and the differences from bench blasting.
Optimisation & QA/QC
Reading results, drill and blast QA/QC, and a structured approach to continuous improvement.
Who should attend
Designed for
- Graduate and early-career mining engineers
- Production and drill & blast engineers
- Supervisors and shotfirers wanting the engineering view
- Technical services teams seeking consistency
FAQ
Drill & blast training, answered
Does the course cover open pit and underground?
Yes. Core blast design principles are taught for both, with dedicated content on bench blasting and on development and production blasting underground.
Is it tailored to our explosives and equipment?
Yes. Examples and exercises can be built around your commodity, ground conditions, explosive products and drilling equipment.
What level is it pitched at?
It can run from fundamentals for graduates through to optimisation for experienced production engineers, scoped to your audience.
Related courses
Keep building capability
Want this course for your crew?
Design, charging and initiation, fragmentation and vibration control — tailored to your open pit or underground operation.