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Environmental problems such as vibration and air blast are often faced and discussed in mining, quarrying, civil construction, shaft tunnel, pipeline, and dam operations, where blasting is inevitable. It is necessary to establish national standards in order to minimize environmental problems induced by blasting and judicial matters in our country as it is in the USA, European Union (EU) countries, and other developed countries. This necessity and the obligation of Turkey, which has started the procedure of joining the EU, to accept EU criteria emphasize the importance of this study. In other words, the establishment of a particular national standard related with this subject is inevitable for Turkey. This will be possible only by studying and applying scientific methods and techniques by experts. This paper presents a new damage criterion norm for blast-induced ground vibrations in Turkey. In this study, first, numerous vibration records were taken in blasting operations performed at different sites and rock units. For these rock units, particle velocity predictions and frequency analysis were done. At the same time, structures in the neighborhoods of these blasts were also observed and investigated. Finally, a damage criterion norm based on risk analysis was established and proposed by using these collected data. In light of the norm to be obtained from the data that were collected in the research, it will lead the excavation work in our country to be performed in such way that they are more effective and will cause minimum environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was performed on the quarry that will be opened to produce aggregates and rock filling material at Catalagzi region at Zonguldak province in Turkey. However, there are some structures which can be adversely affected by blasting at the quarry. These structures are a methane exploration drill hole and a house at the distances of 340 and 390 m, respectively. One of the main goals of this study is to perform a preliminary assessment of possible damage effect of ground vibrations induced by blasting on these structures by risk analysis based on ground vibration measurements. In order to propose a preliminary blast design models separately for aggregate and rock filling material production, six test shots with different maximum charge per delay were planned and fired at the quarry. In these shots, 90 events were recorded. To predict peak particle velocity (PPV), the relationship between the recorded peak particle velocities and scaled distances were investigated. During this investigation, the data pairs were statistically analyzed and a PPV prediction equation specific to this site with 95% prediction line were obtained. And also, this equation was used in the derivation of the practical blasting charts specific to this site as a practical way of predicting the peak particle velocity and maximum charge per delay for future blasting. A risk analysis was performed by using this equation. In the light of this analysis, preliminary blast design models were proposed to be used in this quarry for aggregate and rock filling material production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines mining aspect of view to reclamation studies based on rather simpler but more practical analyses in terms of legislations and regulations in Turkey. This paper also presents the results of various multi-disciplinary experimental studies aimed at the development of a reclamation proposal for an open pit mine located in the Istanbul Agacli region. Within the scope of this study, the current conditions and environmental features of the working area and its surrounding were evaluated. Various experimental studies were carried out on the representative samples taken from the overburden material and water sources in order to detect the existence of any contamination and also to determine the properties of samples subjected to the reclamation. Then, both environmental features and the results of experimental studies of the working area were evaluated. At the end of the evaluation, a simple and practicable reclamation proposal was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground vibrations arising from excavation with blasting is one of the fundamental problems in the mining industry. Therefore, the prediction of ground vibration components plays an important role in the minimization of environmental complaints. In this study, 582 events were recorded during limestone production at a quarry (Akyol Quarry) during a period of time. The blasting parameters of these shots were also carefully recorded. During the statistical analysis of the collected data, three predictor equations proposed by the United States Bureau of Mines (USBM), Ambraseys–Hendron and Langefors–Kihlstrom were used to establish a relationship between peak particle velocity and scaled distance described by these prediction equations. As a result of this analysis, the most powerful relationship was determined and proposed to be used in this site. And also, this equation was used in the derivation of the practical blasting charts specific to this site as a practical way of predicting the peak particle velocity and maximum charge amount per delay for future blasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of ground vibration measurements carried out in Hisarcik Boron open pit mine located on the west side of central Anatolia near Kütahya province in Turkey. Within the scope of this study to predict peak particle velocity (PPV) level for this site, ground vibration components were measured for 304 shots during bench blasting. In blasting operations, ANFO (blasting agent), gelatin dynamite (priming), and delay electric detonators (firing) were used as explosives. Parameters of scaled distance (charge quantity per delay and the distance between the source and the station) were recorded carefully and the ground vibration components were measured for all blast events using two different types of vibration monitors (one White Mini-Seis and one Instantel Minimate Plus Model). The absolute distances between shot points and monitor stations were determined using GPS. The equation of square root scaled distance extensively used in the literature was taken into consideration for the prediction of PPV. Then, the data pairs of scaled distance and particle velocity obtained from the 565 event records were analyzed statistically. At the end of statistical evaluation of the data pairs, an empirical relation which gives 50% prediction line with a reasonable correlation coefficient was established between PPV and scaled distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]