GROUP 1

Arriane Faith Estonilo

Syrev Aliman Simeon
Lloyd Julien Mabalot
Karlo Bayangan
Joselle Bolide Basatan
Mervin Kay Abenoja
 3 Main Classes of Modern Explosives
Primary/ HIGH LOW
Initiating EXPLOSIVE EXPLOSIVE
EXPLOSIVE
•explosive substances, •Is any chemical mixture •Deflagrate rather than
which respond to stimuli that detonates with a detonate
like shock, impact, friction, reaction velocity over 5000 •Highly flammable
flame etc . feet per second. •Normally have little water
resistance
Examples: Examples: Example:
Mercury fulminates Straight Dynamite  Black powder
Lead styphanate Ammonia Dynamite
 Properties of Explosives
STRENGTH
•It is the energy released/unit
weight (known as weight
strength); or per unit volume
(known as bulk strength) of an
explosive.
FUME CHARACTERISTICS
•Indicates the nature and
quantity of the undesirable
gases formed during
detonation.
DETONATION PRESSURE
•Is the pressure in the
reaction zone as an
explosive detonates.
VELOCITY OF DETONATION
•It is the velocity with which
the detonation waves move
through a column of
explosives.
SENSITIVITY
•Is a measure of the ease with
which an explosive can be
detonated by heat, friction or
shock and of its ability to
propagate that detonation.
WATER RESISTANCE
•Is the ability of an explosive
product to withstand exposure
to water without losing
sensitivity or efficiency.
DENSITY
•Is the specific weight
expressed as kg/liter or g/cm^3
•Det. the possible charge
concentration in blast hole.
STABILITY
•Is the attitude of an
explosive to resist chemical
decomposition
BOREHOLE PRESSURE
• Is the pressure exerted on the
borehole walls by the
expanding gases of the
detonation after the chemical
reaction has been completed.
 TYPES AND GRADES OF EXPLOSIVES
GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES
• Nitroglycerin (NG) – the first high explosive, is the sensitizer
in dynamites and is seldom used alone, although it has
been used in a somewhat desensitized form for shooting oil
wells. It has a specific gravity of 1.6 and a detonation
velocity slightly over 25,000 feet per sec.

• Explosive containing NG, are available three consistencies: -

Gelatinous - Semi-Gelatinous – Powdery

• Higher NG contents renders explosives gelatinous; lower

NG content up to 10% powdery. NG based explosives can
be divided into three classes: ● Dynamites ● Blasting
gelatin ● Semi gelatin
• 1)DYNAMITES (straight dynamite, ammonia
dynamite) The NG based explosives were
called dynamites.
– Straight (nitroglycerin) dynamite consists of
nitroglycerin, sodium nitrate, an antacid, a
carbonaceous fuel, and sometimes sulfur. The
term "straight" means that a dynamite contains
no ammonium nitrate
– High-density ammonia dynamite, also called extra
dynamite, is the most widely used dynamite. It is
like straight dynamite, except that ammonium
nitrate replaces part of the nitroglycerin and
sodium nitrate.
• Low-density ammonia dynamite is
manufactured in a weight strength of about
65 percent. The cartridge (bulk) strength
ranges from 20 to 50 percent, depending on
the bulk density of the ingredients.

• 2)BLASTING GELATIN -This is the most

powerful explosive containing 92% NG and 8%
Nitrocellulose (NC) which contains 12.2%
nitrogen. Chalk, zinc oxide, air bubbles,
acetone etc. are added to make the
composition suitable for blasting purposes.
• Straight gelatin is basically a blasting gelatin
with sodium nitrate, carbonaceous fuel, and
sometimes sulphur added. It is manufactured
In grades ranging from 20 to 90 pet weight
strength and is the gelatinous equivalent of
straight dynamite.
• Ammonia gelatin, also called special gelatin or
extra gelatin, is a straight gelatin in which
ammonium nitrate has replaced part of the
nitroglycerin and sodium nitrate.
Manufactured in weight strengths ranging
from 40 to 80 percent
• SEMI GELATIN -These are also termed as low
NG, or high AN explosives due to the fact that
in these explosives NG is mixed with NC, to
form gel matrix which is mixed with AN in
various proportions.
• POWDER - Consist essentially of ammonium
nitrate sensitized with either nitroglycerine or
trinitroluene (TNT). - Low density explosives
with relatively high weight strength, well
suited for blasting work in soft or medium
rock where conditions are moderately dry.
• AMMON DYNAMITE - Contain nitroglycerine,
ammonium nitrate and carbonaceous
ingredients - Have lower densities and higher
cartridge counts than the gelatins or semi-
gelatins of the same grade strength
• BELEX - The ‘Belex’ range comprises four
explosives intermediate I composition and
properties between Special Gelatins and
Powders. - These are characterized by high
weight strength but with decreasing density,
giving a series with varying bulk strengths
from which a selection may be made to suit
most blasting conditions.
• TRIMONITE - Contains ammonium nitrate
sensitized with trinitrotoluene but without
nitroglycerine. - Medium density explosives
reasonably free from noxious fumes - NOT
moisture resistant, therefore, must only be u
2 Groups of Blasting Agents
BLASTING AGENTS

DRY BLASTING WET BLASTING

AGENTS AGENTS

ANFO SLURRY EMULSION

WATER GELS
EXPLOSIVES EXPLOSIVES
 Blasting Agents
DRY BLASTING AGENT WET BLASTING AGENT
•Is a granular, free running mix of solid •Wet blasting agents are referred to the
oxidizer (usually AN); prilled into blasting agents that contain more than
porous pellets, into which the liquid fuel 5% water by weight .
or propellant is absorbed.

EXAMPLE: ANFO EXAMPLE: slurry explosives, water gels,

emulsions, and heavy ANFO.
Prilled Ammonium Nitrate Slurry Water Emulsions
explosives gels
• a semi-solid or •is a gelatinous •a two-liquid phase
pasty suspension aqueous solution containing
of oxidizers, fuel, that consists of an microscopic
sensitizers etc. in a oxidizer, such as droplets of aqueous
thickener like guar AN, and a fuel. nitrates of salts
gum.
 The advantages of ANFO:
• It is cheap, low cost per unit weight;
• It is easy and safe to manufacture;
• It completely fills the borehole
• It produces better fragmentation due to its
high gas producing properties; and,
• It offers high order of safety, resistance to
accidental detonation.
The disadvantages of ANFO:
• It has no resistance to water;
• It has a low density and a low bulk strength;
It is not cap-sensitive and must be initiated
with a primer; and,
• It has a low velocity of detonation, 2,000 to
4,000 m/s
 EXPLOSIVES FOR SEISMIC
PROSPECTING
• SEISMIC PROSPECTING
A geophysical method of prospecting,
utilizing knowledge of the speed of reflected
sound waves in rock. o Land seismic data
acquisition relies primarily on two types of
seismic sources – Explosives and Vibrator
Trucks
 Nobel’s Explosives Company Ltd.
products for seismic prospecting.
Seismic
Geophex gelatins Seismex Geoflex Aquaflex

•is a •Seismic •It cannot be •is a flexible •Offering similar

nitroglycerine Gelatine 90% detonated by waterproof properties to
gelatin Strength and ordinary detonating fuse ‘Geoflex.
explosive for Seismic seismic with an •can be fired
geophysical Gelatine 80% detonator, but explosive core within a wide
prospecting Strength are requires special of PETN. range of depths
having a grade high strength primers or •has a velocity without being
strength of and high boosters. of detonation of disrupted by
60%. velocity approximately phenomena
gelatinous 6500 meters
explosives. per second.
 Permitted Explosives
• The constituents of most Permitted Explosives
are nitroglycerines, nitrocotton, ammonium
nitrate, sodium chloride and absorbent
materials.
• Upon detonation, a permitted explosive:
1. Gives off the minimum possible quantity
of noxious gases; and,
2. Produces a flame of the lowest possible
temperature and shortest possible duration, to
lessen the risk of combustible gases ignition.
 Permitted/Permissible Explosives
GROUP P1 GROUP P2 GROUP P3 GROUP P4 GROUP P5 GROUP
P4/P5

•May be •P1 •Previously •Developed •Designed •Designed to

legally used explosives known as specifically for delay meet both
for that are “Equivalent for use in blasting in P4 and P5
instantaneou sheathed by to sheathed,” rock rippings solid coal, test
s blasting in sodium used mainly with delay i.e. not conditions.
undercut bicarbonate. for blasting firing. undercut
coal or undercut
relieved rock coal and
(rippings) rock rippings
near a coal by single
face. shot firing or
instantaneou
s firing of up
to six shots.
 BLACK BLASTING POWDER
• Black Blasting Powder, the oldest blasting
explosive, is still widely where a slow, heaving
action is required, being classified as a low
explosive.
• It is also known as gunpowder.
• It consists of Sulphur, charcoal, and sodium or
potassium nitrate (saltpeter).
Black Blasting Powder Granules
Medium Fine
Coarse
 Blasting Accessories
• Plain detonator(blasting caps)
-for use with Safety Fuse, contains a base charge
of PETN (pentaerythritol-tetranitrate) and a
priming charge of lead azide composition in an
aluminium tube.

• Electric detonators(electric blasting caps)

-In electric detonators electric energy is sent
through copper leading/leg wire to heat an internal
connecting bridge wire.
• Star detonator
-For users requiring even more powerful
detonators “STAR” detonator are made.

• Submarine electric detonators(waterproof

electric blasting caps)
-These are tested to withstand a pressure of 14
kg/cm²(200 lb per inch)
• ROCK STAR DETONATORS
-These are designed to provide the precise control
necessary to produce accurate and consistent blasting
results in a variety of blasting applications in the
mining, quarrying and construction industries.

• Seismic electric detonator(seismograph electric

blasting caps)
-These detonator can withstand high hydrostatic
pressure
-The special fuseheads incorporated in these
detonators explode so rapidly that there is no
significant interval between the passage of the firing
current and the explosion of the detonator.
• Short-delay detonator(millisecond or short
period delay blasting caps)
-Are an important development of the delay detonator
-By their use new methods of blasting technique are
made possible

• Carrick short-delay detonator

-These are low incendive, short delay detonators
approved for use in underground coal mines
-They are an electric delay detonator,a priming
composition and a Tetryl base charge inside a cylindrical
copper shell
• Delay detonator(regular delay blasting caps)
-Modern methods of tunnel driving, drifting in
mines and shaft sinking are greatly assisted by the
use of delay detonator-which in multi-shot rounds
provide an accurate sequence of explosions at
known time intervals
• Hydrostar’ instantaneous and short-delay
electric detonators
-These are made to meet the special
requirements of pulsed infusion shotfiring

• Special detonators
-These can give additional protection
against stray currents and may also be used in
conditions of severe static electricity
-However they do require special high
energy exploder
 Bridgewire
• A bridgewire, sometimes spelled as bridge
wire, also known as a hot bridge wire (HBW) is
a relatively thin resistance wire used to set off
a pyrotechnic composition serving as
pyrotechnic initiator.
 Cordtex’ detonating fuse
• This detonating fuse is highly efficient blasting
accessory with a wide field of uses
• It is particularly suitable for the simultaneous
firing of multiple charges of explosives
Detonating relays
• These are delay units devised to provide a
convenient means of obtaining short-delay firing
intervals in blasting operations using cordtex
• Each relay is consists of two delay detonators
 Safety fuse
• Safety fuse consists of a core of specially
prepared black powder(gun powder)
• Its ability to ignite blackpowder and in
conjunction with a plain detonator to initiate
high explosives
Shotfiring Equipment

Exploder A portable source of electric current to reliably fire a

blasting cap to trigger a main explosive charge

Ohmmeter An instrument for measuring electrical resistance

Exploder Tester This device is used to test the shotfiring capacity of

exploders
Exploders

Marston Type ME12 Mk2 'P' approved exploder for exploder for firing up to 12
detonaters in series

Schaffler type 350 (Marston Dynamo-Electric Exploder with twist handle for firing up
Ref ME30/4) to 25 detonators in series

Schaffler Type 750 (Marston Dynamo-Electric Exploder with mainspring drive for firing
Ref ME 100/4) up to 100 detonators in series

Shaffler type 770 (Marston Double-Armature Dynamo-Electric Exploder with

Ref ME200/4) mainspring drive for firing 200 detonators in series

Beethoven Mk 2 Dynamo-Condenser Exploder for firing 100 detonators in

series

Beethoven Mk 2a Similar to Beethoven Mk 2 except for a snap action firing

switch and a shunt resistance