Abstract: An explosive composition comprising an oxidising agent such as ammonium nitrate (AN), and a fuel material which may include a fuel oil (FO) and which also comprises a solid fuel such as rubber particles or polystyrene beads or flakes. The solid fuel is incorporated into the composition to provide for the controlled release of energy upon detonation of the explosive composition. It has been found that by substituting some or all of the liquid fuel oil with a slower burning solid fuel, the time during which the pressure builds up during detonation is lengthened. Thus a low shock energy explosive (LSEE) can be produced having reduced shock energy and increased heave energy compared to convention explosives, such as ANFO.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for converting subterraneous ore overlain by an adjacent formation of porous rock into an enclosed zone of fragmented ore by first blasting a void space in the porous rock and secondly explosively expanding the ore into the void space. The invention also provides a process for the extraction and recovery of values from a subterraneous ore overlain by an adjacent formation of porous rock. The invention is particularly useful for the extraction and recovery of carbonaceous values from subterraneous oil shale.