Abstract: An explosive suspension used in blasting operations such as, but not limited to, mining operations and the like, composed of ammonium nitrate (AN) based explosives incorporating a solid fuel material and a suspending agent. The suspension comprises an oxidizer component, a solid fuel material, optionally up to 10 weight % of a liquid fuel component, and a suspending agent. The solid fuel material comprises vitrinite macerals, liptinite macerals, and inert macerals fusinite and semifusinite, and is characterized as (1) having a concentration of liptinite that is higher than normal coals, and (2) having a concentration of pseudovitrinite that is significantly lower than normal coals.