A delivery system for mixing and dispensing a gel stemming material into a blast hole is disclosed. The system includes a dual-pump assembly in fluid communication with respective sources of a first gel precursor fluid and a second gel precursor fluid; a pair of hoses associated with a means to vary an effective length of said hoses; a dosing head having a first inlet and a second inlet, said inlets arranged in respective fluid communication via said hoses with the dual pump assembly to receive the first and second gel precursor fluids, the dosing head being configured to receive and mix the first and second gel precursor fluids to produce the gel stemming material and to dispense the gel stemming material via an outlet. In use, the effective length of the hoses may be varied to position the dosing head and dispense the gel stemming material in the blast hole.

A delivery system for mixing and dispensing a gel stemming material into a blast hole is disclosed. The system includes a dual-pump assembly in fluid communication with respective sources of a first gel precursor fluid and a second gel precursor fluid; a pair of hoses associated with a means to vary an effective length of said hoses; a dosing head having a first inlet and a second inlet, said inlets arranged in respective fluid communication via said hoses with the dual pump assembly to receive the first and second gel precursor fluids, the dosing head being configured to receive and mix the first and second gel precursor fluids to produce the gel stemming material and to dispense the gel stemming material via an outlet. In use, the effective length of the hoses may be varied to position the dosing head and dispense the gel stemming material in the blast hole.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 above ground stemming device is described which includes a body configured, in use, to cover an open end of a blast hole loaded with explosives to surface or to within 300 mm of surface. The body has a void containing a stem of superabsorbent polymer gel therein and it is positioned in use to allow the stem of superabsorbent polymer gel to be in contact with the explosives in the blast hole. The body may include a base and an upper portion extending upwardly from the base. The void may extend through the body to an opening in the base. Alternatively, the void may be encased by the body. The body may be fabricated from a rigid material or from a flexible material capable of being inflated with a fluid.

An above ground stemming device is described which includes a body configured, in use, to cover an open end of a blast hole loaded with explosives to surface or to within 300 mm of surface. The body has a void containing a stem of superabsorbent polymer gel therein and it is positioned in use to allow the stem of superabsorbent polymer gel to be in contact with the explosives in the blast hole. The body may include a base and an upper portion extending upwardly from the base. The void may extend through the body to an opening in the base. Alternatively, the void may be encased by the body. The body may be fabricated from a rigid material or from a flexible material capable of being inflated with a fluid.