Properly storing and securing explosives is vitally important in our industry. This free PDF contains guidelines, tips, techniques and tools developed by ATF, ISEE and IME for properly securing explosive materials.

The purpose of this booklet is to provide industry members with useful tips, techniques and tools for properly securing explosive materials. In past, advisories to explosives industry members, it has requested that industry members report any suspicious behavior or unusual activity to ATF and local law enforcement authorities. Keeping explosives secure requires more than that, however. It requires preparing and implementing a security plan.

Mining stocks recently posted an eighth weekly advance, the longest run in eight years, as hopes of more central-bank stimulus boosted equities and sent tin and zinc prices to the highest in more than a year.

The FTSE 350 Mining Index gained 5.3 percent last week, led by companies including Anglo American Plc and Glencore Plc, and the London Metal Exchange’s index of metals reached a nine-month high. Copper rose as much as 1.2 percent Friday, July 15 as economic data from China, the biggest metals user, beat estimates. Shares of Phoenix-based Freeport-McMoRan Inc. advanced.

Sandvik has announced it will divest its mining systems division to private equity firm CoBe Capital. The group first announced its intention to divest the business late last year.

"Divesting the Mining Systems is an important step in consolidating Sandvik to its core operations, which for Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology is high technology mining equipment and aftermarket offerings," Björn Rosengren, Sandvik’s CEO, said.

According to a Sandvik spokesperson the only Australian operations to be affected is the Bayswater facility, in Perth, which produces conveyor pulleys, rollers, and frames for mining.

The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) recently announced a proposed regulation to amend workplace examination requirements. The regulation, titled "Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines," proposes expanded recordkeeping and training mandates and is likely to increase personal enforcement liability for supervisors.

Under the current regulations, a competent person designated by the operator can examine anytime during a shift; action must be initiated promptly to correct conditions that may adversely affect safety; if an imminent danger exists, management must be notified and miners must be withdrawn immediately; and a record of conditions or corrections is not required, only who examined what and when.

A blast at a quarry in Northampton County, Penn. didn’t go so well. Residents in the nearby Hillside Farms neighborhood told wfmz.com that they heard the blast at the quarry and then rocks (flyrock) fell into the neighborhood causing damage to several homes. Police reported to the scene after receiving more than a dozen calls.

According to the report, some homes suffered concussion damage from the debris, including cracked walls and plaster.

In June 2013, Samsung officials gathered in a Perth, Australia, park to celebrate a landmark deal with an Australian tycoon to construct one of the world’s biggest iron-ore mines. Crocodile steaks sizzled on the barbecue, while a senior executive thanked staff for securing the nearly $6 billion contract.

Samsung had built mega projects before, like the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai, through its construction arm, Samsung C&T Corp. 028260, +1.50% It figured the Roy Hill mine, owned by Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, would be another coup, tapping into the global commodity boom.

Instead, the Korean conglomerate best known for smartphones and refrigerators lost at least $700 million in two years on its first foray into mining, Samsung C&T said.

Western Australian iron ore miner Mount Gibson (ASX:MGX) scored Monday a key win for its proposed Iron Hill mine after the state’s environmental agency (EPA) gave the project the green light.

The new mine, located just 3 km from the company’s existing Extension Hill operation, is expected to offset an imminent output drop as mining at Extension will cease by the end of this year, with last ore to be exported early in 2017.

Kick off the summer season with ISEE. Head over to the ISEE online bookstore today and save 10% on books, DVDs, apparel and artwork. Be sure to use coupon code summer16 at the check out to redeem your discount. SEE Education Foundation items and other select merchandise are not included. Standard shipping rates apply. The offer ends Aug. 5, 2016.

The Blasters’ E-Handbook is now available for purchase exclusively at the ISEE online store. This e-book is a complete, mobile version of the Blasters' Handbook 18th Edition, second printing, which is home to more than 1,000 pages of explosives knowledge written and designed by experienced industry professionals.

E-book readers can search the entire Blasters’ Handbook for keywords with ease, make in-book notations, highlight important text and bookmark sections where they left off. The mobile format is perfect for working in the field and for students looking to lighten their backpacks.

The e-book is compatible with most iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Windows PCs and Macs, and only available at our online store.

July 21, 2016
Countryside, Ill.

July 26-29, 2016
Tulsa, Okla.
Email tom.gersbeck@okstate.edu for more information.

Aug. 4, 2016
Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs baseball game
Email dan.leach@am.dynonobel.com for more information.

Aug. 8, 2016
Olathe, Kan.