Vari-Stem® plugs
Origin: US
Blast energy can be divided into two components:
Applied energy – shock & heave energy used in material breakage;
Lost energy – manifests itself as air over-pressure, ground vibration & excess fines (over-blasted material).
Stemming is inert material used to confine energy in the blast hole at the top of the explosive charge. Insufficient or inefficient stemming allows the blast energy to prematurely vent at the collar, reducing the energy applied to breaking & moving the rock mass. Stemming ejection is a common cause of lost energy in the blast, especially when drill cuttings are used.
Oresome Products are proud to be the exclusive distributor for Vari-Stem® in Australia & the Oceania region. The Vari-Stem® plug is patented & proven technology deployed globally in mining & quarrying applications to maximize applied energy. Vari-Stem® reduces processing costs by achieving tangible increases in fragmentation in the stemming area. Independent studies show the Vari-Stem® plug can increase blast patterns with the same fragmentation for major savings in drilling and explosive costs, proving that Vari-Stem® plug is a cost-efficient means of reducing costs in blasting and processing. Case studies can be found at www.varistem.com.
Installation & use of Vari-Stem® stemming plug to increase blast energy confinement
FEATURES
- Sized for Ø32 to 251mm blast hole diameter (other hole sizes on application).
- Tough moulded PVC material.
- Tactile outer surface for superior grip onto blast hole wall
- ‘Gear-profile’ to protect down lines & cords and facilitates water displacement in wet holes
- Can be used in open pit and underground mining applications
BENEFITS
- Increases the effectiveness of drill cutting stemming material by increasing ejection resistance
- Stemming time to movement in the blast can be doubled
- Stemming ejection velocity in the blast can be halved
- Prevents explosive emulsion dilution by stemming material that can affect energy performance
- Increases rock fragmentation, especially in the cap rock area through improved confinement
- Improves total mining productivity (dig, haul & processing)
- Decrease total cost of mining through energy savings & productivity gains
- Reduces fly rock & air blast through improved confinement
- Simple installation requiring little operator training or skill
RANGE
| Part# | Description | Bit size (mm) | QTY/box |
| 3-9396 | BP-2 Vari-Stem* | 51 | 210 |
| 3-9394 | BP-2.5 Vari-Stem* | 64 | 144 |
| 3-9393 | BP-3 Vari-Stem | 76 | 160 |
| 3-9395 | BP-3.5 Vari-Stem | 89 | 96 |
| 3-9392 | BP-4 Vari-Stem | 102 | 84 |
| 3-9402 | BP-4.5 Vari-Stem | 115 | 81 |
| 3-9426 | BP-5 Vari-Stem | 127 | 48 |
| 3-9427 | BP-5.5 Vari-Stem | 140 | 48 |
| 3-9428 | BP-6 Vari-Stem* | 152 | 30 |
| 3-9418 | BP-6.5 Vari-Stem | 165 | 21 |
| 3-9425 | BP-7 Vari-Stem | 177 | 18 |
| 3-C6112-8 | BP-8 Vari-Stem | 200 | 15 |
| 3-C6112-9 | BP-9 Vari-Stem* | 229 | 3 |
| 3-C6112-10 | BP-10 Vari-Stem plug* | 251 | 15 |
