The detection of cracks in blast-holes using directional borehole radar

The detection of subsurface cracks and moisture in blast-holes is an important problem to be solved in open-cut coal mining. During the overburden removal process at open-cut coal mines, blast-holes are drilled and filled with ANFO explosive. Any explosive that extends into surrounding cracks within the blast-hole has the potential to remain unexploded during the detonation process, which results in unwanted clouds of nitrogen oxides that severely impacts the mining process, the environment, and the surrounding community. This paper presents the results of a survey using an experimental model in the laboratory to evaluate the performance of using a directional borehole radar to detect subsurface anomalies, cracks, and fracture planes surrounding blast-holes.