I must admit that when I start to think about time, my first thoughts go to Einstein – the original mad scientist! His interactions with Niels Bohr were some of the most important in science history. We are still verifying concepts he predicted over 100 years ago. Remember, he never did any real experiments – he worked with pen, paper, and lots of fancy mathematics. Some of his quotes I like go like this:
- The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once (I guess that at least makes sense).
- Formerly, people thought that if matter disappeared from the universe, space and time would remain. Relativity declares that space and time would disappear with matter (I’m not sure I even know what that means).
- Time does not exist – we invented it. Time is what the clock says. The distinction between the past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion (I find that a very difficult concept to get my head around).
Here is another quote – but one we can all understand:
- Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.
Whatever Einstein and other scientists may say about time as a physical entity, we, as normal humans, must live within it. We each have 24 hours a day allocated to us, even if that “time” is an artificial construct.
Time itself may be an artificial construct, but timing is very real.
In industries like mining and construction, the timing of decisions is critical – they must be made quickly and correctly. Ultimately, timing is:
- Operational
- Financial
- Safety-critical.
For those of us who are trying to maximise what we achieve with the time allotted to us, Andy Warhol says: “They say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself”. Absolutely!
When asked what their most valuable asset is, many people say things like money, equipment, even opportunity. But the simple truth is – our greatest asset is time. The way we spend our time says everything about what we value, what we prioritise, and ultimately, what we create.
Time, as our most valuable asset, demands purpose, data, and better decisions.
This is why we at Texcel talk a lot about technology, systems, and data. Let’s just consider two aspects of time that are important to us:
Real-time data:
Often a misused (and overused) word. Things to keep in mind:
- It is not a panacea for all our problems
- Real-time data is not just about speed. Speed matters, but consistency, accuracy, and context matter more.
- More data is not necessarily better. Data without structure simply creates noise – curated, contextual data creates value.
Blast timing:
Blasting is one of the most time-sensitive processes in mining. Timing in blasting is critical because it directly controls how explosive energy is distributed and utilised, fundamentally determining the outcome of the blast in terms of fragmentation quality, safety, and environmental impact.
Key reasons for the importance of timing:
- Optimal rock fragmentation
- Controlling environmental effects
- Maximising energy efficiency
- Maintaining wall stability
- Adapting to geology
Timing is one of the final design steps that can greatly improve blast results.
When design, drilling and loading, as well we any other implementation of blast attributes, are near optimal, timing is an aspect that makes a good blast a great blast.
At Texcel, we believe time becomes meaningful when it is spent improving outcomes that matter – for people, communities, and industries.
Real-time data and blast analysis aren’t just technical tools – they are time tools, helping transform fleeting moments into lasting impact. Because when we use time wisely, with purpose and insight, we don’t just run better operations, we build a better future for those who come after us.