1.

Picture resolution

The format of the image must be color TIFF (TIF), color JPEG (JPG) or grayscale TIFF (TIF)
while its resolution must be no larger than 1680x1400.

2. Sampling planning and sequence

The muckpile has to be divided into several sampling windows. The number of windows
will depend on the width of the muckpile, the distance at which the pictures are taken and
the camera resolution. A minimum of five windows are recommended.

It is required to prevent the inclusion of the same fragments in different pictures. This can
be achieved with the assistance of the use of the sampling windows.

A consistent sampling procedure is required to facilitate posterior analyses. It is suggested
that pictures are taken from left to right and from bottom to top of the muckpile.

3. Number of images

The number of pictures to be taken will depend on the size of the muckpile (length and
height) and the variability of the fragmentation as the sampling process needs to be
representative.

Consider that the larger the number of pictures the greater the time required to provide
the final size distribution curve of a single blast.

Experience suggests that 20-30 pictures per blast are a number of samples that fulfills both
requirements mentioned above.

The pictures not only have to be taken in the surface of the original muckpile but also in
the middle and back as the excavation process progresses in order to ensure that the
samples are representative .

4. Scaling objects

At least one scaling object of a known size must be located in the muckpile before taking a
picture in order to define the real size of the fragments through digital analysis. This
option can only be used when pictures are taken totally perpendicularly to the face of the
muckpile (that is mostly the case of the pictures taken for the analysis of the finer
fraction).

Most of the time the pictures are taken with a certain angle with respect of the slope of
the face of the muckpile. In those cases two scaling objects, preferably spherical, are
required in order to define and correct the size of all the fragments.

When locating the objects, make sure that they are not close to the limits of the image.
This improves the definition of the sizes performed by the algorithm supporting the
software of analysis. With the same purpose, it is recommended the two scaling objects
are vertically aligned on the muckpile.

The entire diameter or full length of the scaling objects has to be always shown in the
picture. The following picture presents a deficient location of the scaling objects which are
partially hidden behind some big fragments.


5. Sampling range

The images need to be taken as close as required so that the rock fragments can be clearly
identified. Take into account that when zoom is used, certain amount of fine particles may
be missed out during the digital analysis due to poor resolution.

The image below shows a picture that has been taken too far from the muckpile so most
of the fragments will not be properly delineated and the results will be highly imprecise.


Pictures need to be taken at 3 different ranges for the same muckpile in order to
represent the different sizes resulting from the blast:

i. Large range: including boulders and areas of fines. The horizontal length of the image
should be about 20 ft (7 m).
ii. Medium range: typical regions from 2 to 10 inch (from 5 to 25 cm). The horizontal
length should be about 8 ft (3m).
iii. Small range: zoomed images of representative samples of fine material. The horizontal
length should be about 1,5 ft (0,5 m).
Note: All the pictures shown below are of such a quality that allows a proper digital analysis.

Large range Medium range






Small range




6. Image lighting
Be aware that shadows and direct sunlight interfere with the overall image appearance
and reduces the quality of the image for digital analysis purposes. Heavy shadows mask
particle edges and hide fine particles making their delineation inaccurate or simply
preventing their delineation.










Even light Uneven light

7. Extra considerations

Images should contain more than a few number of particles. A good picture should
represent all size fractions (large, medium and small).

The image must contain only one slope of the muckpile otherwise the digital scaling will be
deficient because the two objects are able to represent only one slope. This may result in
underestimation or overestimation of the size of part of the fragments.

The following picture shows a series of mistakes that are commonly make:
i. Most of the area of the image is occupied by an oversized boulder. The
rock fragments of a smaller size cannot be identified correctly.
ii. There is a part of the picture occupied by sky which reduces the area
available for analysis (so it has to be edited later).
iii. There is only one scaling object in the image (and the picture is not taken
perpendicularly to the slope of the muckpile).