ANFO

ammonium nitrate-fuel oil

ANFO is composed of about 94.3% ammonium nitrate and 5.7% fuel oil by weight. The fuel component of ANFO is typically diesel, but kerosene, coal dust, racing fuel, or even molasses have been used instead. Finely powdered aluminium in the mixture will sensitise it to detonate more readily. ANFO is classified as a blasting agent, meaning that it decomposes through detonation rather than deflagration at a velocity higher than the speed of sound in the material but cannot be detonated with a No. 8 blasting cap without a sensitizer. ANFO has a moderate velocity compared to other industrial explosives, measuring 3,200 m/s in 130 mm (5 in) diameter, unconfined, at ambient temperature. In the mining industry, the term ANFO specifically describes a mixture of solid ammonium nitrate prills and diesel fuel