Prior to 1999, rock mass was stripped in the open-pit operations at the Tsentralny mine with domestic standard explosives. Granulotol was used on watered blocks, while 79/21 grammonite was used on "dry" blocks. Igdanite was used in insignificant quantities due to the lack of sufficient mechanization and its low energy for rocks with a hardness factor of 14-18 (according to Protodiakonov). Detonating cord DShE-12 and TNT-400G were used as means of initiation. In this technology there was practically no mechanization. All operations, from unloading of wagons to loading of boreholes were performed manually, transportation was carried out by KrAZ-256B trucks. As a whole, this complex of works was excessively costly. This state of affairs could not satisfy the company management.
