Pitting / Blasting
Blasting is the use of explosives to break rock in both development and surface mining. It involves drilling holes into the rock, charging them with explosives and detonating the holes. Blasting is a highly regulated activity requiring precision and expertise to ensure public safety.
In Ontario, pitting is used to expose the rocks that are underground by digging into the rock then blasting a hole in the rock to see the minerals inside. Pitting is a specialized form of blasting and is closely regulated due to the potential hazards involved.
Both stripping and blasting are essential processes in mining operations and are carefully planned and executed to ensure the safety of workers and the public.