Can drill cuttings be used for stemming material?

• A. True; drill cuttings are effective stemming material
• B. False; they can rifle out of the hole and they don't compact well
• C. True; they are ideal stemming material
• D. False; they should be mixed with cement

Answer: (B)

Stemming must seal the borehole and withstand gas pressure so the energy stays contained. Drill cuttings are irregular, loose, and may contain moisture or fines, so they don’t pack tightly. When the blast happens, gases can push the cuttings back up or out of the hole, breaking the seal. They also tend to settle unevenly, creating voids and channels for gas to escape, which defeats the purpose of stemming. Because of these properties, drill cuttings are not suitable as stemming material. Mixing with cement isn’t a standard remedy and can introduce other problems, so the idea that drill cuttings are effective or ideal is not accurate.