ANFO is the most useful industrial explosive in mining and quarries. The main reasons are
its lower cost and easier mixing compared with the other explosives. Furthermore, ANFO has
good characteristics in handling such that it can be filled in multiwall bags or flexible containers
and be suited for bulk loading with pneumatic loading equipment.
Recently, several field - blasting tests of high - performance ANFO〔ANFO(H)〕have been carried
out. ANFO(H)has the improved detonation properties and the rather low density of 0.70 - 0.80
g·cm-3 compared with conventional ANFO (0.80 - 0.90 g·cm-3). The results of these field - blasting
tests showed that ANFO(H) made it possible to decrease the specific charge without affecting
the fragmentation, the displacement of the blasted rock and the breakage in the toe1).
Furthermore, the field - blasting tests of more improved high - performance ANFO〔ANFO(SH)〕
have been carried out. ANFO(SH) also keeps the advantages of ANFO, and has the more
excellent explosion performance and the lower bulk density (0.60 - 0.70 g·cm-3) than ANFO
(H). Although fears were entertained that problems caused by the significant reduction of the
charge would occur in the tests, e.g.a toe - problem, the results indicated that ANFO(SH) would
be available for field use.