In an open pit coal mine (coal strip mine), the coal is usually located in a horizontal layer underneath a large thickness H of rock.  In order to mine the coal, the rock must first be excavated, without damaging the coal; the simulation must take the presence of the coal into account.  The option <Coal, Control> allows the user to enter the thickness of the coal in the slot <Coal Thickness>.  This option is used either with the simulator <Shock Wave Stress>, or the simulator <Displacement>.  The procedure to optimize the method to blast the rock is then similar with that to excavate the usual rock bench.  On the other hand, the user can also simulate in order to control the risk of damage to the coal.  There are two types of coal damage, e. g. ‘Chill the Coal’ (fragmentation of the coal) and ‘Shoot the Coal’ (projection of the coal together with the rock).  The BLASPA

Course teaches how to use the simulators <Shock Wave Stress> and <Displacement> with the option <Coal Control> in order to reduce the risk of damage to the coal.  For more information, contact Blaspa Inc. at Roger.Favreau@Blaspa.com.