Blasting Solutions
4D™ Coal
Optimised blasting for more efficient surface coal operations.
Reliable blasting performance in wet dewatered and dry conditions.
Reliable blasting performance in wet dewatered and dry conditions.
The 4D™ Coal System offers a versatile range of energy-matched bulk explosives designed specifically for coal mining. It enables operators to achieve consistent and predictable blast performance across all blasthole conditions—wet, dewatered and dry. By matching explosive energy to site conditions, the system helps improve fragmentation, reduce costs and deliver predictable, efficient outcomes for surface mining operations.
Product benefits
Product benefits
Maximise resource recovery
Operational efficiency and performance
Sustainability and Reduced Footprint
Total cost of ownership
Reduce Costs of Drill and Blast
Blast quality and performance
Industries
Industries
Surface coal
Hole conditions
Hole conditions
Dewatered
Dry
Hard rock
Hot and/or reactive ground
Jointed ground
Very abrasive rock
Wet
Features and benefits
Features and benefits
Dynamic energy control for coal geology
Tailor energy profiles to match coal seam variability and improve blast outcomes.
Consistent performance in wet or dry conditions
Maintain energy delivery without costly liners or product changes.
Reduce drill and blast costs
Expand patterns and eliminate decking for faster loading and lower costs.
Improve fragmentation and muckpile profile
Deliver predictable results for efficient load and haul and better downstream processing.
Enhance on-bench productivity
Optimise MMU™ payloads and loading speed for maximum efficiency.
4D™ Coal resources
4D™ Coal resources
Case Study
Reducing powder factor and fume using 4D™
Bloomfield Mine partnered with Orica to tackle fume and cost challenges in soft, wet ground. Using the 4D™ Coal Bulk System, the site reduced powder factor and explosive strength while maintaining productivity and improving environmental performance.
4D™ System components
4D™ System components
Advanced bulk emulsion chemistry
4D™ emulsion chemistry enables faster chemical sensitisation and supports a wider, more stable range of explosive energies to be delivered reliably through controlled density management.
Fortis™, Fortan™ and Aquacharge™ brands
Available brands of 4D™ Coal
Fortis™, Fortan™ and Aquacharge™ brands
Fortis 4D™
Delivered as a pumped emulsion, Fortis 4D™ is designed for wet, dewatered and dry blast holes, providing consistent and reliable blast performance across multiple ground and hole conditions.
Fortan 4D™
Delivered via auger, Fortan 4D™ is designed for dry and dewatered blast holes, offering flexible loading options and reliable blast performance where water is not present.
Aquacharge™ 4D
Delivered via auger, Aquacharge™ 4D is a low‑cost, water‑resistant solution designed for damp, wet and dewatered blast holes. It provides enhanced water resistance compared to traditional heavy ANFO‑type products, with flexible density and energy selection to suit site‑specific requirements.
Surface Solutions
Further insights
Further insights
Traditional bulk explosives systems are designed around density. Each product has a fixed density, which means a fixed energy profile. To manage changes in geology or blasthole conditions, engineers must switch products or use complex decking. This adds operational complexity and can reduce consistency across the blast.
4D™ changes this approach by shifting from density‑based design to energy‑based design.
Instead of focusing on the physical density of the explosive, 4D™ measures and controls the energy delivered into each blasthole. This allows blast energy to be matched precisely to the geology and the desired outcome, without changing products. The result is greater control, improved consistency and simpler blast design.
Key differences
Conventional bulk explosives systems
- Blast performance is driven by fixed product density
- Limited ability to adjust energy within or between blastholes
- Multiple products are required to manage varying ground conditions
4D™ bulk explosives systems
- Blast performance is driven by energy, not density
- Energy can be adjusted from hole to hole as needed
- Delivers a wider range of Relative Bulk Strength using a single emulsion and gasser combination
- Simplifies blast design and improves consistency across the pattern
By enabling improved energy control and matching explosive energy to changing geology, 4D™ supports more predictable outcomes and optimised fragmentation across surface mines