TYPES OF EXPLOSIVES

AND ACCESSORIES
USED IN MINES
.
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EXPLOSIVE DEFINITIONS
1. Explosive is a substance, which under the influence of heat,
shock or both, is capable of generating a large volume of gas at
high temperature in an extremely short space of time on confined
rock mass, thus breaking it.
2. The Explosive Act, 1884 defines “Explosive” means
gunpowder, NG, nitroglycol, guncotton, dinitrotoluene, tri-
nitrotoluene,picric acid, dinitro phenol, trinitro resorcinol,
cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine, penta-erythritol-
tetranitrate,tetryl,fulminate of mercury or any other metal, diazo-
di-nitro phenol, coloured fires or any other substance whether a
single chemical compound or a mixture of substance, whether
solid or liquid or gaseous used or manufactured with a view to
produce a practical effect by explosion or pyrotechnic effect, and
it inlcudes fog signals, fireworks, fuses, rockets, detonators,
ammunition of all descriptions and every adaption or preparation
of an explosive as defined in this clause.
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
 As per Explosive Rules
◦ Class I : Gunpowder
◦ Class II : Nitrate mixture
◦ Class III : nitro compounds
 Div 1 – BG, special gelatin
 Div 2 – Guncotton, PETN, TNT etc.
◦ Class IV : Chlorate mixture
◦ Class V : Fulminate
◦ Class VI :
 Div 1- Safety fuse, Ignitor cord, etc
 Div 2 – DF/D cord, electric fuse, etc.
 Based on Sensitivity
◦ Cap Sensitive – detonated by detonator ex: permitted, etc.
◦ Non – Cap sensitivity – explosives cannot be detonated and need a cap
sensitive explosive for detonation ex: ANFO etc.
 Based on risk:
◦ Category X - explosives have a fire or a slight explosion risk
◦ Category Y – mass fire risk or moderate explosion risk but not
mass explosion.
◦ Category Z – mass explosion risk and major missile effect
◦ Category ZZ – mass explosion risk and minor missile effect
• Based on Strength:
Low explosive – gunpowder etc.
High explosive – dynamites, slurry, emulsion etc.
 Use Basis
Permitted Explosives – used in UG gassy coal/non coal mines or
excavations.
Non permitted
Small dia– 32mm holes drilled by jack hammers.
Large dia – 100 mm dia or more.
LOW EXPLOSIVE
 Oldest form of explosive.
 Gun powder/ black powder
 It burns and develop much low pressure
 It is a mechanical mixture of KNO3 (72-75%), charcoal
(15-16%) and sulphur (10-12%)
20 KNO3+30 C+10S 
(6K2CO3+K2SO4+3K2)+(14CO2+10CO+10N2)+600 cal/g
 Poor fragmentation with heaving effect
 Used in manufacture of safety fuse; extraction of
ornamental blocks.
 Used in small quarries, well digging etc.
HIGH EXPLOSIVES
 Highly oxygen balanced, Characterized by very high rate of
reaction and high detonation pressure.
 2 types

◦ NG based (1845)
 Dyanmites (1860)
 Gelatines
◦ ANFO (1947)
 LOX (1930, in India)
 Slurry (1960-62)
 Cap-sensitive Slurry (1970)
 Emulsion (1978)
 Bulk Explosives (1980 -90)
 NG based explosives
 Yellow oily transparent liquid made by action of nitric acid on
glycerine.
 Compositions:
◦ NG-5%-90%
◦ NC-Gelling/thickening agent & senstizer
◦ Oxidizer-AN & SN
◦ Fuel ingredients- Starches, wood flours, sulfur; NaCl-in
permissible exp.
 Sensitive to shock, friction & heat
 High VOD of 7800m/sec
 Temp of detn.- 3150O C
 Chemical reaction:
(NG) 4C3H5 (NO3) 3  12CO2+10H2O+6N2+O2+1500 cal/g
 Density:0.8-1.45, RBS: 73-79%, Temp.Res:17 deg
NG based explosives
Advantages:
 High strengths
 High densities
 High detonation velocity
 Greater water resistance and chemical stability

Disadvantages:
 Risk of accidents
 Sensitive to friction and heat
 Handling problems
 High manufacturing cost

Examples: TELGEX-80/90/LD (TEL), OCG(ICI).

 Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil
 94.3% AN +5.7% FO (Oxygen Balanced)
 Chemical Reaction:
94.3%AN+5.7%FO (Oxygen balanced) - 3NH 4NO3+CH2
3N2+7H2O+CO2+930 cal/g
 Fuel Oil –Diesel Oil No.2 ( for 50 kg of AN-3.7 liters)
 Sensitivity and Performance of AN, depends on ‘quality’ of
the Prill supplied
 Sensitivity or Energy increased by adding Fuel grade
Aluminum and affected by water
 PROPERTIES:
◦ Density – 0.3 to 1 g/cc
◦ VOD – 2000 to 4000 m/s
◦ Gas volume – 9770 litres/cc
◦ Heat – 900 Kcal/Kg
ANFO
Advantages:
 Superior in cost effectiveness
 Safe to handle
 Best suitable for dry holes
 Explosive is prepared only at the site
 No storage in magazine required
Disadvantages:
 Desensitized in water
 Inefficient in small dia holes
 Unsuccessful blasting in hard rocks
 Lower sensitivity
Examples: Deepak Fertilizers, Pune
LOX
 It is made by soaking cartridge of activated charcoal-27%
(combustible ingredient) - in liquid oxygen (73%).
 High detonation pressure (14*10000 atmos.) and explosion
temperature (6600 degree C)
 Large volume of gas is released at high temperature
Advantages:
 Suitable for dense and medium rocks
 No emission of noxious gases
 It causes less vibrations than conventional explosive
 Misfires can be handled safely after lapse of certain duration
Disadvantages:
 Cost is high
 Quicker evaporation ( life is shorter)
 Unsafe
Example: LOXITE (IOL)
SLURRY
Addition of colloid such as ‘Guargum’ in
ANFO, which builds up ‘Viscosity’, followed
by Cross-linking agent which forms a gelled
mixture.
Compositions:
Oxidizer: AN, SN
Fuel: Sugar, Coal.
TNT, Al- Sensitizer
Plant or Truck mixed
Detonation velocity: 3000-4500 m/sec
Density:1-1.2, RBS: 53-65%
Temperature resistance: 4 deg.C
.
Advantages:
Water resistant
Effective utilization of explosives
Not subjected to friction or impact
It produces low non-toxic fumes

Disadvantages:
Life is only 6 months
Not suitable for high temperature conditions

Example: TELGEL (TEL)

EMULSION
Consists of oxiders dissolved in water
surrounded by a fuel – fine particle size
Senstizer: air/gas bubbles or artificial glass
micro balloons-hot spot; Emulsifier-waxes,
gums
VOD: 4000-5000 m/s
Density range of 1.1 to 1.35 g/cc
High water resistant in full concentration
Plant of Truck mixed
High velocity and bulk strength
Temperature resistance: 4 deg. C
Example: Powergel (Orica)
PERMITTED EXPLOSIVES
P1 – Unsheathed. simultaneous blasting in
coal, ripping. Used for CCM. Used in Degree
I mines
P2 – Sheathed. Replaced by P3 explosives.
P3 – Equivalent sheathed. Can be used in
Degree II, III mines.
P4 – Ultrasafe explsoives. Not used in India.
P5 – Delay blasting in solid blasting and in
gassy mines.
BULK EXPLOSIVES
Explosives directly delivered into the
blast hole through mechanised and
mobile delivery system
Supplied to large opencast mines and
civil construction projects
Useful, annual explosive consumption-
2000 t
Types – Bulk ANFO, Bulk Watergel,
Bulk Emulsion, HANFO
BENEFITS OF BULK
EXPLOSIVES
Safety
Inventory
Explosive vans
Manpower
Speed of operation
Explosive product
Blasting efficiency
Other features
BLASTING ACCESSORIES
Initiation / Firing Systems
◦ Non-Electric System
◦ Electric System
Exploders
Detonating Delay
Cord Relays
 COMPARISON OF VARIOUS INITIATION
SYSTEM
FEATURE Shock Tube HEDC+delay Electric deto Fuse+IC LEDC

Timing ability Precise Limited Precise Limited -

Blasting Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Limited -
limited
capability
Blasting Most aspects Mainly open Mainly UG Both ANFO+large
adaptability pit blasting blasting dia slurries
Air blast None-existent significant None-existent None-existent Limited

Fire risk None-existent None-existent None-existent Existent None-existent

Means of Visual visual Instrumental Visual visual

checking
Craftsmanship unskilled unskilled skilled Unskilled unskilled
DETONATING CORD
It gets initiated by a detonator and in turn
propagates the shock wave to the
explosive column.
It has a core of PETN (varying from 3 to
80 gm/m), wrapped in plastic tape/nylon
cord layer, textile layer and finally a
plastic covering to give strength of 50 to
60 kg.
VOD of 6500 to 7000m/s.
It is insensitive to shock and flame.
 PETN Core
Plastic tape/Nylon
cord layer
Textile layer
Plastic covering
DETONATING FUSE
SHOCK TUBE SYSTEM
It is the down the line initiation system.
It comprising of high strength plastic/
polyfin polymer shock tube of 3-4mm
outside diameter.
It is coated inside with a thin film of reactive
explosive substance, HMX of 15-20mg/m.
There is a delay detonator attached at the end
of tube. ‘Raydet’-developed by IDL, ‘Excel’-
developed by ICI, ‘Amardet’- by Premier
explosive Ltd.
ADVANTAGES
 True bottom initiation
 Less air & ground vibration
 Better high wall, roof and side stability
 Not susceptible to stray electric currents, current
leakage, radio frequency or static electricity, friction
and impact
 Better fragmentation.
 Minimum pre mature venting through stemming.
 Reduction in boulder generation
 Improved toe- breakage
 Reduced fly rock.
 Improved cycle time
TUNNELLING
High density explosives are used.
NG being replaced by slurry (high density).
Shock tubes

◦ No premature explosion
◦ Accuracy in delay time sequencing.
ACCESSORIES
CIRCUIT TESTER
In electric shotfiring, the circuit is tested to
ensure that there is no open or short circuit
and such tests are being done by ‘Blastometer’.
CRIMPER
It is a pair of pliers to crimp or press the end of
a plain detonator tube on a safety fuse inserted
into it.
Shot firing cables
◦ To fire the shots from the long distance
Wooden stemming rod
◦ To stem the holes
Scraper
◦ To clean the holes.
Pricker
◦ To prick the cartridge and it is made of brass,
aluminum or wood.
REFERENCES
G.K.Pradhan, explosives and blasting
techniques.
D.J.Deshmukh, Elements of Mining
Technology Vol.1
B.A.KENADY.,
Alan Bauer William A. Crosby -
BLASTING
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