Environmental Assessment of Blasting in a Copper Quarry

Blasting is done to make the planned work more efficient and economical. It is used especially in mining, ore extraction, material fragmentation in construction, asphalt as gravel, road and railway filling, cement and concrete production as raw material, etc. The aim is to reduce the size of the rock, loosen it and shift it from the area where it is located. After these processes, smaller sizes are obtained by separating, breaking and grinding the ore or rock. However, bad and inefficient blasting causes fragmentation, cracks and splashes in the rock, air shock, dust and ground shaking. These effects cause dust in the environment, pollution of water resources, noise and vibration. In addition, vegetation, wildlife, displacement, soil degradation, erosion and groundwater pollution after a sudden impact, allows heavy metals and chemicals to leak from cracks in the rock. In this study, the effects of factors such as vibration (ground shaking), air shock effect, flying rock dust (dust emission) resulting from blasting in a copper mine on human health and the environment were examined and compared according to the limit values specified in the legislation and the studies conducted. It was determined that there was no negative physical effect on people and the environment, but there were psychological effects. These effects can be reduced by blasting in accordance with the legislation and by the person performing the blasting being careful. Environmental problems can be reduced or prevented by controlling issues such as blasting in accordance with the legislation, checking local regulations, adjusting blasting timers with reducing substances, dust suppression technique, water management systems, reclamation of mine sites, monitoring of air and water quality.