Ammonium nitrate crystals, ammonium nitrate blasting agent and method of production

Abstract

A blasting agent comprised of an ammonium nitrate component and an organic carbonaceous fuel component. The ammonium nitrate component includes ammonium nitrate crystals having a particle size of from about 1 to about 500 microns and further includes one or more crystal habit modifiers.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A blasting agent comprised of an ammonium nitrate component and an organic carbonaceous fuel component, said ammonium nitrate component including ammonium nitrate crystals having a particle size of from about 1 to about 500 microns and including one or more crystal habit modifiers. 
     
     
         24 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said one or more crystal habit modifiers are amines. 
     
     
         25 . A blasting agent comprised of from 75 to 98 percent by weight of an ammonium nitrate component and from 2 to 8 percent by weight of an organic carbonaceous fuel component, said ammonium nitrate component including ammonium nitrate crystals having a particle size of from about 1 to about 500 microns and including one or more crystal habit modifiers at a concentration of from 0.001 to 2 percent by weight of said blasting agent. 
     
     
         26 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  further including water at a concentration of from less than 1 percent to 15 percent by weight of said blasting agent. 
     
     
         27 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said one or more crystal habit modifiers are amines. 
     
     
         28 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said one or more crystal habit modifiers are dodecylamine or octadecylamine. 
     
     
         29 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  including a gelling agent. 
     
     
         30 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said gelling agent is guar at a concentration of from 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of the ammonium nitrate crystals. 
     
     
         31 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  further including a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         32 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  having a density of from 0.55 to 1.4 g/cc. 
     
     
         33 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  having a velocity of detonation of from 3,000 to 7,000 meters per second. 
     
     
         34 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  including polyisobutylene. 
     
     
         35 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  further including water at a concentration of from less than 1 percent to 15 percent by weight of said blasting agent, guar at a concentration of from 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of the ammonium nitrate crystals, and a cross-linking agent, said one or more crystal habit modifiers being amines and said blasting agent having a density of from 0.55 to 1.4 g/cc. 
     
     
         36 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said ammonium nitrate crystals are crystals formed through injecting an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate and said one or more crystal habit modifiers, together with compressed air, through a nozzle in the presence of a secondary air flow. 
     
     
         37 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said secondary air flow is non-cyclonic. 
     
     
         38 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said ammonium nitrate crystals are crystals formed through injecting an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate and said one or more crystal habit modifiers, together with compressed air, through a nozzle in the presence of a secondary air flow. 
     
     
         39 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 38  wherein said secondary air flow is non-cyclonic. 
     
     
         40 . A blasting agent comprised of from 75 to 98 percent by weight of an ammonium nitrate component, from 2 to 8 percent by weight of an organic carbonaceous fuel component, and water at a concentration of from less than 1 percent to 15 percent by weight of said blasting agent, said ammonium nitrate component including ammonium nitrate crystals having a particle size of from about 1 to about 500 microns and including one or more crystal habit modifiers at a concentration of from 0.001 to 2 percent by weight of said blasting agent, said crystal habit modifiers comprised of amines, said ammonium nitrate crystals being crystals formed through injecting an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate and said one or more crystal habit modifiers, together with compressed air, through a nozzle in the presence of a secondary airflow, said organic carbonaceous fuel blended with said ammonium nitrate crystals through injecting said fuel through injection ports on the nozzle. 
     
     
         41 . A blasting agent comprised of an ammonium nitrate component and an organic carbonaceous fuel component, said ammonium nitrate component including ammonium nitrate crystals having a particle size of from about 1 to about 500 microns, said organic carbonaceous fuel component comprising one or more crystal habit modifiers. 
     
     
         42 . The blasting agent as claimed in  claim 41  where said one or more crystal habit modifiers are dodecylamine or octadecylamine.