Seismic and acoustic impact of large-scale blasts during blasting operations in an open pit mine

S.A. Kozyrev, E.A. Vlasova, E.A. Usashev
 Mining Institute of the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Mining Industry №6/ 2025 p. 199-205

Abstract: To ensure the safety of blasting operations, it is necessary to know the detailed properties of seismic and shock waves of the blast and their relationship with the blast conditions and parameters. Only experimental assessment methods can give a real idea of the level of seismic impact on the protected facilities given the diversity of their relative positions against the blast site, as well as the rock conditions along the path of the seismic waves. When moving the walls of the operating open-pit at the Zhelezny ore mine of the Кovdorsky GOK JSC, the distances from the blast sites to the protected facilities were significantly reduced. Seismic monitoring was carried out to assess the seismic impact of large-scale blasting on the protected facilities in the mine and residential buildings in the City of Kovdor. Instrumental observations proved that the impact intensity on the buildings and structures in the considered mining and geological conditions does not follow the known patterns, while undesirable effects are observed at such distances from the blast where no damage was predicted according to the generally accepted assessment criteria. Long-term instrumental observations in the far zone of the blast showed that the combined effect of the seismic blast and shock air waves on the protected facilities leads to additional amplification and enhanced duration of the vibrations. For the separate action of seismic and shock air waves, it is necessary that the arrival time of the shock air waves begins after the action of the seismic blast waves ends, which is controlled through the reduction of the total duration of the blast. A decrease in the intensity of shock air waves can be ensured by the blast development in the direction opposite to the protected facility. The results of the seismic observations with an assessment of the acoustic impact on the protected facilities made it possible to obtain calculation formulas necessary for adjusting block blasting projects with account of the actual distance to the protected facilities and the values of the permissible and maximum displacement velocity at their base.

Keywords: open-pit mining, blasting operations, parameters of drilling and blasting operations, seismic safety, seismic effect of the blast, seismic wave, shock air wave, protected facilities, Arctic Zone, quaternary deposits

Acknowledgments: The authors express their gratitude to the specialists of JSC Kovdorsky GOK for their support and assistance in conducting the experiments.

For citation: Kozyrev S.A., Vlasova E.A., Usashev E.A. Seismic and acoustic impact of large-scale blasts during blasting operations in an open pit mine. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(6):199–205. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-6-199-205

Article info

Received: 01.09.2025

Revised: 23.10.2025

Accepted: 29.10.2025

Information about the authors

Sergey A. Kozyrev – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Chief Researcher, Head of Laboratory, Mining Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Elena A. Vlasova – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Mining Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7671-9973; е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Evgeny A. Usachev – Leading Technologist, Mining Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation; е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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