The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-11-19


Next to fails Of rock or ore the use
OF explosives causes more deaths IN
the metal mines Of the United States
than any other source Of accident
study of the table below, compiled
from figures printed in Technical pa
per si OF the bureau Of mines, Will
give an idea of the great number OF
accidents caused by explosives. IL
may be noted that the number killed
by explosives Is second only to the
number killed by falls Of rock or ore;
that serious and slight injuries caused
by explosives are far less numerous
than injuries received in haulage ac-
eidents; and that many Of the acct
dents from explosives are fatal.
This circular is published by the
bureau of mines to bring to the al
tention of the metal miner the chief
causes of accidents from explosives
and to suggest ways of preventing
them, for there is no class OF min
accidents that the miner can do more
Der the nature Of explosives and viii
use care in handling them, he and his
fellows will be in little danger Of acei-
dent. Some miners as they gain
knowledge Of explosives grow more
careless. For this reason many rec
ords Of fatal accidents contain the
names of experienced miners
Some Facts About Dynamite.
The word dynamite" used in this
circular means that class of explo-
sives in which nitroglycerine Is alb
sorbed in or Is mixed with other ma
terials Ordinary dynamite consists
chiefly Of a mixture Of nitroglycerine
and such materials as wood pulp. saw
dust. or some mineral substance. BY
the use Of different materials and OF
different methods Of mixing, different
kinds Of dynamite are made, such as
the ammonia, ow-freezing, gelatin
and granular dynamites.
Ordinary dynamite Of differeni
grades freezes at 40 degrees to 80 de-
crees F.. but the specially prepared
low freezing dynamites may be useo
in temperatures about 35 degrees F
without freezing When heated tC
about 200 degrees dynamite explode'
from shock or blow. Dynamite also
explodes from a shock or blow at or
binary temperatures. but the violence
of the shock or blow required to ex-
plode 1t becomes less as the tempera'
ture increases. When dynamite II
heated to $50 degrees or 400 degrees !
explodes from heat alone.
When not confined, small quantit!
of dynamite usually burns without ex
ploding, but If a large quantity of IT i
burned, even in the open. 1t is likely t
explode. Although dynamite whel
, burned in air does not always becom
highly heated, the experiment Is
dangerous one to try. Frozen dyna
mite Is difficult to detonate with
blasting cap, but it is very likely t
be exploded by friction such as Is pro
r duced by punching a hole in 1t wit
a metal skewer or by cutting it wit
a Ratchet or ak. Dynamite( especial
: ~ 40 per cent and stronger) may los
\ strength If repeatedly thawed an
frozen. If dynamite is exposed for
long time to a temperature Of 80 de
grees or higher 1t becomes more sen
sitive to shock and may lose strength
Nitroglycerine Is readily taken int
a mans body through the pores of tn
skin: it then makes the heart bea
faster and usually causes headache i
persons not accustomed to it.
Storage of Dynamite.
In large mines the storage of dyna
mite is a problem for the manage
ment: therefore the following remark
apply to small mines or prospects
where the miner himself must tax
entire charge of explosives.
When storing dynamite on the sur
face it is often best TO use as q maya
zine an abandoned drift or other open
ing on side hill near at hand;
none is available one can easily b
made. Brick or stone buildings ar
suitable, but are not so cool in sum
mer as an underground storage place
Avoid the use of wooden structures c
any kind for they are liable to cato
fire and are often used as targets b
thoughtless hunters and others. |
selecting a storage place remembe
that exposure to the heat of summe
sun may make dynamite sensitive an
will in time cause 1t to lose II
strength.
Surface magazines should be we
drained and the ground around ther
cleared of all dry brush and timbe
They should be provided with loo
and key and should have an easll
seen signboard showing that dynamit
is stored there.
If no suitable place can be provide
on the surface small quantities of dy
Mantle may be stored underground, /
a remote or separate part of the min
where an explosion will be least likel
to endanger men at work Such
storage place should be dry and tn
door should be fastened with a loo
and key. Never store large quantitie
of dynamite underground.
H.. I>,,N Ixv,,. ,,,tta tn