Abstract: The invention relates to cap or booster sensitive explosives for application in bulk or cartridge form in boreholes. The oxidizing salt of the explosive is ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate and/or calcium nitrate having untamped bulk density of 0.3-0.7 g/cm.sup.3. The explosive can be a w-i-o emulsion explosive where the discontinuous phase is an aqueous solution of the oxidizing salts and where low density ammonium nitrate comprises 10-80 weight % of the total explosive. ANFO, HANFO and water-gel explosives comprising said oxidizing salts having untamped bulk density of 0.3-0.7 g/cm.sup.3 are examples of explosives according to the invention. The above types of explosives are especially suitable in small and medium size boreholes without using sensitizing or density reducing agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an emulsion explosive of the water-in-oil type having resistance against dissolution in water, and application of said emulsion in explosive mixtures. The emulsion explosive is non cap-sensitive and can be cartridged alone or in mixture with ANFO. It can also be used in bulk systems. The explosive contains 60-90 percent by weight of ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate, 4-15 percent by weight of a crystallization temperature lowering agent, preferably urea, and 2-6% wax and/or a wax/oil mixture. The content of water consists essentially of water of crystallization bound to the calcium nitrate. Further, the explosive contains emulsifier and density reducing agents such as sodium nitrite/thiourea or hollow microspheres.