Apparatus and methods for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first tool toward the blast hole in the rock face via a common tool outlet of a feed unit using a first tool station of the feed unit; retracting the first tool from the common tool outlet using the first tool station of the feed unit and retaining the first tool in the first tool station; and while the first tool is retained in the first tool station, deploying a second tool toward the blast hole in the rock face through the common tool outlet of the feed unit using a second tool station of the feed unit.

A wireless detonation system (1) includes a blasting operation device (40), a detonator (10), and a relay device (30). The blasting operation device (40) is disposed at a distance from a blasting face (71) and wirelessly transmits a first downstream signal at a first frequency. The detonator (10) is loaded in a blast hole (72) in the blasting face (71), and has a receiving coil (12) for wirelessly receiving a second downstream signal at a second frequency lower than the first frequency. A relay device (30) includes a first transmitting-receiving antenna (35) that wirelessly receives the first downstream signal, a relay processor (32) that wirelessly receives the first downstream signal and processes it into the second downstream signal to be wirelessly transmitted at the second frequency, and a second transmitting-receiving antenna (37) that transmits the second downstream signal. The second transmitter-receiver antenna (37) is loaded into an insertion hole (74) in the blasting face (71) aligned with the blast hole (72).

This description relates to a tamp for an explosive. The tamp is formed from heat-shrink material having its ends heat-shrunk closed holding a tamp substance therein. A length of heat-shrink material is provided. A first end of the heat-shrink material is heated-shrunk closed to create a bag shape. A tamp substance is inserted into the bag via a second end of the heat-shrink material. The second end of the heat-shrink material is heat-shrunk closed to create a tamp. The tamp is placed adjacent to an explosive. This description also relates to a sleeve for an explosive. The sleeve is formed from heat-shrink material. An explosive is placed in the sleeve. One or both ends of the sleeve may be heat-shrunk closed.

This description relates to a tamp for an explosive. The tamp is formed from heat-shrink material having its ends heat-shrunk closed holding a tamp substance therein. A length of heat-shrink material is provided. A first end of the heat-shrink material is heated-shrunk closed to create a bag shape. A tamp substance is inserted into the bag via a second end of the heat-shrink material. The second end of the heat-shrink material is heat-shrunk closed to create a tamp. The tamp is placed adjacent to an explosive. This description also relates to a sleeve for an explosive. The sleeve is formed from heat-shrink material. An explosive is placed in the sleeve. One or both ends of the sleeve may be heat-shrunk closed.

An assembly (7) for triggering an explosive in a hole (9) to produce an explosive blast in the hole includes (a) an explosion trigger (15, 19) for triggering the explosive in the hole, (b) a detonation unit body (21) that is configured to be located at or proximate an open end of the hole in an initial position of the assembly in the hole and (c) a trigger cord (31) that is connected to the detonation unit body and to the explosion trigger.

An assembly (7) for triggering an explosive in a hole (9) to produce an explosive blast in the hole includes (a) an explosion trigger (15, 19) for triggering the explosive in the hole, (b) a detonation unit body (21) that is configured to be located at or proximate an open end of the hole in an initial position of the assembly in the hole and (c) a trigger cord (31) that is connected to the detonation unit body and to the explosion trigger.

A breaching device includes a body having a tamping material. The body has a target surface that is configured to face a target to be breached and a backing surface that is opposite the target surface. The tamping material is formed of gel and is configured to reflect an explosive force directed way from the target surface towards the target surface.

An apparatus (1) for supporting an explosive device (13) including a base member (3), one or more support members (11) and a fluid aperture (19). The base member (3) includes a base member aperture (5) to provide a passage (7) to a base chamber (9) of the base member (3). The one or more support members (11) are telescopically receivable through the base member aperture (5) and into the base chamber (9), wherein the one or more support members (11) support the explosive device (13). The fluid aperture (19) allows pressurised fluid into the base chamber (9) to force the one or more support members (11) towards an extended configuration (23) such that at least part of the one or more support members (11) are telescopically extended out of the base chamber (9).

Apparatus and methods for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first tool toward the blast hole in the rock face via a common tool outlet of a feed unit using a first tool station of the feed unit; retracting the first tool from the common tool outlet using the first tool station of the feed unit and retaining the first tool in the first tool station; and while the first tool is retained in the first tool station, deploying a second tool toward the blast hole in the rock face through the common tool outlet of the feed unit using a second tool station of the feed unit.

Apparatus and methods for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first tool toward the blast hole in the rock face via a common tool outlet of a feed unit using a first tool station of the feed unit; retracting the first tool from the common tool outlet using the first tool station of the feed unit and retaining the first tool in the first tool station; and while the first tool is retained in the first tool station, deploying a second tool toward the blast hole in the rock face through the common tool outlet of the feed unit using a second tool station of the feed unit.