History of Explosives and Blasting
History of Explosives and Blasting
In the US and Canada alone, blasters use more than 6 billion pounds of explosives and 75 million detonators per year. Coal mining accounts for two-thirds of consumed explosives of which more than 80% of it is ANFO.
Today, sophisticated explosive materials and new technologies are being utilized to improve the quality of life for all of us. Computers are used to: drill, log and monitor blastholes — automate blending and delivery with bulk trucks — determine bench heights and face conditions — analyze production efficiency, design blast patterns — and more.
The time line below presents the history of the explosives industry... a tradition of excellence in mining, quarrying, construction, and many other pursuits involving the peaceful use of explosives to break rock in service to mankind.
50 B.C.
Early form of seismoscope used by Chang Heng in China.
668 A.D.
"Greek-fire" used in battle.
1200 A.D.
Arabian author Abd Allah records use of saltpeter as main ingredient of black powder.
13th Centur yChinese use "Roman Candles" in seige of Kai-Feng Fu.
1242
English Friar Roger Bacon publishes gunpowder formula.
1380
German Franciscan Monk, Berthold Schwarts developed gunpowder and its use in guns.
Berthold Schwarts
German Franciscan Monk
1627
First recorded use of black powder for rock blasting (Hungary).
1670
Black powder use spreads to tin mines of Cornwall England by German miners.
1675
First powder mill in U.S. constructed in Milton, Mass.
1696
First recorded use of black powder for road construction in Switzerland.
1745
Doctor Watson of British Royal Society explodes black powder with an electric spark.
1749
Hungarian Miners introduce chisel bit.
1750
American inventor Benjamin Franklin encases and compresses powder in cartridges.
1773
Black powder first used in U.S. at Copper Mine in Connecticut.
1785
Machine to detect earthquake vibrations invented.
1818-1821
First use of black powder in
In the US and Canada alone, blasters use more than 6 billion pounds of explosives and 75 million detonators per year. Coal mining accounts for two-thirds of consumed explosives of which more than 80% of it is ANFO.
Today, sophisticated explosive materials and new technologies are being utilized to improve the quality of life for all of us. Computers are used to: drill, log and monitor blastholes — automate blending and delivery with bulk trucks — determine bench heights and face conditions — analyze production efficiency, design blast patterns — and more.
The time line below presents the history of the explosives industry... a tradition of excellence in mining, quarrying, construction, and many other pursuits involving the peaceful use of explosives to break rock in service to mankind.
50 B.C.
Early form of seismoscope used by Chang Heng in China.
668 A.D.
"Greek-fire" used in battle.
1200 A.D.
Arabian author Abd Allah records use of saltpeter as main ingredient of black powder.
13th Centur yChinese use "Roman Candles" in seige of Kai-Feng Fu.
1242
English Friar Roger Bacon publishes gunpowder formula.
1380
German Franciscan Monk, Berthold Schwarts developed gunpowder and its use in guns.
Berthold Schwarts
German Franciscan Monk
1627
First recorded use of black powder for rock blasting (Hungary).
1670
Black powder use spreads to tin mines of Cornwall England by German miners.
1675
First powder mill in U.S. constructed in Milton, Mass.
1696
First recorded use of black powder for road construction in Switzerland.
1745
Doctor Watson of British Royal Society explodes black powder with an electric spark.
1749
Hungarian Miners introduce chisel bit.
1750
American inventor Benjamin Franklin encases and compresses powder in cartridges.
1773
Black powder first used in U.S. at Copper Mine in Connecticut.
1785
Machine to detect earthquake vibrations invented.
1818-1821
First use of black powder in