The disclosure provides a method of stemming a blast hole and a blast hole arrangement. The method includes positioning an explosive in a blast hole, and providing an unrestrained gelled length of superabsorbent polymer gel (i) above, (ii) below, (iii) above and below or (iv) consecutively above and below the explosive. The superabsorbent polymer gel may be pumped into the blast hole. The blast hole arrangement includes an explosive and an unrestrained gelled length of superabsorbent polymer gel provided (i) above, (ii) below, (iii) above and below or (iv) consecutively above and below the explosive in a blast hole. The blast hole arrangement may further include decking. WO 2014/201514 PCT/AU2014/050072 30 34 34 30 32,.~ 40 .t. 48 50 44 34 32--s