Zinc oxide inhibited emulsion explosives and method
AssigneeSouthwest Energy Inc.
InventorsRobert G. Smith, Jr., Harry R. Fee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of blasting in reactive ores includes diluting hot liquor of ammonium nitrate with water to provide diluted ammonium nitrate solution of predetermined concentration, adjusting the pH of the liquor of the ammonium nitrate solution, adding a predetermined amount of gassing agent to the ammonium nitrate solution, and emulsifying the ammonium nitrate solution. Then an effective amount of fine zinc oxide powder is mixed with the emulsion explosive and the inhibited emulsion explosive is introduced into a borehole and detonated.
Claims15
A method of blasting in reactive ores containing sulfide and/or pyrite comprising the steps of:
- (a) loading a borehole with an emulsion explosive including (1) an emulsifier, (2) a continuous organic fuel phase, (3) a discontinuous oxidizer salt solution phase including water and organic oxidizer salt, and (4) solid phase zinc oxide in an amount greater than about 0.25% of the weight of the composition;
- and
- (b) thereafter detonating the emulsion explosive.
A method of blasting in reactive ores containing sulfide and/or pyrite, comprising the steps of:
- (a) diluting hot liquor of ammonium nitrate with water to provide diluted ammonium nitrate solution of predetermined concentration;
- (b) adjusting the pH of the liquor of ammonium nitrate solution;
- (c) adding a predetermined amount of gassing agent to the ammonium nitrate solution after step (b);
- (d) adding a predetermined amount of fuel oil and emulsifier to the ammonium nitrate solution;
- (e) emulsifying the ammonium nitrate solution after step (d);
- (f) mixing the emulsified ammonium nitrate solution and fuel oil with an amount of zinc oxide powder in the range of about 0.5 to 10 weight percent to form an inhibited emulsion explosive;
- (g) introducing the inhibited emulsion explosive into a borehole;
- and
- (h) thereafter detonating the inhibited emulsion explosive.
A method of blasting in reactive ores containing sulfide and/or pyrite, comprising the steps of:
- (a) diluting hot liquor of ammonium nitrate with water to provide diluted ammonium nitrate solution of predetermined concentration;
- (b) adjusting the pH of the liquor of ammonium nitrate solution;
- (c) adding a predetermined amount of fuel oil and emulsifier to the ammonium nitrate solution;
- (d) emulsifying the ammonium nitrate solution after step (c);
- (e) mixing the emulsified ammonium nitrate solution with an amount of zinc oxide powder in the range of about 1 to 20 weight percent to form an inhibited emulsion explosive;
- (f) mixing a predetermined amount of ANFO with the inhibited emulsion explosive to form inhibited heavy ANFO and introducing the heavy ANFO into a borehole;
- and
- (g) thereafter detonating the inhibited heavy ANFO.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.