Blasting

Mining underground consists of many different stages, one of them blasting. Blasting produces effects that can sometimes be felt on the surface in areas adjacent to the mining area.

Because production is always ongoing, the blasting takes place every night in all major production areas in the mines in Kiruna and Malmberget. The production areas are evacuated before blasting can take place and after the blast, the mine is ventilated for explosive gases for several hours before people are allowed back. For this reason, the blasts always take place during the night: in Malmberget between midnight and 1 a.m. and in Kiruna between 1:15 a.m. and 1:45 a.m.

Different types of blasting:

Development blasting

When drifting, so-called development charges are set. These are relatively small charges and are therefore rarely noticed on the surface. They usually last for a few seconds and make a kind of ”cracking” sound.

Production blasting

Production charges are set to break the rock into pieces and then loaded to move on in the production process. These charges are slightly larger and can often be felt as vibrations. They consist of a short, powerful bang, but sometimes several charges are set at different pplaces in the mine, causing a series of bangs.

Opening blasting

When a new production area is to be put into use, so-called opening charges are set. These are larger charges, with a more prolonged course that can last up to 15 seconds and can therefore give rise to noticeable vibrations.

In cases where we plan measures that we judge may result in greater impact than usual for residents in the community, we inform through various channels. Examples of such events could be areas temporarily excluded from production or several opening blasts taking place in the same area.

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