Composition and method for blast hole loading

1. A method of loading a blast hole, the method comprising the step of applying a composition to the blast hole, wherein the composition provides a barrier layer between an explosive loaded in the blast hole and water in the blast hole;

wherein the composition includes a gelling agent; and

wherein the gelling agent comprises a high molecular weight linear polyacrylamide.

2. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is formed by reaction, adsorption, or absorption of water by the composition.

3. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent further comprises at least one of starches, surfactants, natural polymers, synthetic polymers, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 3 , wherein the gelling agent further comprises at least one of wheat starch, corn starch, carboxy methyl cellulose, di octyl sulphosussinate, organic clays, gelatine, high molecular weight linear polyacrylamide, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer comprising the high molecular weight linear polyacrylamide is a solid particulate, a liquid, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is a solid particulate comprising from 25 to 100 wt % of high molecular weight linear polyacrylamide.

7. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is a semi-solid comprising from 0.001 to 50 wt % high molecular weight linear polyacrylamide.

8. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further includes air bubbles.

9. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 8 , wherein the air bubbles are included in the composition by reaction, entrainment, incorporation as microballons, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further includes one or more natural materials.

11. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 10 , wherein a proportion of the natural materials in the composition from 0.001 to 50 wt %.

12. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 1 , wherein the composition has a viscosity of 2,000 to 6,000 Cp.

13. A method of inhibiting water ingress to a column of explosive in a blast hole, the method including the step of loading the composition of claim 1 into the blast hole to form at least one barrier to water ingress to the explosive.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the composition is loaded as packages.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the composition is bulk loaded.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one barrier is located at a top, at a bottom, or intermediate the column of explosive.

17. A method of loading a blast hole including the steps of:

introducing explosive to the blast hole, and

introducing the composition of claim 1 to the blast hole,

wherein the composition forms a barrier to water ingress to the explosive.

18. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 17 , wherein the composition is applied to walls of the blast hole prior to the step of introducing the explosive to the blast hole.

19. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 18 , wherein the composition is applied to a top surface of the explosive after the step of introducing the explosive to the blast hole.

20. The method of loading a blast hole according to claim 17 , further comprising the step of introducing decking to the blast hole, wherein the composition is introduced to the blast hole prior to introducing the decking.