Scaled Depth of Burial

About Scaled Depth of Burial

Scaled Depth of Burial (SD) is defined as the ratio of stemming material to explosive within a space equivalent to 10 hole diameters. Higher values of SD indicate deeper burial depths, resulting in controlled energy and reduced surface activity.

The importance of SD lies in compliance with regulatory standards, where mine operators can use it to analyze blast outcomes and ensure safety against flyrock and ground vibration. By optimizing blast design parameters using SD, mining operations can achieve desired production outcomes while minimizing environmental impacts.

The calculation of SD involves parameters like top stemming, explosive density, explosive diameter, and length of 10 explosive diameters. Use our calculator to easily calculate SD for your relevant parameters.

For more information on SD, please refer to our detailed article on: scaled depth of burial explained. 

If you are having problems with controlling flyrock, noise or airblast/overpressure., have a look at the Varistem Stemming Plugs or contact us.