Measurement of Size Distribution of Blasted Rock Using Digital Image Processing

The purpose of this study is to measure the size distributionof blasted rock using the digital image processing software “Split-Desktop system” in order to evaluate the efficiency of blastingoperation. Site of study is a limestone quarry producing limestone forcement manufacturing. Fragmentation is the ultimate measure ofefficiency of any production blasting operations. The degree offragmentation plays an important role in order to control and minimizethe loading, hauling, and crushing costs.The size distribution analysis of the rock fragmentation bysieving is a direct and accurate method but it is very time consumingand costly. Fragmentation analysis by digital image processing is alow cost and quick method. Split system is one of the digital imageprocessing software developed to compute the size distribution offragmented rock from digital images. In this study, size distributionswere analyzed by using Split Desktop ® system. In the analysis, themean fragment size obtained is 149.76 mm and top-size 1057.44 mm.25% of the fragments are below 30 mm. A thorough appraisal ofblasting operation is suggested to enhance the efficiency of all thepost-blast operations such as Loading, Hauling, crushing and Grindingand also reduces the cost of secondary breakage.