Disclosed herein are significant improvements in security and safety of
blasting apparatuses intended for use in mining operations. These include
the development of an apparatus and method for blasting that involves
activation or deactivation of the blasting apparatus in accordance with
pre-determined parameters. For example, these parameters may include one
or more of: a location of the blast site, a time for the blasting event,
a number of previous blasts, a number of previous blasts within a given
time period, and identification of detonator identification codes. The
activation or deactivation may involve cross-communication between
components of the blasting apparatus and/or associated detonators. Such
cross-communication may involve electronic or wireless communication
means, including for example the use of cell phone technology, or the
internet. In this way, preferred apparatuses and methods disclosed herein
permit rapid analysis and verification of a geographical location and
time for a blasting event, as well as control and logging of the blasting
event, all from a remote location.