Austin Powder Company

Breaking Barriers Underground With 72,600 Tonnes of Rock Blasted from the Surface

Big moment underground when Austin Powder and Nyrstar successfully fired a historic surface-initiated underground blast, safely breaking 72,600+ tonnes from Immel Mine’s Stope 25 77 W, with zero personnel underground.

Using the E*STAR CUBE centralized blasting system, the team remotely verified and fired 1,350 electronic detonators from the surface, delivering millisecond-accurate timing, full digital traceability, and unmatched control for one of the largest stope blasts executed this way.

The result? Improved safety, reduced misfire risk, precise fragmentation, and a complete digital audit trail — proving that large-scale underground blasting can be safer, smarter, and fully connected. This milestone marks the next chapter in a six-year partnership built on trust, innovation, and the pursuit of what’s possible underground. Read the full Benefit Study at this link.
https://austinpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Breaking-Barriers-Underground-72600-Tonnes-Blasted-from-the-Surface.pdf

Did you know? The E*STAR Electronic Initiation System was first introduced in 2001, building a strong pedigree of reliable electronic initiation over more than two decades. Through continuous innovation and multiple generations of advancement, it has consistently raised the bar for precision, safety, and control. Today, in its fourth evolution, E*STAR reflects the full strength of that experience in modern blasting environments.