Influence of Storage Time of Explosives on Fragmentation of Marble

Nitroglycerin (NG) and Ammonium Nitrate (AN) stored in a magazine for periods that varies from 6-24 months were analyzed for hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen using Axios panalytical analyzer. Also the mass of the marble fragmented with these explosives was obtained. The result obtained indicates that the storage of Nitroglycerin explosive in a magazine at temperature of 30 C and above for about 2 years accelerate its deterioration and the carbon constituent of the nitroglycerin explosives increase with increase in time of storage. In addition, ammonium nitrate becomes difficult to initiate on its own without a primer after one year of storage and rock fragmentation with explosives stored for about 2 years reduces with increase in the storage time.