|
Geology Adventures
Web Site
Grand Forks
Visitor
Information
(250)442-2833
Stonerose
Fossil Site
Web Site
We blast frequently at Rock Candy Mountain, to provide access to new crystal-bearing areas. The waste material, which drops over the cliff,
is used to fill in the underground hollows (stopes) we are reclaiming. This blast moved approximately 5 cubic meters of rock. In modern open cut copper or gold mines, blasts move 1,000 to 1,000,000 cubic meters of rock at once.
Note the blaster in the Before
photo, for scale. The area in which he is standing is quite flat, though in this photo, the photographer's perspective makes it look steep. The blaster is testing the electrical circuit which will set off the blast. For safety, he is the only person able to arm the blasting circuit. After he signals that he is in a safe place, the rest of the crew checks in to assure there is no one within the blast area, and the blast proceeds. Once the dust clears, as in the
After photo, our crew rushes back to the blast site to see if any new vugs were uncovered, and the fun starts again.