Mines Seleine Salt Mine

BeltPED Receiver Integrated with Cap Lamp Battery

BlastPED Receiver/Exploder

NOW USE PED SYSTEM FOR BLASTING

MINE: MINES SELEINE
OWNER: MORTON SALT
TYPE: SALT
LOCATION: ILES-DE-LA-MADELEINE, QUEBEC, CANADA

BACKGROUND

Mines Seleine installed the PED Communication system in January 1995 for mine wide warning. Due to the complete signal coverage offered by PED, the system is used extensively for day to day management. The system functionality has now been expanded by the installation of the BlastPED, remote blasting system.

COMPOSITION

Transmission System with 2.8km (9,200 ft) underground loop antenna 187 BeltPED personal receivers. 5 BlastPED Remote Blasting Receivers

DESCRIPTION

An underground antenna of 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) in length provides coverage to the whole underground development. The transmitter is located on the surface and connected to the antenna by a 300 metre (1,000 ft) twin core cable down the main shaft. The PED PC is located in the winder room.

JUSTIFICATION

Mines Seleine justified the initial PED installation as a mine wide warning system, to ensure all miners could be contacted in event of an emergency situation arising. Mines Seleine monitored the BlastPED development with interest, as they identified it could offer a safer, more efficient means of achieving remote blasting by eliminating the need for an extensive network of mains firing cable. Following on-site trialling, and the success of the BlastPED installations already operating at BHP’s Cannington and WMC’s Olympic Dam mines in Australia, the decision was made to install the BlastPED system.