Rock Excavation Info Needed
Rock Excavation Info Needed
(OP)
Can anyone point me in the direction of some useful info on unit costs and production rates for bedrock excavation/grading?
The site is in upstate new york with limestone bedrock. The project is to rough grade the bedrock over approximately 16 acres at thickness ranging from a few feet to 15-20 feet (400,000 CY).
Given the size and extent of the rock, does it make any sense not to blast (assuming vibration, noise, etc. are not an issue)?
As a side question, how accurate, in terms of depth, can you get with blasting? For a target 15 ft rock removal, would you end up blasting deeper?
The site is in upstate new york with limestone bedrock. The project is to rough grade the bedrock over approximately 16 acres at thickness ranging from a few feet to 15-20 feet (400,000 CY).
Given the size and extent of the rock, does it make any sense not to blast (assuming vibration, noise, etc. are not an issue)?
As a side question, how accurate, in terms of depth, can you get with blasting? For a target 15 ft rock removal, would you end up blasting deeper?





RE: Rock Excavation Info Needed
RE: Rock Excavation Info Needed
Fairly sound rock (usually deeper) is much more predictable and less drilling (wider pattern) and explosives are required.
A local contractor will be the best source of information when it comes to costs and production rates.
On on project I was responsible for, a local contractor was about 20% below (planned quantities for volumes) the big contractors (MK, Kiewit)on a 2,000,000 yard rock rough excavation and finished well ahead of schedule and it was a total winner and secured him many future jobs (rock, dirt, compacted fill & excavation)on the over-all plant project.
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: Rock Excavation Info Needed
for that depth of rock removal, it sounds like someone will spend a hell of a lot of time with rock hammers. makes sense to blast. if the owner is worried about blast litigation, then suggest beefing up their blast monitoring to mitigate litigation.
RE: Rock Excavation Info Needed
Costs will depend on types and pattern of drilling, amount of explosives needed, quality of the rock, bedding angles etc. Also, there could be a big cost involved with processing the rock. Will it come out in small fragments, or large boulders. How fast can it be loaded and moved? Where is it being hauled to and can it be used on site or elsewhere? How long will the drilling and blasting crew have to sit around while the rock is being hauled off? What kind of permits are required? Will it require traffic control? Is there any nearby roads that would need to be shut down during blasting?
I suggest if you want a good estimate, sit down with your geologist, blaster and contractor and work through the issues.
RE: Rock Excavation Info Needed
What are you going to do with the shot rock? If you're going to re-use it as fill, it'll probably need to be crushed. Crushing isn't free but neither is loading it into trucks and hauling it off.
RE: Rock Excavation Info Needed
RE: Rock Excavation Info Needed