Chapter I: II. III

Blasting gelatine 30·75 30·75 32·5
Ammonium nitrate -- 22 22
Sodium nitrate 18 -- --
Dinitro-toluene 5·25 5·25 5·25
Dextrin 39 21 --
Pea flour -- -- 20
Sodium chloride 7 21 20·25

When tested in a gallery with an explosive gas mixture I. proved to be safer than the other two.

=GIANT COAL-MINE POWDERS= are American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. No. 5 is an ammonium nitrate explosive, whereas Nos. 6, 7 and 8 are low-grade dynamites mixed with hydrated salts.

=GIANT POWDER= is a name given in America to dynamite. No. 1 is a kieselguhr dynamite containing about 75 per cent. of nitroglycerine. Many varieties, however, do not contain kieselguhr, but consist of nitroglycerine mixed with wood pulp, sodium or potassium nitrate, resin, sulphur or other combustible matter. The nitroglycerine is sometimes gelatinised with collodion cotton, or in the “Extra” varieties is partially replaced by ammonium nitrate.

=GLONOINE= was an early name for nitroglycerine.

=GLUECKAUF.=--A German explosive of the Grisounite type consisting of ammonium nitrate and vegetable meal, to which might be added any of the following: sugar, resin, fatty oil, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, dinitro-benzene, ammonium oxalate, copper oxalate, copper nitrate ammonia, or sodium chloride. It was used for a time by several potash mines; was given up again by most of them.

=GOOD LUCK= was an explosive made by the Sprengstoffwerke Glueckauf A.-G., and was on the old British Permitted List for coal-mine explosives. It had the composition--

Ammonium nitrate 82·5
Dinitro-benzene 1
Turmeric 10·5
Copper oxalate 6

=GRANATFUELLUNG= (_i. e._ Shell-filling) is a name given by the Germans to certain high explosives used for filling shell. Granatfuellung C/88 is picric acid, and C/02 is trinitro-toluene. See Fuellpulver. Other substances used in German shell and bombs are trinitro-anisole, dinitro-benzene, hexanitro-diphenylamine and hexanitro-diphenyl sulphide, otherwise picryl sulphide.

=GRISOUNITE.=--A French coal-mine explosive. See =FAVIER= Explosives.

=GRISOUTINE= or =GRISOU-DYNAMINE= is the only explosive except Grisounite allowed in the more dangerous French coal mines. It consists of ammonium nitrate mixed with blasting gelatine. As the State monopoly does not extend to explosives containing nitroglycerine, it is made by private firms, but the compositions are regulated by the “Commission des Substances Explosives,” which in 1911 resolved that they should be uniformly as follows--

Couche au Roche au
Couche. Salpêtre. Roche. Salpêtre.

Nitroglycerine 12 12 29 29
Collodion cotton 0·5 0·5 1 1
Ammonium nitrate 87·5 82·5 70 65
Potassium nitrate -- 5 -- 5

The calculated temperatures of explosion of the Grisoutines couches are below 1500°, and those of the Grisoutines roches below 1900°. The addition of 5 per cent. of potassium nitrate is found to increase the safety.

There are a number of explosives of this type made in other countries also, but they usually contain small proportions of combustible substances such as wood meal, and nitro-bodies such as trinitro-toluene. Of British explosives of this type, mention may be made of Monobel, Super-Excellite and Monarkite. German explosives of this sort include Salit, Tremonit, Donarit, Ammon-Karbonit and Astralit.

On the Belgian list of Explosifs S.G.P. is Grisoutine II., which is identical in composition with Dynamite anti-grisouteuse V.

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

Nitroglycerine 44
Magnesium sulphate 44
Cellulose 12

Charge limite 300 g.

=GUARDIAN.=--American coal-mine explosives. Nos. 2, 2X, 3 and 3X are ammonium nitrate explosives, whereas Guardian A and Guardian Coal Powder B are nitroglycerine explosives.

=GUNCOTTON.=--A highly nitrated cotton containing about 13 per cent. of nitrogen and only slightly soluble in ether-alcohol.

=GUNPOWDER.= See =BLACK POWDER=.

=*HALAKITE= attracted public attention out of all proportion to its merits, of which it possessed none, in consequence of the extravagant claims made on its behalf by its “inventors” and their dupes. Early in 1917 the British Government caused an inquiry to be held, and the case for the explosive collapsed in a ludicrous manner. According to patent specification, No. 685 of 1915, the basis of the explosive was an admixture of lead nitrate with glycerine and other substances, and under the working conditions the glycerine was said to react with the nitrate to form a nitro-compound, which, of course, is not true. The substance actually submitted to the British and French authorities consisted of cordite mixed with lead nitrate, barium nitrate and lead chromate. This was stated by the promoters to be equally effective as a high explosive and a propellant! See “Interim and Final Reports of the Army Council (Halakite) Inquiry,” Cd. 8446.

=HALALIT.=--A German blasting explosive made by Nahnsen, containing not more than 65 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, and not more than 32 per cent. of nitrated toluene, of which not more than 20 per cent. must be trinitro-toluene. It may also contain collodion cotton to gelatinise the liquid nitro-toluene, and sodium nitrate and wood meal or other vegetable meal.

Ammon-Halalit A, which has been introduced recently, is similar to Astralit V.

=HALOKLASTIT.= See =PETROKLASTIT=.

=HAMMONIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing not more than 40 per cent. of potassium or sodium perchlorate, not more than 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine, aromatic nitro-bodies, ammonium nitrate, sodium or potassium nitrate, neutral salts and vegetable meal or other combustible matter.

=HASSIA-CHLORAT= is an explosive that was introduced in Germany during the War. It consists of 65 per cent. potassium chlorate and 35 per cent. combustible, and it is claimed that the large proportion of the latter not only makes it a mild explosive, but also renders it comparatively insensitive. It is also called Spreng-chlorat.

=HAYLITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the National Explosives Co. There were three varieties on the Permitted List: No. 1 was also on the old Permitted List, but has now been repealed.

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3.
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 21-11-16 30-5-18

Nitroglycerine 26 15·5 9·5
Collodion cotton 1 0·3 --
Ammonium nitrate -- -- 60·5
Potassium nitrate 20 -- --
Sodium nitrate -- 59·5 --
Barium nitrate 20 -- --
Trinitro-toluene -- 5 --
Mineral jelly 7 -- --
Wood meal 15 7·7 5·5
Sodium chloride -- -- 19·5
Ammonium oxalate 11 -- 5
Borax -- 12 --

Limit charge 10 18 16 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic
pendulum) 2·18 1·96 2·44”

=H.E.= stands for High Explosive, used for charging shell or other military purpose.

=*HEBLER POWDER= was a so-called smokeless powder which was manufactured at one time in Switzerland. According to an analysis published by Cundill and Thomson, it was ordinary gunpowder in which about a fifth of the saltpetre had been replaced by ammonium nitrate. It did not appear to have a greater tendency to absorb moisture than ordinary powder. It was also called Wellite. See also Ammonpulver.

=HECLA NO. 2= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive made by the Du Pont Co.

=HECLA POWDER= is a brand of American dynamite.

=HELAGON= is a German perchlorate explosive made by the Köln-Rottweil Pulverfabriken. It contains not more than 10 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, not more than 5 per cent. of zinc-aluminium alloy, aromatic nitro-bodies and neutral nitrates, excepting those of potassium and barium. It may also contain flour or potato meal and neutral substances.

=HELIT= is a similar explosive to Helagon, except that it contains dinitro-chlorhydrin, not more than 6 per cent., in the place of the zinc-aluminium alloy.

=HELLHOFITE=} =HELLITE=} are different names for what is practically the same explosive of the Sprengel type. It consists of a mixture of strong nitric acid and various nitro-compounds, _e.g._--

Dinitro-benzene 1 Nitro-benzene 1
Nitric acid 1·5 Nitric acid 2·5

A form of this explosive was tried by Gruson as a charge for shell many years ago. See also Panclastite.

=*HENRITE= is a smokeless shot-gun powder of the fibrous 33-grain bulk type. A sample examined in 1902 had the composition--

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 71·0
” soluble 7·1
Metallic nitrates 7·5
Nitro-compounds 7·6
Paraffin 5·5
Moisture 1·3

=HERCULES POWDER.=--The name of a brand of American dynamite.

=HERCULITE.=--This name has been given to several explosives. One was a mixture of sawdust, camphor, potassium nitrate and other substances, which was used for blasting. There was a coal-mine explosive of this name on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.--

_Date of Permit_ 22-6-14

Nitroglycerine 33
Collodion cotton 1
Potassium perchlorate 27
Wood meal 10
Ammonium oxalate 29

Limit charge 16 oz.
Power (swing of
ballistic pendulum) 2·72”

but the permit has been repealed.

=HIMALAYITE.=--A high explosive made from potassium chlorate, potato starch and a drying oil. The chlorate and starch are first heated together with water, and when dry the oil is mixed in. The explosive is said to have been adopted by the Portuguese for filling shell. It passed the chemical tests in England, but no licence was taken out for its manufacture.

=HUDSON’S EXPLOSIVE.=--A stiff blasting gelatine made by incorporating nitroglycerine and collodion cotton together with the aid of acetone. It was tried in America in 1889 for filling shell, but is not used now for this purpose.

=HYGRADE COAL POWDER NO. 2= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a nitroglycerine explosive.

=*IDEAL POWDER= is a shot-gun powder made by Nobels.

=IMPERIALITE= is of no practical importance, but is interesting, as its history is that of the explosive one meets in the comic papers. The Marquis R. Imperiali had large private means and some knowledge of chemistry. He took out patents for a number of explosive mixtures and built a small factory in N. Italy, which started work in 1911. An explosion occurred the first day and killed five of the fifteen workers. Imperiali escaped and re-erected his factory. The day after it was restarted it blew up again and Imperiali was killed. The composition of the explosive that was being made is not known, but several of the mixtures for which Imperiali had taken out patents were decidedly dangerous.

=*INDURITE= was a smokeless powder patented by C. E. Munroe in 1893. It was made by incorporating guncotton with nitro-benzene to a hard mass. It was used for a time in the American Navy. Samples made in 1891 were still stable apparently in 1914, but some cases of instability occurred and it was given up.

=INGÉLITE= is the same in composition as =ANTIGEL DE SÛRETÉ=.

*Poudre =J.=--A French smokeless powder used for shot-guns and revolvers. Its composition is--

Nitrocotton 83
Ammonium bichromate 14
Potassium bichromate 3
Moisture about 3

It is incorporated with the aid of ether-alcohol and pressed into strips, which are cut into cubes and then converted into grains of irregular shape. The fine siftings are used for revolver and practice ammunition.

=JUDSON POWDER.=--A mild blasting explosive used in America. It is a sort of crude gunpowder coated with nitroglycerine to increase the violence of the explosion. The percentage of nitroglycerine may vary from 5 to 20, but is generally near the lower limit. Judson Powder R.R.P. has the composition--

Nitroglycerine 5 Nitroglycerine 5
Sodium nitrate 64 or Sulphur, coal and resin 35
Sulphur 16 Sodium nitrate 60
Cannel coal 15

The sodium nitrate is mixed with the combustibles and the mixture is heated beyond the melting-point of the sulphur and resin. The slightly porous mass thus formed is then coated with nitroglycerine. The explosive is fired with a priming cartridge of dynamite. The following four grades are made by the Du Pont Co.--

FFF 20 % nitroglycerine
FF 15 ”
F 10 ”
RRP 5 ”

=KANITE A= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive.

=KARBONIT.= See =CARBONITE=.

=KAUSOLIT.=--An ammonium perchlorate explosive, introduced about 1915 by the Stockholm Superphosphaten-fabriks A.-b.

=KENT POWDER= was a coal-mine explosive made by the Cotton Powder Co. It was of the Carbonite type and was on the Permitted List. It is now no longer “permitted.”

_Date of Permit_ 10-2-14

Nitroglycerine 24
Potassium nitrate 32·5
Wood meal 33·5
Ammonium oxalate 10

Limit charge over 32 oz.

Power (swing
of ballistic pendulum) 2·01”

=KENTITE= is a coal-mine explosive made by British Westfalite, Ltd. It was on the old Permitted List and also passed the Rotherham Test, and so is still “permitted”--

Ammonium nitrate 34
Potassium nitrate 34
Trinitro-toluene 17
Ammonium chloride 15

Limit charge 18 oz.
Power (swing of
ballistic pendulum) 2·64”

=KIESELBACHER CHLORATSPRENGSTOFF.= See =MIEDZIANKIT=.

=KINETIT.=--A German explosive made by gelatinising nitro-cellulose with nitro-benzene, and incorporating it with potassium nitrate and chlorate. It is somewhat sensitive to blows, etc. Early samples contained also antimony sulphide which rendered them decidedly dangerous.

=KIWIT.=--A German chlorate explosive introduced during the War. It contains not more than 77 per cent. of sodium or potassium chlorate, carbon carriers such as paraffin, naphthalene, vaseline, meal or oil, also not more than 15 per cent. of liquid trinitro-toluene, and may contain dinitro-toluene, dinitro-naphthalene, sodium chloride and not more than 4 per cent. of guncotton.

=KOHLENKARBONIT.= See =CARBONITE=.

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

Nitroglycerine 25
Potassium nitrate 26
Barium nitrate 5
Wood meal 34
Starch 10

=SUPER-KOLAX= was a modification of this to meet the requirements of the Rotherham Test--

No. 2.
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 7-4-14
Nitroglycerine 25·5 28·5
Collodion cotton -- 1
Potassium nitrate 25·5 16·5
Barium nitrate 5 5
Wood meal 29·5 30·5
Starch 7·5 9
Ammonium oxalate 7 9·5

Limit charge 30 over 32 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·10 2·21”

The permits of both have been repealed.

=KORONIT=, also known as =FAVORIT=, is a German chlorate blasting explosive introduced during the War. See also Coronite.

Gesteins-Koronit (or -Favorit) contains not more than 85 per cent. of potassium or sodium chlorate, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-bodies (but no trinitro-compounds), paraffin or fatty oils, naphthalene, vegetable meal, powdered coal, inert substances, and not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine.

Kohlen-Koronit (or -Favorit) contains not more than 68 per cent. of potassium or sodium chlorate, aromatic hydrocarbons and nitro-hydrocarbons (but not more than 12 per cent. of aromatic nitro-bodies and no trinitro-compounds), sodium chloride or similar salts, paraffin or fatty oils, vegetable meal or other organic substance; not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine and not more than 4 per cent. of powdered coal.

=PERKORONIT= is similar to Koronit except that it contains potassium or sodium perchlorate instead of chlorate. Part of the perchlorate may be replaced by nitrate.

=*K.S.=, =K.S.G.=--Kynoch’s Smokeless Powder. It is a fibrous bulk powder for shot-guns made by Kynochs, Ltd. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 78---

Kynoch’s
Smokeless. K.S. K.S.G.

_Date of Introduction_ 1901 1913 1912
_Class_ 42-grain 42-grain 33-grain

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 49·5 40·4 41·5
” soluble 5·5 27·0 36·5
Metallic nitrates 25·0 28·0 12·0
Nitro-compound 19·0 -- 5·0
Vaseline -- 3·0 3·0
Moisture 1·0 1·6 2·0

=KYNARKITE= is a coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type made by Kynoch, Ltd. It is no longer on the Permitted List--

No. 2.
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 15-1-15
Nitroglycerine 25 26
Potassium nitrate 28 29·5
Barium nitrate 3 --
Dinitro-toluene -- 2·5
Wood meal 39 34
Ammonium oxalate 5 8

Limit charge 20 28 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·21 2·06”

=KYNITE= was a coal-mine explosive on the old Permitted List, but has been superseded by Kynarkite--

Kynite
Kynite. Condensed.

Nitroglycerine 26 25
Barium nitrate 33 33·5
Wood meal 40·7 6·5
Starch -- 34·7
Calcium carbonate 0·3 0·3

=*LAFFLIN AND RAND W.A.= was a tubular smokeless powder tried in America for small arms. It consisted of--

Guncotton 67·25
Nitroglycerine 30
Metallic salts 2·75

gelatinised by means of 40 parts of acetone. A gelatinised dense shot-gun powder of similar composition was also made.

=L.C. PULVER= is a German Cheddite.

Gesteins-=LEONIT= is a German perchlorate explosive for blasting rock--

Alkali perchlorate about 60%
Ammonium nitrate 10
Nitro-compounds 15
Meal 10
Blasting gelatine 4

It is practically the same as Permonit A.

Neu-=LEONIT= is a modification of this for use in coal