In the pursuit of mining efficiency, the debate often centers on a critical choice: stick with the traditional, low-cost Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO), or transition to the advanced ammonium nitrate emulsion explosive. While the unit price per kilogram might sway procurement departments toward ANFO, experienced site engineers know that the "price at the gate" rarely reflects the "cost in the muck pile."
The Performance Gap: Energy and Velocity
The most immediate difference lies in the Velocity of Detonation (VOD). ANFO typically achieves a VOD between $2,500$ and $3,500\text{ m/s}$, which is often insufficient for hard rock fragmentation. In contrast, a high-quality can reach VOD levels of $4,500$ to $6,000\text{ m/s}$.
This higher energy density allows for:
Increased Burden and Spacing: Reducing the total number of drill holes required.
Better Fragmentation: Significantly lowers the electricity and wear-and-tear costs of primary crushers.
The Environmental Factor: Water Resistance
ANFO’s greatest weakness is its extreme solubility. In wet boreholes, ANFO dissolves, leading to partial detonations, nitrous oxide (orange smoke) emissions, and nitrate leaching into groundwater.
By choosing to, operations eliminate these risks. The water-in-oil structure of products from Handar Blasting ensures $100\%$ water resistance, allowing the explosive to remain sleep-ready in water-filled holes for weeks without degradation.
Strategic Selection: When to Switch?
If your mining site encounters any of the following, the transition to Handar's emulsion solutions is economically mandatory:
Reactive Ground or High Water Table: Where ANFO failures lead to costly misfires.
Hard Rock Formations: Where high-shock energy is needed to prevent "oversize" rocks.
Strict Environmental Regulations: Where nitrate runoff must be strictly controlled.
Leading firms like Handar Blasting provide custom-formulated emulsions that can be adjusted for density, allowing engineers to "tune" the explosive energy to the specific geological strata of the site.
Conclusion
While ANFO will always have a place in dry, soft-rock environments, the ammonium nitrate emulsion explosive is the clear winner for complex, high-output operations. The initial investment in premium chemistry pays dividends through reduced drilling meters, faster excavation cycles, and a safer working environment.
