Drilling And Blasting: A Brief History And Explanation

28 April 2020

The Why Behind Drilling and Blasting

Drilling and blasting refers to using machines and explosives to break through rock. People might use drilling and blasting to build a road through a mountain, to clear stone from a foundation, to build a bridge, to build a dam, or to mine for oar, oil, gold, copper, coal, or other natural resources. By using a drilling and blasting method, construction can move forward and mountains can be literally moved. 

The History of Drilling and Blasting-

Drilling and blasting has a long history. In 1627, a few hundred years after gunpowder was introduced in Europe, Hungarian miners used it to blast their way into tunnels. From Hungry the idea spread around Europe, making mining much quicker and more efficient. Gunpowder, or black powder as it was commonly called, had to be packed into hand drilled holes and required a two man team to work together using a hammer and chisel. It wasn't a very powerful explosive, and, when dynamite was invented in 1866, it was quickly replaced. Dynamite was much easier to use, and up to five times as powerful as black powder. Soon, a compressed air drill was invented and then a drill that used water pressure to drill through solid rock. These innovations made blasting and drilling faster, and eventually, safer. 

The Drilling and Blasting Process

• A professional drilling and blasting company will first examine the project and decide where to drill holes and place explosives, for the best clearance and safety. 
• When the job has been assessed, the blasting team will drill holes, generally using a hydraulic drill. The holes' depth depends on the assessment and the blasting plan.
• When holes have been drilled, they are filled with explosives that are wired and triggered from a distance. When the area is clear, the blast team will detonate the explosives. 
• After the explosion, the team will clear up the debris, and if the blast was to form a tunnel or the side of a dam, the team will sure up the walls, often using rock bolts, bolts driven into the tunnel wall to distribute the pressure deeper into the rock. 

The Result of Drilling and Blasting

Drilling and blasting has made countless roads and helped mine tons of precious metals and other natural resources. People use drilling and blasting companies every day in construction projects and in mining. The advances of modern drilling and blasting have made it the safest and easiest way to get through stubborn rock.

Learn more about drilling and blasting from a company like 3 - Rivers, Inc., Drilling & Blasting.