Dolomite Quarry Case Study｜LOX Liquid‑Oxygen Rock Splitting Solution
LOX rock‑splitting solved difficult explosive permit & low hydraulic‑breaker output. 90 mm holes compatible, disposable tubes, 3000m³ trial output.
Overview
This case study covers our custom‑built LOX liquid‑oxygen rock splitting solution for a dolomite quarry client facing explosive permit difficulties and low productivity from hydraulic breakers.
Challenges
The dolomite quarry met three major operational bottlenecks:
– Explosive permit restrictions: Traditional explosive blasting could not be carried out due to hard‑to‑obtain approvals.
– Low daily production: A 30‑ton excavator fitted with a hydraulic breaker only yielded 250m³ per day, resulting in slow construction progress.
– Unmet output target: The quarry needed 5000m³ of stone daily, far beyond the breaker’s actual capacity.
Customized Solution
We compared CO₂ blasting and LOX rock‑splitting systems against the client’s site conditions and project budget.
Even though CO₂ blasting delivers lower cost per cubic meter, it requires 140 mm boreholes, while the client’s drill rig can only drill 90 mm holes. Meanwhile, CO₂ blasting equipment demands higher upfront investment. Given equipment limits and budget pressure, the customer selected our LOX rock‑splitting system.
Our technicians performed on‑site rock‑structure assessment and recommended this drilling layout: 3 m hole spacing, 3 m row spacing, 7 m hole depth, 2‑row blasting pattern.
Key LOX advantages:
– Contains no hazardous chemicals. Liquid oxygen acts as gas expansion agent, easy to source, eco‑friendly and pollution‑free.
– Disposable splitting tubes require no post‑blasting recovery after excavator mucking, cutting labor costs compared with CO₂ blasting.
There is no universally best product — only the most suitable solution. We deliver tailored plans for individual site pain points.
Field Results
Trial blasting was completed using 15 LOX rock splitting pies. Inside sealed boreholes, liquid oxygen instantly vaporizes and generates powerful expansion pressure up to 600 MPa, fracturing rock from hole bottom to ground surface.
This single trial blast produced 3000m³ of dolomite. Compared with 250m³ per day from hydraulic breakers, LOX brought 12 times higher single‑shot output. It bypassed explosive‑approval barriers and matched the client’s existing drilling hardware and available budget.
Conclusion
LOX rock‑splitting works as a practical alternative to conventional explosive blasting and low‑efficiency hydraulic breaking. It effectively addresses typical quarry challenges including permit limits, existing‑equipment constraints and tight budgets, and substantially improves overall construction production.