Explosive Composition, Method of Making an Explosive Composition, and Method of Using an Explosive Composition

Abstract

An explosive composition is provided that is comprised of a Heavy ANFO and grain hulls. In one embodiment, the grain hulls are comprised of rice hulls. The grain hulls serve both as an inert bulking additive that reduces the density of the composition and as a sensitizer that reduces the energy needed to reliably detonate the composition. Also provided is a method for manufacturing an explosive composition comprised of Heavy ANFO and grain hulls, such as rice hulls. Additionally, a method of using an explosive comprised of ANFO and grain hulls in a mining operation is disclosed.

1 . An explosive composition comprising:
 a Heavy ANFO comprising:
 an explosive emulsion; and 
 an ammonium nitrate based explosive; and 
   an inert bulking and sensitizing additive comprising rice hulls;   wherein said inert bulking and sensitizing additive is substantially devoid of components of rice other than said rice hulls;   wherein said Heavy ANFO and said inert bulking and sensitizing additive have a bulk density in a range of 0.35 gm/cc to 1.33 gm/cc.   
     
     
         2 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said explosive emulsion comprising an oxidizer, water, an immiscible fuel, and an emulsifier.   
     
     
         3 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said oxidizer comprises ammonium nitrate.   
     
     
         4 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said oxidizer comprises calcium nitrate.   
     
     
         5 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said oxidizer comprises sodium nitrate.   
     
     
         6 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said immiscible fuel comprises a carbonaceous fuel.   
     
     
         7 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said carbonaceous fuel comprises fuel oil.   
     
     
         8 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said ammonium nitrate based explosive comprises ammonium nitrate.   
     
     
         9 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said ammonium nitrate based explosive comprises ANFO.   
     
     
         10 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said hulls are waxy.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An explosive composition comprising:
 a Heavy ANFO comprising:
 an explosive emulsion; and 
 an ammonium nitrate based explosive; and 
   an inert bulking and sensitizing additive comprising rice hulls;   wherein said rice hulls are not naturally attached to any other components of rice;   wherein said Heavy ANFO and said inert bulking and sensitizing additive have a bulk density in a range of 0.35 gm/cc to 1.33 gm/cc.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An explosive composition, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said composition is substantially devoid of any components of a rice grain other than said rice hulls.   
     
     
         16 . An explosive composition comprising:
 a Heavy ANFO comprising:
 an explosive emulsion; and 
 an oxidizing additive comprising ammonium nitrate; and 
   an inert bulking and sensitizing additive comprising rice hulls, said rice hulls each characterized by a plurality of voids;   wherein said inert bulking and sensitizing additive is substantially devoid of components of rice other than said rice hulls;   wherein said Heavy ANFO and said inert bulking and sensitizing additive have a bulk density in a range of 0.35 gm/cc to 1.33 gm/cc.