P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Sun Mining Group brief history
Sun Mining Services is an Australian owned company operating in four continents which
provides smarter blasting solution for mining, civil construction and quarrying industry.
Since its formation in 2012, Sun has transformed from a bulk explosive manufacturer into a one
stop shop mining services provider. From Plant and MPU design to construction, from survey plan
to blast design, from raw material to down the hole explosive and from mine to mill, Sun takes full
control of the operation.
The vertical integration allows Sun to control every aspect of the operation that can affect its
performance. Sun has vertically grown into the following sections in order to enhance the quality of
the provided services.
- Equipment design and Engineering
- Plant and equipment construction
- Chemical manufacture and supply
- Bulk explosive and initiation systems
- D&B design to enhance mine to mill productivity
- D&B Training and supervision
Equipment design and Engineering
Through its engineering subsidiary arm, DGI International, Sun has been designing,
constructing, and delivering bulk explosive handling equipment and MPUs to the mining industry
since 2008. BHP, Rio Tinto and FMG among others are examples of the global players that are
equipped with Sun Mining Services designed and built equipment.
R&D has been the most integral part of Sun Mining Services since its formation. The first
generation of autonomous explosive delivery equipment (MPU) in the world was designed and built
by Sun Mining Services engineering team in 2012 and was commissioned at an Iron Ore mine in
Pilbara region-Australia for Rio Tinto Iron Ore. 2 more generations (8 more units in total) have been
built and are currently in service for different mining companies (including Rio Tinto and FMG) in
Australia.
Autonomous explosive charging unit, generation 1.0, 2012, Australia
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Plant and equipment construction
At its engineering facility in Dinmore, QLD, Australia, Sun Mining Services constructs
explosive manufacturing plant, handling equipment and delivery MPUs.
Its state-of-the-art mobile explosive processing equipment are the most advanced MPUs in the
world and can deliver the most accurate recipes into blastholes in a safe manner.
The 3rd generation of Sun MPU that was designed and constructed in 2019 for Chilean operation
is capable of live streaming the PLC function and the state of the charging into the cloud space and
can be simultaneously monitored from outside the truck via mobile phone apps and tablets.
3rd generation MPU, 2019, Chile
Wala GEL delivery unit, B-double configuration, 2019, Australia
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Wala-UG/Presplit delivery unit, 2017, Egypt
Chemical manufacture and supply
Sun mining services manufactures and supplies bulk explosives and related chemicals to the mining
industry in Coal, Gold and hard rock mining applications.
Sun currently owns and operates bulk explosive manufacturing plants in 4 different continents. The
latest generation of Wala GEL plant is equipped with remote operating function enabling the
operation of the plant to be controlled/monitored from a distant location outside the mine. This
function provides further tools to the project managers to enhance/maintain QA/QC aspect of the
Wala GEL production.
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
The most recent development in Wala GEL
manufacturing plant, Smart Mobile Bulk
Explosive Manufacturing Plant, has a
footprint of less than 10m2 which can be
mounted on a 4 x 4 pickup truck and
manufactures down the hole explosive from
basic ingredients.
The unit was designed and built in
response to the need of operations that
require lower than 300 ton blasting per
month.
Bulk explosive and initiation systems
As our signature explosive, Wala was developed in 2012 in response to post blast fuming crisis that
had engulfed Australian mining industry. Wala was recognized by the Australian government as an
invention and Sun mining services was awarded R&D grant by AusIndustry, an Australian federal
government entity for developing Wala, no post blast fuming explosive in 2013.
Since then, Sun Mining Services has continued its research work in developing different generations
of bulk explosives to suit different ground conditions. Among them, is Wala-soft (suitable for soft
overburden blasting and reduced vibration in sensitive areas), Wala-Power (high energy explosive
for hard rock blasting), Wala-UG/Presplit for small diameter blasting and pre-split applications and
Wala-Booster, for initiation of bulk Wala.
Wala-Soft, 2015, Australia
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Wala-Booster, Blue casings, 2020, Egypt, Indonesia, QLD, NSW
Wala Booster is a cap sensitive explosive that is manufactured on a mine site using non-explosive
ingredients. This technology eliminates the need to import high explosives through the public
infrastructure into the mining operation, reducing the cost and improving the safety and security.
D&B design to enhance mine to mill productivity
Drill and Blast is the most integral part of the modern mining operation. Lack of attention to the
importance of this area, will result in excessing mining cost, reduced productivity and increased wear
and tear on ground engaging tools (GET).
Sun Mining Services has extensive knowledge and experience in the optimum design of blasting
parameters with the consideration of the existing explosive, mining equipment and finally the
production needs. We engage with our clients in very details manner in the process of D&B design
in order to enhance the productivity of the operation.
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Since 2016, Sun has been providing bulk explosives to Sukari Gold Mine. As part of the service, Sun
engages with the mine engineering team to fine tune the D&B design to take full advantage of Wala.
As a result, the mine has managed to increase its load and haul productivity in excess of 30% albeit
a 15% reduction in powder factor. This has also resulted in 15% increase in the plant mill throughput
due to the generation of micro-fractures in the ore during blasting.
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Vertical energy distribution (transfer) and the impact on improved fragmentation
VED or VET is the most critical measure in D&B operation. To contain energy and prevent fly rock
ejection, Blast holes are partially loaded and then plugged with adequate stemming material. As a
result, the portion that is not in direct contact with explosives, produces sub-optimal fragmentation
often resulting in formation of cap rocks. The harder the rock is and the less fractures already exist
in the rock formation, the more prevalent the issue becomes. The length of the stemming depends
on the type of explosives, VOD, rock characteristic and the firing sequence. The higher the VOD of
the explosive, the more stemming material is needed.
Wala, with relatively lower VOD of detonation comparing to other bulk explosives with similar density,
requires shorter stemming length to contain the detonation energy. In Lati site, where Wala is being
used to blast 50% of the mine OB material, the average stemming length is 2.80m. Wala VOD for
that operation is set at 2900-3200 m/s. Titan 2000 is currently being used by DYNO Nobel Indonesia
(dnx) to blast the remaining 50% of the mine. The minimum stemming length to contain the
detonation energy of that product is 3.5m0 often resulting in 300m radius scatter of fly rocks. The
equipment clearance distance for Wala blasts in Lati is 150m only, meaning, no fly rocks land outside
the 150m zone.
The reduced stemming results in improved VED resulting more even fragmentation and elimination
of cap rock formation.
In deeper benches, to avoid dead pressing, explosive suppliers often chose to deck their product.
This technic, introduces cold zones within the strata, resulting in uneven fragmentation and difficult
digging. With Wala, such concern is irrelevant as Wala is extremely resistant to dead pressing.
At Isaac Plains coal mine, Wala was being used in 68m deep blastholes with no decking (single
deck). Titan 2070 and 2040 was only charged in 18m decks with air decks in between.
Below graph, shows how a typical 18.0m bench is charged in Lati coal mine.
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Magnetite Blasting at North star
Hard rock blasting, specially magnetite is notorious for producing cap rocks if adequate
technic is not implemented. Companies often try to introduce stab holes to minimize the cap rock
(hiding the symptoms instead of elimination). In order to enhance the fragmentation, reduction of the
stemming zone is paramount.
The proposed 9.0m benches for production blasting at North star, will result in inferior fragmentation
and formation of cap rock due to small VED ratio (no more than 50%).
This will also result in significantly increased cost of drilling. It is recommended to utilize 18m or 27m
benches instead which will deliver higher VED ratio (up to 80%) resulting in improved fragmentation.
Below chart shows some comparable scenarios for D&B and the cost implications.
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Historically, when blasting with Wala comparing to Emulsion HANFO blends, Wala with 30% lower
PF will produce similar blasting outcome in comparison to Emulsions.
The above has been repeatedly put to test at various locations, sites, rocks and applications and
were confirmed in almost all occasions.
At Sukari Gold Mine, 20% reduction in PF as a result of using Wala with expanded blast pattern,
resulted in significant D&B cost, and improved mine to mill productivity. Below is the highlight of the
difference prior to the utilization of Wala and after Wala was implemented.
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
Wala in Berau Coal Mine, Lati Site, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Similar outcome was observed at Lati site of Berau Coal, where both Wala 65 and Titan 2070
are being used on site on similar strata. Below is two pages of a report that was prepared by the
mine principal Berau Coal and presented to the ministry of mines 12 months after Wala was
commissioned on that site. The full report is submitted separately for reference.
DR Lana Saria, [Link]., [Link]. (Currently as a director technic & Environment ) has visited Lati Mine-Berau Coal to witnesses
WALA operation.
P: 07 3277 2877
F: 07 3277 2533
Address: 8 Monigold place
Dinmore QLD 4303
ABN: 39 160 253 127
Web: [Link]
