Method of lowering the density of ammonium nitrate-based mining explosives with expanded agricultural grain so that a density of 0.3g/cc to 1.0g/cc is achieved
AssigneeMining Services International
InventorCharles M. Lownds
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The density of ammonium nitrate-based mining explosives, such as ANFO, heavy ANFO and emulsion explosives, is lowered by adding an expanded grain, such as expanded popcorn, expanded rice, or expanded wheat, to the explosive. As much as 10% of the explosive composition may be an expanded grain. The present invention may be used with porous ammonium nitrate, dense agricultural grade ammonium nitrate, crystalline ammonium nitrate, and ground ammonium nitrate.
Claims29
An explosive composition comprising:
- an ammonium nitrate-based mining explosive;
- and
- an expanded agricultural grain for reducing the density of the explosive composition, wherein the expanded grain is present in the explosive composition up to about 10% by weight sufficient to lower the density of the explosive composition to from about 0.3 g/cc to 1 g/cc.
A method of lowering the density of an ammonium nitrate-based mining explosive composition comprising adding an expanded agricultural grain to the ammonium nitrate-based mining explosive composition, wherein the amount of expanded grain added to the explosive composition is up to 10% by weight of the explosive composition sufficient to lower the density of the explosive composition to from about 0.3 g/cc to 1 g/cc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.