Chapter I: II. Gesteins

Ammonium nitrate 65 61 66
Potassium nitrate 5 5 5
Trinitro-toluene 6 15 15
Flour 4 4 4
Sodium chloride 20 15 10

=ALDORFIT= is a simpler mixture intended for use where there is no danger of fire-damp--

Ammonium nitrate 81
Trinitro-toluene 17
Flour 2

It is authorised in Great Britain.

=PERDORFIT= contains not more than 52 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, sodium and ammonium nitrates, not more than 29 per cent. of trinitro-toluene and vegetable meal or gums.

=DRAGONITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Curtis’s and Harvey, formerly on the Permitted List--

Nitroglycerine 35·5
Nitrocotton 2·5
Potassium nitrate 44·5
Vaseline 5·5
Wood meal and charcoal 12

=DREADNOUGHT POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Roburite and Ammonal, Ltd., for a time on the Permitted List--

_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13

Ammonium nitrate 75·4
Trinitro-toluene 4
Ammonium chloride 5
Sodium chloride 15·5
Red oil 0·1

Limit charge 32 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic
pendulum) 2·05”

There is also Quarry Dreadnought Powder, which is not a permitted explosive.

=DUNNITE.=--A high explosive used by the United States for filling shell. It is stated to give dangerous compounds with iron, so apparently is a compound of picric acid.

=DU PONT PERMISSIBLE.=--An American coal-mine explosive. The following is on the British Permitted List--

No. 1.
_Date of Permit_ 26-4-16

Nitroglycerine 9·5
Ammonium nitrate 67·5
Wood pulp 8
Sodium chloride 15

Limit charge 18 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic
pendulum) 2·82”

=*DU PONT SMOKELESS POWDER.=--An American shot-gun powder of the fibrous 36-grain bulk type--

Soluble nitro-cellulose 95·8
Metallic nitrates 2·2
Moisture 2·0

=DUXITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Westphalia Anhalt Explosives Co. It passed the Rotherham Test, and was for a time on the British Permitted List--

Nitroglycerine 32
Nitrocotton 1
Sodium nitrate 28
Wood meal 10
Ammonium oxalate 29

Limit charge 12 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·45”

Sicherheits Gallerte-=DYNAMIT=.--A German coal-mine explosive--

Nitroglycerine 32·25
Collodion cotton 1·25
Ammonium nitrate 22·6
Sodium nitrate 10·8
Vegetable meal 18
Potassium chloride 5·5
Gelatine 1·05
Dextrin 1·05
Glycerine 4·3
Moisture 3·2

Limit charge 50 g.

Wettersicheres Gelatine-=DYNAMIT=.--A German coal-mine explosive--

I. I_a_.
Nitroglycerine 40 38
Collodion cotton 1 1
Ammonium nitrate 27 25·5
Potassium nitrate 4 5
Ammonium oxalate -- 2·5
Rye flour 10 4
Liquid hydrocarbons 3·5 14
Fatty acid salt 12·5 10
Wood meal 2 --

Limit charge 50 100 g.

=DYNAMITE= is a name that has been given to various nitroglycerine explosives. Dynamite No. 1 consists of--

Nitroglycerine 75
Kieselguhr 25

the explosive being held in the pores of the kieselguhr. In other dynamites the nitroglycerine is absorbed in a material like wood meal, and a nitrate is added to oxidise the latter on explosion.

In Gelatine Dynamite the nitroglycerine is gelatinised with collodion cotton. See under Gelatine.

American Dynamites are not generally gelatinised with collodion cotton. They are made in a number of grades, depending on the percentage of nitroglycerine.

For further details about various dynamites, see textbooks on explosives.

=DYNAMITE ANTIGRISOUTEUSE.=--Belgian coal-mine explosive made at Baelen Wezel--

IV. V.
Nitroglycerine 24 Nitroglycerine 44
Collodion cotton 1 Sodium sulphate 44
Ammonium nitrate 75 Wood meal 12

Of the above, IV. was found only to be safe in very small charges in the presence of fire-damp. No. V. has a “charge limite” of 700 grammes.

=DYNAMMON.=--The coal-mine explosive provided by the Austrian State monopoly--

Dynammon. Wetter-Dynammon.
Ammonium nitrate 87-88 94
Potassium nitrate -- 2
Red charcoal 12-13 4
Density 0·9 0·85

=DYNOBEL.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Nobels. The first formula to pass the Rotherham Test contained potassium perchlorate--

_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13
Nitroglycerine 33
Collodion cotton 0·7
Potassium perchlorate 27
Wood meal 10·3
Ammonium oxalate 29

Limit charge 22 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”

Subsequently other formulæ of somewhat different composition passed the test--

No. 2. No. 3. No. 4.
_Date of Permit_ 16-8-15 14-4-16 14-4-16
Nitroglycerine 19·5 15 15
Collodion cotton 0·5 0·5 0·5
Trinitro-toluene}
Dinitro-toluene } together 2 1·5 3
Dinitro-benzene }
Ammonium nitrate 42 52 46
Wood meal 5·5 5·5 5·5
Sodium chloride 30 25 29·5
Magnesium carbonate 0·5 0·5 0·5

Limit charge 24 18 30 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·46 2·50 2·35”

Of these only Nos. 3 and 4 are still permitted.

=*E.C. POWDER= was one of the first smokeless shot-gun powders, and is still one of the most successful. The composition has been varied somewhat from time to time, but it has always been a fibrous bulk powder. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76--

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3.
_Date of Introduction_ 1882 1890 1897
_Class_ 42-grain 42-grain 33-grain
Nitrocotton, insoluble 30·0 15·9 44·0
” soluble 28·2 41·0 30·4
Metallic nitrates 37·8 38·3 14·0
Resin 2·1 2·0 --
Vaseline -- -- 6·0
Camphor -- 1·0 4·0
Moisture 1·9 1·8 1·6
The powder is manufactured at Green Street Green, near Dartford in
Kent. The name is derived from “Explosives Company.”

=ECHO= or =EKKO= is a blasting explosive made at Nitedal in Norway, consisting of ammonium nitrate, nitrocotton, trinitro-toluene, aluminium powder, and sometimes ferro-silicon. It has been used on the Continent for filling hand-grenades.

*=ECONOMIC SMOKELESS SPORTING POWDER= is a 42-grain bulk powder for shot-guns, made by the E.C. Powder Company.

=ECRASITE= or =EKRASIT= is a high explosive used in Austria for filling shell and other military purposes. It is the ammonium salt of trinitro-cresol.

=ELECTRONITE.=--There have been several explosives of this name, but none of them have been used extensively, and all are dead now. There was a coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 73
Barium nitrate 19
Starch and slightly-charred wood meal 8

It was made by Curtis’s and Harvey.

=ELEY SMOKELESS SPORTING POWDER= is a shot-gun powder similar to =E.C.=

Ammon-=ELSAGIT= is a German coal-mine explosive. It contains ammonium nitrate, vegetable meal, not more than 6 per cent. of trinitro-toluene or other nitro-body, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, and may also contain fatty oils, alkali chlorides or oxalate, and sodium or potassium nitrate.

Gesteins-=ELSAGIT= has much the same composition, but the percentage of trinitro-toluene may be raised to 12, and it contains no sodium or potassium nitrate.

*=EMPIRE POWDER= is a smokeless shot-gun powder introduced in 1902 by Nobel’s Explosives Company. It is a fibrous 33-grain bulk powder, and, according to an analysis published in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 77, its composition is--

Nitrocotton, insoluble 48·0
” soluble 34·0
Metallic nitrates 9·0
Vaseline 7·0
Moisture 2·0

=ERGITE.=--A blasting explosive which was made for a few years in a factory in North Wales. Other explosives were also made under the names of Granergite, Shattergite, etc.

=ERIN GELIGNITE.=--A Gelignite containing a small percentage of dinitro-toluene to prevent the nitroglycerine freezing.

=ESSEX POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd. It is on the Permitted List--

_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13
Nitroglycerine 23
Nitrocotton 1
Potassium nitrate 34
Wheat flour 36
Ammonium chloride 6

Limit charge 38 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·17”

=EUREKA No. 2= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It contains nitroglycerine and a hydrated salt.

=EXCELLITE.=--A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List--

Nitroglycerine 8
Ammonium nitrate 82·5
Collodion cotton 1
Dinitro-toluene 3
Wood meal 4·5
Castor oil 1

=SUPER-EXCELLITE= is a modification of this, containing salts as cooling agents. Three formulæ passed the Rotherham Test--

No. 2. No. 3.
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 7-4-14 22-6-14
Nitroglycerine 4 5 9·5
Collodion cotton -- -- 0·5
Ammonium nitrate 75·5 50 59
Potassium nitrate 7 20 --
Starch 3·5 5 4·5
Castor oil -- -- 1
Ammonium chloride -- 5 --
Sodium chloride -- -- 15
Ammonium oxalate 10 15 10·5

Limit charge 10 14 36 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·74 2·72 2·73”

It will be seen that all three are about equal as regards power, but that No. 3, which contains the largest proportion of cooling agents and more nitroglycerine, can be used safely in much greater charges. In 1916 807,000 lbs. of No. 3 were used in mines and quarries, principally in coal mines. It is recommended by the makers, Curtis’s and Harvey, for hard coal and colliery work generally. The permits of the others have been repealed.

=EXPEDITE= is a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd.--

_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13
Ammonium nitrate 35
Potassium nitrate 33
Trinitro-toluene 12
Ammonium chloride 20

Limit charge more than 32 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·62”

See also =XPDITE=.

=EXPLOSIFS N=, =O=, etc. See under respective letters.

=EXTRA DYNAMITE= is a variety of American dynamite containing ammonium nitrate.

=FAVERSHAM POWDER= is a coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite type made by the Cotton Powder Co. The mixture, which was on the old Permitted List, had the composition--

Ammonium nitrate 90
Trinitro-toluene 10

To make it pass the Rotherham Test, part of the ammonium nitrate was replaced by potassium nitrate, and ammonium chloride was added--

No. 2.
_Date of Permit_ 10-2-14

Ammonium nitrate 47·5
Potassium nitrate 24
Ammonium chloride 18·5
Trinitro-toluene 10

Limit charge 24 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”

but this also has now been repealed.

=FAVIER= explosives consist essentially of ammonium nitrate mixed with nitro-compounds. Favier took out patents in 1884 and 1885 for mixtures of ammonium nitrate with mononitro-naphthalene, paraffin and resin. Their manufacture was undertaken soon afterwards by the French Government, and is still continued under the names of Explosifs N, or Explosifs Favier or Grisounites. Their composition has been varied from time to time, but the following are those now authorised--

Grisou-naphtalite- Grisou-naphtalite-.
couche. roche.
N_1 a. N_4. N_1 b.

Ammonium nitrate 95 90 91·5 86·5
Potassium nitrate -- 5 -- 5
Dinitro-naphthane -- -- 8·5 8·5
Trinitro-naphthalene 5 5 -- --
Tetryl -- -- -- --

For mines free from
Grisou-tetrylite-couche. fire-damp, etc.
N_1 c.

Ammonium nitrate 88 87·4
Potassium nitrate 5 --
Dinitro-naphthane -- 12·6
Trinitro-naphthalene -- --
Tetryl 7 --

The Grisounites-couche are used in the coal seams as they have theoretical temperatures of explosion of 1500° or less, but N_1 a has been replaced to a considerable extent by N_4, because the presence of a proportion of potassium nitrate is found to increase the safety; these are both coloured green. The Grisounites-roche have theoretical temperatures of explosion of 1900° or less, and are used in the rocks in coal mines. N_1 b is dyed rose colour, and N_1 c pale yellow.

Many explosives of this type are in use in different countries. On the old British Permitted List were Ammonite, Westfalite, Bellite and Roburite amongst others. Those now on the List contain ammonium or sodium chloride to enable them to pass the Rotherham Test, _e.g._ the later Ammonites, Bellite Nos. 2 and 4, Faversham Powder and Negro Powder.

On the Belgian list of Explosifs S.G.P. is Favier II bis--

Ammonium nitrate 77·6
Dinitro-naphthalene 2·4
Ammonium chloride 20

Charge limite More than 293 grammes.

=FAVORIT.= See =KORONIT.=

=*FELIXITE= is a smokeless shot-gun powder introduced in 1906 by the New Explosives Company. It is a fibrous 42-grain bulk powder, and, according to an analysis published in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, has the composition--

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 40·5
” soluble 20·5
Metallic nitrates 30·0
Nitro-compound 5·0
Vaseline 2·7
Moisture 1·3

=*FILITE= was a smokeless powder formerly used in the Italian services. It was a Ballistite consisting generally of equal parts of nitroglycerine and collodion cotton, to which 0·5 to 1 per cent. of aniline or diphenylamine was added as a stabiliser. It was gelatinised with a solvent and drawn out into cords.

=FLAMMIVORE.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive made at Arendonck--

O.
Ammonium nitrate 70
Barium nitrate 15
Cellulose 5
Dinitro-toluene 10

Charge limite 100g.

I.
Blasting gelatine 4
Ammonium nitrate 82
Potassium nitrate 10
Rye flour 4

Charge limite 500g.

III.
Nitroglycerine 6
Ammonium nitrate 70
Ammonium sulphate 9
Barium sulphate 7
Dextrin 8

Charge limite 650g.

In the United Kingdom this is “authorised” but not “permitted” for use in dangerous mines.

=FLOBERT= ammunition consists of small cartridges, like detonators, charged with a small quantity of mercury fulminate, and some antimony sulphide and potassium chlorate. It is used for target practice and shooting small birds.

=FOERDER SICHERHEITSSPRENGSTOFF.=--A German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine, mono- and di-nitro-aromatic compounds, vegetable meal and neutral salts.

=FOERDIT.=--A German coal-mine explosive containing nitroglycerine gelatinised or ungelatinised, carbohydrates, glycerine, nitro-compounds, inorganic nitrates and sodium or potassium chloride.

Ammon-Foerdit is a similar mixture, except that it contains a larger percentage of ammonium nitrate and no other inorganic nitrates. The nitroglycerine is gelatinised, and there is a little diphenylamine. The following are examples of these two explosives--

Foerdit. Ammon-Foerdit.
Nitroglycerine 25·5 3·8
Collodion cotton 1·5 0·2
Ammonium nitrate 37 85
Nitro-toluene 5 --
Dextrine or flour 4 4
Glycerine 3 2
Diphenylamine -- 1
Potassium chloride 24 4

Ammon-Foerdit F, which has been introduced recently, contains up to 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate and is similar to Astralit V.

=FORCITE.=--A variety of gelatine dynamite or gelignite made in Belgium. It contains blasting gelatine 36 to 64 per cent., sodium or ammonium nitrate, wood meal, magnesia and sometimes bran.

An American explosive of the same name is a dynamite containing wood tar--

Nitroglycerine 49
Collodion cotton 1
Sodium nitrate 38
Sulphur 1·5
Wood tar 10
Wood pulp 0·5

=FORCITE ANTIGRISOUTEUSE 3.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type--

Nitroglycerine 26
Potassium nitrate 33
Barium nitrate 1
Rye flour 38·5
Bran 1
Sodium carbonate 0·5

Charge limite 750g.

=FORTEX.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd. The mixture, which was on the old Permitted List, was--

Ammonium nitrate 78·5
Tetryl 21·5

=NEW FORTEX.=--A modification of the above to pass the Rotherham Test--

_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13

Ammonium nitrate 35
Potassium nitrate 33
Tetryl 12
Ammonium chloride 20

Limit charge 10 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·61”

=FORT PITT MINE POWDER NO.= 1 is an American coal-mine powder on the Permissible List. It is a nitroglycerine explosive.

=FRACTORITE.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive--

B. D.

Ammonium nitrate 75 Ammonium nitrate 75
Dinitro-naphthalene 2·8 Sodium nitrate 10
Ammonium oxalate 2·2 Nitroglycerine 4
Ammonium chloride 20 Ammonium oxalate 7
Flour 4

Charge limite 450 g. Charge limite 700 g.

=FRACTURITE.=--A coal-mine explosive formerly on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.--

Nitroglycerine 52·5
Collodion cotton 3·5
Potassium nitrate 23
Wood meal 6
Ammonium oxalate 15

=FUEL-ITE.=--There is a series of coal-mine explosives of this name on the American Permissible List. Nos. 1 and 2 are nitroglycerine explosives of the Carbonite type. No. 3 is an ammonium nitrate explosive.

=FUELLPULVER= (or =FP.=) is the name given by the Germans to mixtures of trinitro-toluene and ammonium nitrate used for filling shell. Fp. 60/40, for instance, is a mixture of 60 parts trinitro-toluene and 40 parts of ammonium nitrate, and is consequently the same as Amatol 40/60. Fp. without figures stands for trinitro-toluene.

=*FULMEN POWDER= is a 33-grain smokeless powder for shot-guns made by the Schultze Gunpowder Co.

=FULMENIT.=--A blasting explosive made by the German Nobel Co., containing ammonium nitrate, vegetable meal or charcoal, paraffin oil, trinitro-toluene and guncotton.

=WETTER-FULMENIT= is a coal-mine explosive which has been much used. It differs from the above in containing also sodium or potassium chloride--

Fulmenit. Wetter-Fulmenit.

Ammonium nitrate 86·5 76 76·5
Guncotton 4 0·5 4
Trinitro-toluene 5·5 11·8 5·5
Charcoal 1·5 1·5 1·5
Paraffin oil 2·5 0·2 2·5
Sodium chloride -- 10 10

=FUMYL.=--A smoke-producing explosive containing trinitro-toluene and ammonium chloride, used for opening poison-gas shell, etc.

=GATHURST POWDER.=--An explosive of the Grisounite class. According to an analysis given in Cundill and Thomson’s Dictionary it consisted of--

Ammonium nitrate 83·4
Dinitro-benzene 16·5
Moisture 0·1

=GEHLINGERIT.=--A German blasting explosive. Gesteins-Gehlingerit III. contains--

Ammonium nitrate 80
Trinitro-toluene 15
Flour 5

Wetter-Gehlingerit, which is a coal-mine explosive, contains also sodium or potassium chloride, and may contain up to 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine to increase its sensitiveness.

=GELATINÉ À L’AMMONIAQUE.=--A Belgian explosive, a mixture of blasting gelatine and ammonium nitrate.

=GELATINE DYNAMITE= is a mixture of blasting gelatine, potassium nitrate and a little wood meal. That made in Britain must contain between 70 and 77 per cent. of nitroglycerine; it may contain up to 2 per cent. of calcium or magnesium carbonate, or 1/2 per cent. of mineral jelly as a stabiliser. The following may be taken as an example of its composition--

Nitroglycerine 74·5
Collodion cotton 5·5
Wood meal 4
Potassium nitrate 15·5
Calcium carbonate 0·2
Moisture 0·3

In America brands are made of 35 to 80 per cent. strength.

=GELIGNITE= is similar to Gelatine Dynamite except that it contains a smaller proportion of blasting gelatine; in Britain the percentage of nitroglycerine must be between 56 and 63, _e. g._--

Nitroglycerine 61
Collodion cotton 4·5
Wood meal 7
Potassium nitrate 27
Calcium carbonate 0·2
Moisture 0·3

There are also a number of modified Gelignites, which either contain sodium or barium nitrate in partial or entire replacement of the potassium nitrate, or else contain some substance to reduce the freezing point of the nitroglycerine and so diminish the danger of freezing, such as dinitro- or trinitro-toluene or dinitro-glycol.

=GESILIT.=--A German coal-mine explosive made by Nahnsen. It contains blasting gelatine, inorganic nitrates, sodium chloride, carbohydrates and dinitro-toluene--