ABSTRACT
The simplest possible description of the rock mass for blasting purposes must say something about the intact rock strength and the structure of the rock mass. Blasting will loosen existing rock mass structure to liberate in-situ blocks as well as creating new fractures within the intact material. In the field of blasting technology the researchers are confronted with the problem of developing adequately accurate quantity; difficulties are to be the greatest part caused by the fact that the rock is neither homogeneous nor isotropic, the structural properties in the rock mass may, even when the rock type is the same, change from one site to another. A dominant influence on the results of blasting is exercised by the jointing system of the rock. Sources of geological data include exploration core logging and testing, surface and borehole geophysics, bench mapping and sampling, and equipment performance monitoring (Lizotte & Scoble 1994). Due to the heterogeneous nature of the rock mass, it is important to quantify the variability of these parameters.
