Wall Control Review and Improvement through D&B techniques

Hi, I am Diego Gonzalez, a Expert D&B Mining Engineer dedicated my entire career to the Drill and Blast space working in Open Cut Mines around the globe.

Did you know that poor wall control in open pit mining can lead to serious safety risks, ore loss, and costly rework?

I have summarised some of my key learnings gained to date in this brief memo, please, contact us if you wish to learn how we can improve your site’s productivity with some simple changes to the Drill and Blast approach.

Wall Control Review and Improvement through Drill and Blast

A Specialist Service by LARM Consulting

In open pit mining, slope stability is essential for operational safety, efficiency, and profitability. Wall failures can endanger personnel, damage equipment, and reduce ore access. At LARM Consulting, we view wall control not just as a technical task—but as a strategic priority.

Why Wall Control Matters

Pit walls face constant stress from blasting, operations, and geological conditions. Even small deviations in berm width or face angle can affect long-term stability. Poor wall control increases safety risks, ore loss, and rehabilitation costs. Optimising the Drill and Blast (D&B) process is critical to minimizing wall damage and aligning with pit design.

LARM’s Expert Approach to Wall Control

LARM Consulting offers a targeted Wall Control Review and Improvement service designed to enhance wall stability and ore recovery. Our three-step approach includes:

1. Current State Assessment
Our geotechnical and blasting engineers commence by analysing the current condition of the pit walls. This includes a detailed assessment of:

• Final wall compliance with pit design (berm width, face angle, batter profiles)
• Wall integrity and presence of damage zones

We use field inspections, and available mine data to accurately measure and benchmark current wall conditions.

2. Trim Drill and Blast Review
We then focus on one of the most influential factors in wall condition: the trim blast design. This includes:

• Review of drill patterns, hole orientation, burden and spacing
• Explosive types and charge placement
• Initiation timing and delay sequencing
• Analysis of historical outcomes versus expected results

Our team evaluates whether current trim blast practices are aligned with geotechnical recommendations and best-practice wall control standards.

3. Recommendations and Improvement Plan

Based on our findings, LARM delivers a tailored Improvement Pack that includes and not limited to:

• Practical and site-specific design adjustments
• Blasting technique optimisations (e.g., reduced charge near final walls, timing adjustments and others)
• Recommendations for enhanced monitoring and QA/QC during D&B execution

This plan is designed not only to reduce wall damage, but to improve ore recovery by enabling mining to safely progress closer to design limits. Figure 1 and 2 show a comparison between a highwall in poor condition and an optimally stable highwall in the pit.

Your Return on Investment

Partnering with LARM means putting safety, efficiency, and ore recovery at the centre of your mining strategy. Clients who adopt our recommendations will see:

• Improved compliance with pit wall design
• Safer conditions near final walls
• Increase ore recovery

Protect your people, recover your ore, and improve your pit design execution. Contact LARM Consulting today to schedule a Wall Control Review tailored to your site.