AUSTIN POWDER Shock Star User manual

NON-ELECTRIC INITIATION SYSTEM

USER‘S GUIDE

CZECH REPUBLIC  December 2019

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 3

1 COMPONENTS OF NON-ELECTRIC INITIATION SYSTEM AND THEIR FUNCTION ............... 4

Shock*Star Surface ....................................................................................................................... 4

Shock*Star Bunch ........................................................................................................................ 4

Shock*Star Dual Delay .................................................................................................................. 4

2 OPERATION PRINCIPLE OF A NON-ELECTRIC SYSTEM ....................................................... 5

3 CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF NON-ELECTRIC DETONATORS...... 6

3.1 IN-HOLE DETONATORS ............................................................................................ 6

3.2 Shock*Star Surface ..................................................................................................... 8

3.3 Shock*Star Bunch ....................................................................................................... 9

3.4 Shock*Star Dual Delay ................................................................................................ 9

3.4.1 Bench blast design Using Shock*Star Dual Delay, Shock*Star MS and Shock*Star

Surface ....................................................................................................................... 10

3.5 Shock*Star DC Relay ................................................................................................ 11

3.5.1 Simple blasting pattern using detonating cord and Shock*Star DC Relay ................. 11

4 PRACTICAL USE OF NON-ELECTRIC DETONATORS AND THE BENEFITS OF USE .......... 12

4.1 INSTRUCTION FOR USE OF Shock*Star MS, Shock*Star TS .................................. 12

4.2 USE of Shock*Star MS DETONATORS IN Surface APPLICATION ......................... 13

4.3 INSTRUCTION FOR USE OF Shock*Star Surface .................................................... 14

4.4 ADDED DELAY CREATED BY THE Shock Tube ..................................................... 17

4.5 INSTRUCTION FOR USE OF T-CONNECTOR (“J” HOOK) .................................... 18

4.6 INSTRUCTION FOR USE OF Shock*Star DC Relay ................................................. 19

4.7 NOTES ON DESIGNING BLASTING PATTERNS In surface applications ............... 19

4.7.1 Gradual initiation of blast holes ................................................................................. 19

4.7.2 Coupled initiation blasting pattern ............................................................................. 20

4.7.3 The bench blasting examples .................................................................................... 21

4.8 USING Shock*Star IN UNDERGROUND APPLICATIONS ....................................... 23

4.8.1 Creating the bunch and connection to bunch assembly ............................................ 23

4.8.2 Detonating cord end connection ................................................................................ 24

4.8.3 Always and Nevers when using Shock*Star Bunch................................................... 25

4.9 APPLICATION OF Shock*Star FOR DEMOLITION OPERATIONS.......................... 25

4.10 CONNECTING OF TWO Shock Tubes TOGETHER ................................................ 26

4.11 INITIATION OF NON-ELECTRIC SYSTEM .............................................................. 26

4.11.1 Instruction how to assemble Rock*Star Starter detonator ......................................... 28

4.11.2 Always and Nevers when using Rock*Star Starter .................................................... 30

4.12 REMOVAL OF NON-ELECTRIC INITIATION SYSTEM REMAINS AFTER USE ..... 30

5 PACKAGE, STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE ................................................................................. 31

5.1 PACKAGING ............................................................................................................. 31

5.2 SHELF LIFE AND STORAGE CONDITIONS ............................................................ 32

5.3 STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION CLASSIFICATION ........................................ 32

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

INTRODUCTION

SHOCK*STAR IS A NON-ELECTRIC INITIATION SYSTEM DESIGNED BY AUSTIN

DETONATOR S.R.O., CZECH REPUBLIC. THIS INITIATION SYSTEM INCREASES SAFETY

AND ENSURES BETTER BLASTING RESULTS. THE SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED TO THE

MARKET IN 1993 AND SINCE THEN HAS SEEN THREE MAJOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE

Surface CONNECTOR WHICH BROUGHT FURTHER RELIABILITY, PRECISION, AND SAFETY

TO BLASTING IN FIELD. THE LAST VERSION OF THE Shock*Star Surface CONNECTOR

BRINGS A NEW OPTIONAL FUNCTION OF SECURING CONNECTIONS BY LOCKING THE

TUBES IN THE BLOCK IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE DISCONNECTIONS IN SOME SPECIAL

APPLICATIONS, E.G. WHEN THE BLASTS NEED TO BE COVERED BY HEAVY MATS. THE

CONNECTOR BLOCK ALSO FURTHER INCREASES USERFRIENDLINESS WHEN MAKING

CONNECTIONS IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING - 15°C.

Using of non-electric system for blasting brings a number of benefits including:

 Higher safety of blast work, as the system is immune to initiation by foreign sources of electric

energy (radio frequency, stray currents).

 Higher variability of timing patterns enabling “tailor-made“ blasts corresponding to the conditions

in a given locality.

 More effective work from the point of view of logistics and storage (smaller product range

necessary for achieving a given result).

All the mentioned benefits improve economy of blasting operations. Although the initial cost of

using non-electric system may be higher, the overall economics of blasting and quarrying

operations is more beneficial as opposed to traditional electric system.

The blasting results using non-electric system (fragmentation, vibration control) are much more

positive. Before the non-electric system was introduced, the only way to perform a non-electric blast

was using a detonating cord. The method is now almost abandoned as it has numerous undesired

side effects. When initiating a blast using a detonating cord, the blast hole is opened from the top

which creates excessive fly rock because the stemming is destroyed as the detonation passes

through it. As a result, the energy created by detonation is used less effectively. In addition, when

used to initiate relatively insensitive explosives such as ANFO and certain emulsion explosives, the

detonating cord can cause dead-pressing of the explosive. Further disadvantages of using

detonating cord for initiation include excessive noise. Using of non-electric system enables to

initiate the blast hole from the bottom (see figure 0-1) which ensures better use of the blast energy.

Fig. 0-1 Fig. 0-2

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

1 COMPONENTS OF NON-ELECTRIC INITIATION SYSTEM AND THEIR

FUNCTION

Austin Shock Tube and all Austin Detonator products using Austin Shock Tube can be initiated by

regular electric, electronic or non-electric detonator, detonating cord, plain detonator, Shock*Star

Bunch, Shock*Star Surface, proper blasting machine (from an open end of the Shock Tube only)

and Rock*Star Starter.

Shock*Star MS-Shock*Star TS-Shock*Star LP

These are in-hole detonators with millisecond

delay (steps 25 ms and 50 ms) and long period

delay (steps 100 ms, 200 ms and 500 ms)

detonators used for initiation of explosive in a

hole. Shock*Star MS is used for surface

applications, Shock*Star TS in underground

tunnel applications where are high accuracy of

delay required. Shock*Star LP is used for

underground mining applications, where is no

emphasis for restriction of seismic impact of

blasting. These detonators can be initiated either

by Shock*Star Surface, Shock*Star Bunch

detonators or by detonating cord. For initiation by

detonating cord they can be fitted with a T-

connector (available on request).

Shock*Star Surface

Shock*Star Surface is a millisecond delay

detonator enclosed in a color coded plastic block.

This detonator has a smaller base charge

designed for initiation of Shock Tube only.

Shock*Star Bunch

The base charge of these detonators is designed

for initiation of a 5 g/m PETN detonating cord,

which is attached to it. The detonator is enclosed

in a plastic block and the detonating cord is

inserted in the plastic block. The detonator is

used for initiation of up to 20 Shock Tubes tied in

a bunch, which is closely described later in this

manual. The detonator is mostly used in

underground applications.

Shock*Star Dual Delay

Shock*Star Dual Delay is composed of

Shock*Star Surface and an in-hole detonator

Shock*Star MS or Shock*Star TS. Dual Delay

detonator is used in the same way as the two

detonators of which it is composed. The benefits

of Dual Delay detonators include faster handling,

easier connections and decrease of excessive

Shock Tube during connecting, thus making it

easier to overview the connections on the blast

site.

Fig. 1-2

Fig. 1-3

Fig. 1-4

Fig. 1-1

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

NOTICE

For a successful blast it is necessary that a hole is initiated well before the initiation

network is destroyed by the blast itself. This is ensured by suitably designed blast pattern.

2 OPERATION PRINCIPLE OF A NON-ELECTRIC SYSTEM

The basic principle of initiation in blasting pattern is transferring initiation from Surface Connector to

a detonator in a hole and to another surface connector.

The figure 2-1 shows properly timed blasting pattern - the holes are initiated well before the rock

starts moving.

Fig. 2-1

Fig. 2-2

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

3 CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF NON-ELECTRIC

DETONATORS

3.1 IN-HOLE DETONATORS

Shock*Star MS (with 25 or 50 ms delay interval)

Shock*Star TS (with 50, 100, 200 and 500 ms delay interval)

These detonators have base charge of

720 mg. The detonators are made of

aluminum shell containing the primary

charge, delay composition system, Shock

Tube, antistatic sealing plug, stopper and

delay tag.

The detonators can be fitted with a T-

connector / “J” hook (see figure 3-2 and 3-3)

for detonating cord compatibility and they

are used to initiate primers (boosters) or

directly commercial cap sensitive

explosives.

The T-connectors are applied only during

production in the factory.

TECHNICAL DATA

Detonator Shell

Material: Aluminum

Marking: nominal delay time

letter „V“ at the shell bottom

Shock Tube

Color: yellow

VOD: 2,000 m/s

Marking: delay tag:

 production series number

 detonator type

 nominal delay time/delay number

 Shock Tube length

 traceability code

Fig. 3-1

Fig. 3-2 Fig. 3-3

connector

T-connector

Traceability

tag

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

IN-HOLE DETONATORS DELAY TIMES

Shock*Star MS Shock*Star TS

Delay

number

Nominal delay

time (ms)

Delay interval

(ms)

Delay

number

Nominal delay

time (ms)

Delay interval

(ms)

00 0000 - 00 0025 02-

01 0025 25 01 0100 75

02 0050 25 011/2 0150 050

03 0075 25 02 0200 050

04 0100 25 021/2 0250 050

05 0125 25 03 0300 050

06 0150 25 031/2 0350 050

07 0175 25 04 0400 050

08 0200 25 041/2 0450 050

09 0225 25 05 0500 050

10 0250 25 051/2 0550 050

11 0275 25 6 0600 050

12 0300 25 061/2 0650 050

13 0325 25 7 0700 050

14 0350 25 071/2 0750 050

15 0375 25 8 0800 050

16 0400 25 081/2 0850 050

17 0425 25 9 0900 050

18 0450 25 091/2 0950 050

19 0475 25 10 1,000 050

20 0500 25 11 1,100 100

21 0550 50 12 1,200 100

22 0600 50 14 1,400 200

23 0650 50 16 1,600 200

24 0700 50 18 1,800 200

25 0750 50 20 2,000 200

26 0800 50 25 2,500 500

27 0850 50 30 3,000 500

28 0900 50 35 3,500 500

29 0950 50 40 4,000 500

30 1,000 50 45 4,500 500

50 5,000 500

55 5,500 500

60 6,000 500

65 6,500 500

70 7,000 500

75 7,500 500

80 8,000 500

85 8,500 500

90 9,000 500

Tab. 1

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

NOTICE

The Shock*Star Surface is an

assembly composed of two main parts:

a plastic connector and a small

detonator with a Shock Tube attached.

The plastic connector houses the

detonator. The entire unit is assembled

by the manufacturer and makes a

permanent assembly. The disassembly

may result in damage to the unit.

Surface detonators must not be used to

initiate explosives and detonating cord!

3.2 Shock*Star Surface

The Shock*Star Surface is a highly user-

friendly product bringing substantial time-

savings when connecting initiation network.

The design of the connector virtually

eliminates the shrapnel cut-off concerns, and

makes easier the composition of initiation

network. The connector has 9 delays. Base

charge of Shock*Star Surface detonators is

120 mg. The detonators are composed of an

aluminum shell containing a base charge and

a highly accurate delay composition system,

antistatic rubber plug, Shock Tube fitted with a stopper and a delay tag (see fig. 3-4). The stopper

prevents the tube end from coming out of the connector block. The detonator is enclosed in a color

coded plastic block. These units are specially designed for creating delay patterns and are used to

initiate Shock*Star MS and TS, and to relay the initiation impulse to the next Shock*Star Surface

connector(s) in sequence.

TECHNICAL DATA

Detonator Shell

Material: Aluminum

Connector

Body color: as per nominal delay

Shock Tube

Color: red

VOD: 2,000 m/s

Marking: delay tag:

 production series number

 detonator type

 nominal delay time

 Shock Tube length

 traceability code

NOMINAL DELAYS

Shock*Star Surface

Nominal delay time (ms) Color

0 green

9 brown

17 yellow

25 red

33 grey

42 white

67 blue

100 black

200 orange

Fig. 3-4

Tab. 2

Traceability

tag

Stopper

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

Tab. 3

3.3 Shock*Star Bunch

This detonator is fitted with a Bunch Connector with a

5 g/m PETN detonating cord. The detonator base

charge of 160 mg is designed to initiate the attached

detonating cord. Shock*Star Bunch is available in

the following delays: 0, 9, 17, 25, 33, 42, 67, 100,

200 ms.

TECHNICAL DATA

Detonator Shell

Material: Aluminum

Connector

Body color: as per nominal delay

Shock Tube

Color: red

VOD: 2,000 m/s

Marking: delay tag:

 production series number

 detonator type

 nominal delay time

 Shock Tube length

 traceability code

NOMINAL DELAYS

Shock*Star Bunch

Nominal delay time (ms) Color

0 green

9 brown

17 yellow

25 red

33 grey

42 white

67 blue

100 black

200 orange

3.4 Shock*Star Dual Delay

Shock*Star Dual Delay detonator is a

combination of Shock*Star Surface

(nominal delays 25, 100 ms) and

Shock*Star MS or Shock*Star TS (nominal

delays 475, 500, 9,000 ms). Shock*Star

Dual Delay detonators are used in surface

bench blasts and underground blasts.

Their use results in smaller number of

detonators needed for one blast.

Fig. 3-5

Fig. 3-6

Austin Detonator s.r.o., Jasenice 712, 755 01 Vsetín, Czech Republic

Phone: +420 571 404 001 | Fax: +420 571 404 002 | Email: marketing.info@austin.cz | www.austin.cz

PAGE

Tab. 4

Fig. 3-7

Use of Shock*Star Dual Delay detonators brings the following advantage:

 reduced handling and storage requirements

 faster composition of initiation network

 reduced number of connections between units

 easier and more reliable visual inspection of connection

TECHNICAL DATA

Shock Tube

Color: yellow

VOD: 2,000 m/s

Marking: delay tag

 production series number

 detonator type

 nominal delay time

 Shock Tube length

 traceability code

Shock*Star Dual Delay

NOMINAL DELAYS

Shock*Star Surface Shock*Star MS

Shock*Star TS

025 ms 475, 500 ms

100 ms 475, 500, 9,000 ms

3.4.1 Bench blast design Using Shock*Star Dual Delay, Shock*Star MS and Shock*Star Surface

Shock Tube color:

• Shock*Star Surface

• Shock*Star MS

• Shock*Star Dual Delay

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