CHAPTER II.

EXPLOSIVE AGENTS USED IN ROCK BLASTING.

Section I. _Phenomena accompanying an Explosion._--Nature of an Explosion. Heat liberated by an Explosion. Gases generated by an Explosion. Force developed by an Explosion 64

Section II. _Nature of Explosive Agents._--Mechanical Mixtures. Chemical Compounds 76

Section III. _Relative Strength of the common Explosive Agents._-- Force developed by Gunpowder. Relative Force developed by Gunpowder, Gun-cotton, and Nitro-Glycerine 88

Section IV. _Means of firing the common Explosive Agents._--Action of Heat. Detonation 92

Section V. _Some Properties of the common Explosive Agents._-- Gunpowder, Gun-cotton, Dynamite. Firing Temperatures 97

Section VI. _Some Varieties of the Nitro-Cellulose and the Nitro- Glycerine Compounds._--Nitrated Gun-cotton. Tonite, or Cotton- Powder. Schultze’s Powder. Lithofracteur. Brain’s Powder. Cellulose-Dynamite 103