THE LITERATURE OF EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING

By

Robert B. Hopler
Powderman Consulting, Inc.
Oxford, Maryland
Abstract

The literature of explosives and blasting consists of a great variety of printed

materials. These materials include technical papers, books, and articles by individuals and
organizations; manufacturers product catalogs and brochures; handbooks offering
guidance for the field blaster; complete encyclopedias on the subjects, and short entries in
general-interest encyclopedias; government publications; proceedings of organizations
devoted to the subjects; magazines specific to the subjects; articles in general circulation
magazines; and other miscellaneous sources. In short, there is a multitude of literature on
the subject, some well indexed for retrieval, but most not.
This presentation will be a broad-brush look at some of the most important or
interesting literature on the subject, since in no way can all the various references be
mentioned, much less covered in depth. To illustrate the presentation, interesting
materials from the authors collection will be shown.
Introduction

The literature of explosives and blasting consists of a wide variety of types of

publications, which may be roughly classified as follows:
individual books devoted to the subjects
journals (called serial publications; i.e., those published on a regular basis)
encyclopedias totally devoted to the subjects
entries in encyclopedias and other general-interest reference volumes
dictionaries devoted solely to explosives
government publications
handbooks, data sheets, and other publications issued by manufacturers
proceedings of symposia on explosives and blasting
articles in general-interest magazines
other publications
This paper will take a look at the literature in a general way, with emphasis on the
items the author feels are particularly important or interesting from either an historical or
a technical viewpoint. One aspect of the literature on this subject is that many of the
materials that might be considered important from a reference or background standpoint
are somewhat obscure and are frequently unavailable for study, even in the most well-

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appointed libraries. This fact does not preclude them being mentioned here, since without
knowledge of their existence one cannot begin to try to find them.
A. Early Publications

By the term early, reference is made to items generally in the nineteenth century,
even though there were writings on the subjects prior to that time. In general, those would
be of little practical use to todays explosives user, and further, would be almost
impossible for most persons to refer to. For those interested in referring to extensive
bibliographies of early publications, the following are excellent sources:
l

Munroe, Charles E., Index to the Literature of Explosives. (Vol.1) Isaac

Friedenwald, Baltimore, 1886
Munroe,Charles E., Index to the Literature of Explosives. (Vol. II) Deutsch
Lithogranhing & Printing Co., Baltimore, 1893

1. Encyclopedias
These publications, (sometimes called dictionaries) were popular and some
have interesting entries on the subjects, as follows:
Ures Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines. (Seventh edition)
Longmans. Green. and Co., London, 1878 (Three volumes, plus supplemental
volume, 1879). This publication has interesting entries entitled dynamite,
explosive agents, safety fuze, rock drill, and mining. The supplemental
volume has an item on Nobels newly introduced blasting gelatin, and a IO-page
expansion on the explosive agents section. The 1864 edition of the above
Dictionary (two volumes) only discusses the use of black powder in blasting,
under the mines heading.
Encyclopaedia of Chemistry, Theoretical, Practical, and Analytical, as Applied
to the Arts and Manufactures. J.B. Linnincott & Co., Philadelphia, 1877. Has an
extensive section on explosives, covering dynamite and nitroglycerin, as well as
black powder and guncotton.
Rees, Abraham, Dr. Reess New Cyclopaedia; or Universal Dictionary of Arts
and Sciences. Robert & William Cart-, Philadelphia, 1809. Under the subject of
explosion, there is a good description of how to use black powder in blasting
various materials.
2. Books of the Nineteenth Century
This century was of course the time of discovery of most of the explosive
compounds we know and use today (including ANFO-like materials), and the
literature was very extensive on the subject. Some particularly interesting items
follow:

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By George Andre:
A Practical Treatise on Rock Blasting, 1878
Anonymous:
Commission Mixte dEtudes sur la Dynamite, 1879. This is a book
reporting on the earliest tests of using dynamite to demolish iron structural
beams. It is in French. I know of no earlier tests of this sort with the
relatively new dynamite.
By M. Berthelot:
Explosives and Their Power, 1892 (Originally in French)
By Paul Chalon:
Le Tirage des Mines Par LElectricite, 1888. (In French) A wellillustrated book on the subject of electric blasting as it existed at the time.
By Major J.P. Cundill:
A Dictionary of Explosives, 1889. This volume attempts to list, and give
characteristics of, all the explosives existing at the time.
By Henry Drinker:
Tunneling, Explosive Compounds, and Rock Drills, 1878. One of the
most complete books on the subjects ever written. Has tunneling case
histories, lists of all explosives and tunneling patents to date, drill rounds,
etc. Over 1000 pages.
A Treatise on Explosive Compounds, Machine Rock drills, and
Blasting, 1883. An abbreviated version of the 1878 book, with new
material. Has 406 pages.
By Manuel Eissler:
The modern High Explosives. Nitro-Glycerine and Dynamite, 1884.
A Handbook on Modern Explosives, 1897
By Oscar Guttmann:
The Manufacture of Explosives, 2 vol, 1895
Blasting, 1892. In the preface the author says, Since the older methods
of Blasting have been altered by the introduction of dynamite, the
description of the various operations conducted throughout the world have
had to be sought for in scattered periodicals, not readily available to the
general reader. No trustworthy book on the subject exists. He feels that
his volume fills that need.
By George M. Mowbray:
Tri-Nitro-Glycerin as Applied on the Hoosac Tunnel, 1872. This is
Mowbrays report on the first important use of nitroglycerin in the U. S. It
was published in at least three editions-

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3. Comnanv Literature of the Nineteenth Centun,

Some fine examples are:
Atlas Powder: A Nitro-Glycerine Compound, published by the Repauno
Chemical Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1886. This is a product catalog, but
has illustrations about how to make up primers, fell trees, and shoot boulders.
The Giant Powder Company, Dynamite, Gelatine, Gelatine Dynamite and
Judson Powder. Bandmann, Nielson & Co., San Francisco, Agents. Ca. 1880.
Characteristics of the materials, with quite a bit of how to, but mostly
advertising-type writing.
The Hercules Powder Company, Manufacturers of Hercules Powder, and dealers
in exploding caps, safety fuse, magneto and electric batteries, electric fuses, reels,
tools for stump blasting, etc., Cleveland, Ohio, 1882. A booklet touting the
advantages of the explosive, with illustrations on field use in farming.
Judson Dynamite and Judson Powder for Stump Blasting, Manufactured by the
Judson Powder Company. Drakesville, New Jersey, ca 1883. A booklet
describing the qualities of the powder, lots of how-to for agricultural
applications, and testimonials.
B. The Early Twentieth-Century Literature

The scientific activity continued into the beginning of the 20* century, with the
following being a very limited list of items:
By C.E. Bichel:
New Methods of Testing Explosives, 1905. (Bichel was the developer of
the still-used Bichel gauge for measuring the fumes from explosives.)
By Dr. H. Brunswig:
Explosivstoffe, 1909. (In German) Covers explosive test methods in a
very thorough way.
Explosives, 19 12 (English translation of the above)
By Paul F. Chalon:
Les Explosifs Modernes, 1911. (In French) An excellent book covering
the manufacture of explosives.
By Captain E. de W.S. Colver:
High Explosives, 1918. This book was written, in the authors words, to
fill a marked gap in the English technical literature, which is sadly
deficient in recent information on the subject of high explosives. He had
extensive notes from the technical literature, and felt that with the advent
of the World War he should publish this information in one place.

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By Dr. J. Daniel:
Dictionnaire Des Mat&es Explosives, 1902. (In French) An 8 15 page
dictionary covering all the explosives of the time.
By Albert and Zacharias Daw:
The Blasting of Rock in Mines, Quarries, Tunnels etc., 1909. A classic
book on blasting theory, hole placement, etc.
By Arthur Marshall:
Explosives - Their manufacture, Properties, Tests, and History, 1915.
Marshall followed this volume with a three-volume treatise, with the
volumes dated 1917, 1917, and 1932.
A Short Account of Explosives, 19 17
By P. Gerald Sanford:
Nitro-Explosives, A Practical Treatise, 1906
C. Publications of the More Modern Day, including EarIier Items with Continuing
Value
1. Handbooks. Manuals. and Booklets by Manufacturers
In the twentieth century companies began to publish booklets with extensive
product application information. This was somewhat different than the type of
publications issued earlier, which primarily consisted of product descriptions and
testimonials with (usually) a small amount of how to included. The practical
applications were almost always limited to stump and boulder blasting. Among
the new generation of handbooks, the duPont Company reigned supreme, with
publication of the Blasters Handbook in 1918. This was a 122-page book with
extensive information about all of the companys products, with detailed field
application information. The handbooks were first issued as unnumbered editions
in 1918, 1920, 1922, and 1925. With the edition published in 1928, numbers
began to be assigned, with that being the 5* edition. Subsequent editions were as
follows:
1930 (6&), 1932 (7&), 1934 8&), 1938 (9&), 1939 (lo*), 1942 (11*X 1949
(12&), 1952 (13&), 1958 (14L ), 1966 (IS&), 1980 (16&). The sixteenth
edition was reissued with an ET1 dust jacket after duPont left the
explosives business. Some of the editions noted (those numbered 13 and
later) were reissued, prior to issuance of the next edition, with later dates
than shown above.
Canadian Industries Limited (C-I-L) issued about six editions of very complete
handbooks. These appear to be basically the duPont Handbooks with slight
variations to adapt to Canadian products and procedures.
Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) issued handbooks beginning in 1940. The
publication was entitled Blasting Practice. It is unclear to the author as to how
many editions were issued, but there was a third edition in 1962.

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Davey Bickford Smith & Co. issued a very informative handbook in 1933. The
preface acknowledges that it was based on the duPont Handbooks. It is not known
by the author if there were any other editions of this handbook.
One of the most complete manuals on rock blasting ever published is the Manual
on Rock Blasting, published by Atlas Copco in Sweden in the 1950s and 1960s.
It is in loose-leaf format, and fills four binders. It is written in four languages,
English, French, German, and Swedish, shown side-by-side This manual has
sections on every aspect of explosives, drilling, blasting, compressed air, and any
other subject that applies to the blasting of rock. It illustrates hundreds of drill
rounds, giving hole angles, depths, powder type, powder factor, face dimensions,
etc.
Drilling and Blasting in Some American Metal Mines, published by Hercules
Powder Company in 1928, shows hundreds of drill patterns, with extensive details
as to the type of rock, face size, explosives, etc.
2. Periodicals or Serial Publications
a. Periodicals devoted primarily to explosives
Periodical literature (the type described by librarians as Serial Publications)
specifically dealing with explosives began to be published in the early part of the
20* Century, and some continue to this day. There were other significant
publications in German and French that are not cited here. Some of the most
significant follow:
Arms and Explosives, was a monthly magazine published in London, England,
apparently beginning in about 1882. It has numerous articles on explosives
(especially on those used in coal mining), and also (as the title implies) on
weapons and ammunition. I do not know its publishing history after the late teens
of the 20* century.
Du Pont Magazine, which began publication in 1913, had at least one
explosives-related article in each issue. The earlier years, as might be expected,
had more frequent explosives articles than those later (into the 1950s).
Explosion and Explosives, the Journal of the Industrial Society of Japan. Issues
of this journal have been translated under an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of
Mines and the National Science Foundation. It is unclear how many of the issues
have been translated and issued in English. Publication in Japan apparently began
is about 1939. Translated volumes from the 1970s and 1980s are a treasure trove
of technical information on all aspects of explosives research and usage.

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The Explosives Engineer, published by Hercules Powder Company, is one of

the most comprehensive publications ever issued on the subject. It began
publication in March of 1923, and except for 1923, had 12 issues per year until
1942. From 1943 on to the cessation of publication in 1961 there were 6 issues
per year. An attempt to revive the magazine was made in 1968. Between then and
1978, nineteen magazines were issued, with four Supplements of 4 to 6 pages
each, issued up to December 1980, when all publication ceased. The entire
publication run of the magazine consists of about 12,500 pages of articles, ads,
and editorials on the subject of explosives and blasting.
Explosivstoffe, a periodical published in Germany, is an outstanding source for
technical information. It frequently had articles in English, but for the most part is
in the German language. Publication apparently ceased in 1974
The Journal of Explosives Engineering, the publication of the Society of
Explosives Engineers, began publication in May 1983 and continues to this date.
Except for a few issues, it has been published six times per year. It has interesting
articles on the subject in every issue.
Zeitschrifi Cir das gesamte Schiess-und Sprengstoffwesen, (This is roughly
Journal covering Blasting and Explosives Substances.) It was published by Dr.
Richard Escales, a famous explosives expert of the early 20* century. Its
publication apparently began in about 1905. It is unclear as to how long it was
published, except that it was still publishing as late as 1924. This journal has what
appear to be cutting-edge technical articles on explosive substances, tests,
application, and manufacturing details. It is in German.
b. Periodicals with Broader Coverage, but with Frequent Articles on Explosives (These
are periodicals with common availability in the U.S. There are also excellent periodicals
published in other countries, which are not listed here.)
Engineering and Mining Journal
Mining Engineering
Mining Magazine and Journal (London)
Pit & Quarry
Rock Products
Tunnels and Tunnelling
3. Encvclopedias

Devoted Exclusivelv

to Explosives

Encyclopedia of Explosives and Related Items, published by the U.S. Army,

Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. This is a lo-volume encyclopedia, published between 1960
and 1983. There is little that exists about explosives that this reference does not
cover. The reference lists at the end of each section are extremely complete,
covering not only the literature, but also the relevant patents.

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Explosives, by Rudolf Meyer, published in four editions from 1932 to 1993 (4ti
edition, revised) by VCH of Germany. Available in German or English. This is a
single-volume encyclopedia (it might also be termed a dictionary) which attempts
to give the characteristics of most commercial and military explosives, and
definitions of many blasting terms. This book has an outstanding bibliography and
index.
4. General Encvclopedias

with Extensive Sections on Explosives

Encyclopaedia Britannica. This common reference devotes about 7 pages to

explosives, giving a good summary of the basics of chemistry and history. This
encyclopedia is now available on the World Wide Web for a nominal fee.
Kirk-0thmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. This multi-volume
reference, easily found in most good libraries, has over 80 pages in volume 8
devoted to explosives.
5. Government Publications
Other than the Picatinny encyclopedia listed above, there are numerous other U.S.
Government publications on the subject. Some are exclusively on explosives, or
contain numerous references. A few examples follow:
U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletins, Information Circulars, Reports of Investigations,
and other publications. Although the Bureau was eliminated a few years ago, the
publications are still extremely valuable references. Publications have been
thoroughly indexed since the establishment of the organization in 1910 up to the
last published index in 1989. Indexes from then until the demise of the
organization are only available in month-by-month listings. The Bureau of Mines
has published a great many important references on explosives.
Engineering Design Handbooks, published by the Headquarters of the U. S.
Army Materiel Command are excellent references to the more technical aspects of
military explosives.
Governments of many other countries have published extensively on the subjects.
6. Proceedings of Svmposia or Technical Meetings
These are tremendous sources of good information on explosives and blasting,
with most such references relatively easy to find.
Drilling and Blasting, sponsored by the Colorado School of Mines, the
University of Minnesota, and the Pennsylvania State University. These schools
held annual symposia beginning in about 1960. The published papers from these
meetings are valuable references.

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Engineering With Nuclear Explosives. In the 1970s there were at least three
Plowshare symposia sponsored by the University of California, Lawrence
Radiation Laboratory, the American Nuclear Society, and the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission. Although primarily concerned with nuclear excavation, there is a lot
of information on large scale cratering with chemical explosives.
Proceedings of the Conferences on Explosives and Blasting Technique and the
Symposia on Explosives and Blasting Research. These volumes print the papers
presented at the annual meetings of the Society of Explosives Engineers (now the
International Society), which began in 1975 and continue to the present day. To
date the volumes take up 39-inches (1 m) of bookshelf These are also available on
CD-ROM.
Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference. These conferences have been
held every two years (except for a three-year period between 1976 and 1979)
since 1972. The organizing society is the AIME. The bound proceedings are
excellent references on tunneling technology, including a relatively limited
number of papers on drilling and blasting.
Rock Fragmentation by Blasting - Fragblast. The proceedings of this
international symposium, held every three years or so, contain a wealth of
information on blasting. The last symposium was number 6.
State-of-the-Art Blasting Technology Instrumentation and Explosives
Applications. This symposium has been run annually since 1989, with the
exception of 1996. In 1999 the symposium was run under different auspices, and
was entitled Minnblast 99, but was run by the same organization (Blasting
Analysis International) and had the same general format as the others in the series.
The proceedings were in 3-ring binder format until 1994 when they began to be
published in bound format. The papers in these symposia are excellent references
to the latest blasting technology.
Symposium on Mining Research, was the title of annual symposia held by the
University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, beginning in 1955 and
continuing until about 196 1. The papers printed in these volumes cover the
introduction of ANFO and slurries, and blasting practices. Some of the classic
papers on blasting theory are printed in these booklets.
Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (AIME), published
annually from 187 1 to the present day. These publications have numerous papers
on explosives and blasting, and are thoroughly indexed.

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7. Books about the Historv of Explosives. the Industry. and/or Individual Companies
Alfred Nobel, by K. Fant, 1993. Besides being a fine biography, this book
discusses Nobels inventions in some detail.
The Big Bang - A History of Explosives, by G.I. Brown, 1998. An excellent
book on the overall history of explosives, from black powder to nuclear
explosives.
Contemporary History of Industrial Explosives in America, by J. Dannenberg,
ca. 1974. A collection of writings by Mr. Dannenberg, who had a great feel for
what was happening in the industry.
The Dynamite Company, by A.P. Cartwright, 1964. This is the history of
African Explosives and Chemical Industries Limited (AECI).
GLI Explosives, by g. Antonioli and G. Masera, 1982. A general history, with
stress on activities in Italy
History of Accidents in the Explosives Industry, by G. S. Biasutti, 1985. Gives
details of industrial explosions.
History of Explosions on Which the American Table of Distances Was Based,
by R. Assheton, 1930. Published by the IME, this lists in detail all the major
explosions of stores of explosives up to the date of publication.
History of the Explosives Industry in America, by Van Gelder and Schlatter.
This book was published by the IME in 1927, and is by far the most complete
source for information on the subject of the American explosives industry.
A History of Research in the Nobel Division of I.C.I., by F.D. Miles, 1955. An
interesting accounting of the companys explosives research.
Labors of a Modem Hercules, by d. Dyer and D.B. Sicilia, 1990. A history of
Hercules Powder Company/Hercules Incorporated from 19 12 to 1990.
Lammot Du Pont and the American Explosives Industry, by Norman B.
Wilkinson, 1984. This covers the entry of the du Pont company into the dynamite
business, which it came to dominate until the U.S. Government broke the
company up in 1912.
Nobel - Dynamite and Peace, by R. Sohlman and H. Schtick, 1929. This is an
excellent biography, with an appendix which covers the inventions of the blasting
cap and dynamite in great detail. All of Nobels patents are also listed and
described in the appendix.

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The Rise and Progress of the British Explosives Industry, published under the
auspices of the VIIth International Congress of Applied Chemistry, by its
Explosives Section, in 1909. This volume covers the history of the British
industry.
Twenty-Five Years, Atlas Powder Company, 1937. This is a history of the
company from 19 12 to 1937.
8. Modem Books Not Previously Mentioned. and Older Books Still Very Useful
(Arranged by date, earliest first)
Nitroglycerine and Nitroglycerine Explosives, by P. Naoum, 1928. The basic
reference on the subject of the title.
The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives, by Tenney L. Davis, 1941 and 1943,
2-volumes. Also published as a single volume, and also recently reprinted by
Angriff Press. A classic reference on explosives.
Practical Tunnel Driving, by H. W. Richardson and R. S. Mayo, 194 1. (Reissued
with new material in 1975.) This has complete coverage of tunneling, with a good
discussion of the drill/blast method. Somewhat dated, since D/B has been
superseded by TBMs. Interesting, nevertheless.
Explosions - Their Anatomy and Destructiveness, by C.S. Robinson, 1944. A
very fine book on the effect of large-scale explosions on the surroundings. Many
foldout graphs.
Underwater Explosions, by R.H. Cole, 1948. This book, based on military work
during the Second World War, formed the basis for the modem underwater test
facilities used by todays explosives industry for determining the energy of
commercial explosives.
Detonation in Condensed Explosives, by J. Taylor, 1952. A classic book on the
subject, frequently referred to. Extensive references.
The Initiation and Growth of Explosions in Liquids and Solids, by F.P. Bowden
and A.D. Yoffe, 1952. Another classic book, this one on how explosions start.
British Coal Mining Explosives, by J. Taylor and P.F. Gay, 1958. A thorough
study on the subject, including a history of coal mining.
Mining Explosives, by R. McAdam and R. Westwater, 1958. An excellent
reference to all the explosives of the day (with British emphasis), and a
considerable amount on history.

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The Science of High Explosives, by M.A. Cook, 1958. Some history of the
industry, but primarily highly technical information on detonation theory.
Theory and Practice of Blasting, by K. Hino, 1959. A good treatise on shock
wave theory with practical application to blasting. Directed to graduate students,
with problems and answers.
Explosive Working of Metals, by J.S. Rinehart and J. Pearson, 1963. This is the
basic source for information on the use of explosives for metal forming.
Rock Blasting, by U. Langefors and B. Kihlstrom, published in three editions,
1963, 1967, and 1978. Good practical information on the subject.
Chemistry and Technology of Explosives, by T. Urbanski, four volumes, 1964,
1965, 1967, and a later (unknown) date. Probably the most complete books on the
chemistry of explosives. Reprinted in 1990.
Detonics of High Explosives, by C.H. Johansson and P.A. Persson, 1970. An
excellent reference on how high explosives work. Has an especially good
bibliography.
The Science of Industrial Explosives, by M.A. Cook, 1974. Good background
on the introduction of slurries. Much information on plasmas, shaped charges, and
the science of detonation.
Detonation, by W. Fickett and W. C. Davis, 1979. Very technical information
on the theory of detonation by two leading experts from Los Alamos National
Laboratory.
Underground Mining Methods Handbook., edited by W.A. Hustrulid, 1982. A
handbook of over 1700 pages, covering all methods of underground mining.
Information on blasting is found in the description of each method.
Sprengtechnik in Bergbau, Tunnel- und Stollenbau sowie in Tagebauen und
Steinbrtichen, (roughly Blasting technique in Mining, Tunneling and Drift
Mining, as well as Open Pits and Quarries) by H.W. Wild, 1984. An outstanding
book on blasting, with numerous blast rounds illustrated. Very practical. In
German, but the blast patterns dont require knowledge of the language to be
useful.
Rock Blasting, by C. J. Konya and E.J. Walter, 1985. This was done under
contract with the U. S. Department of Transportation, and is an excellent practical
book on explosives and blasting.
Explosives and Rock Blasting, by R. Morhard and the Field Technical
Operations staff of Atlas Powder Company, 1987. An excellent book on the
practical application of explosives.

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Applied Explosives Technology for Construction and Mining, by Stig 0.

Olofsson, 1988 and 1990.
Explosives: An Engineering Tool, by G. Berta, 1990. An excellent How To
book on explosives usage.
Surface Mining, edited by B.A. Kennedy, 1990. A very complete book on the
subject (almost 1200 pages), devoting 43 pages to blasting. Very useful, in spite
of the relatively small coverage of blasting.
Rock Blasting and Explosives Engineering, by P.A. Persson, R. Holmberg, and
J. Lee, 1994. An excellent and useful book about the practical aspects of rock
breaking.
Explosives Engineering, by P.W. Cooper, 1996. A good reference on the
chemistry and theory of explosives.
Introduction to the Technology of Explosives, by P. W. Cooper and S.R.
Kurowski, 1996. A good reference on explosives chemistry, initiators, blast
scaling, and other topics.
ISEE Blasters Handbook, edited by R.B. Hopler, 1998. An update of the
famous duPont handbook, with new chapters covering technology developed in
recent years.
Blasting Principles for Open Pit Mining - Vol. 1, General Design Concepts, and
Vol. 2, Theoretical Foundations, by W. Hustrulid, 1999. Probably the most
complete books on modern blasting, with both practical and theoretical
explanations. A special strength of this publication is the extensive listing of
references covering everything discussed.
Summary, Conclusions, and Excuses for Not Being All-Inclusive

This paper has been an attempt to give the reader a basic appreciation for the
literature of explosives and blasting. Every reader will, without a doubt, ask why didnt
he include (enter your own title) in the paper? My only answer can be that either I did
not consider the reference to be of sufficient value, or I didnt know about it. Most likely
the latter. Some citations, for example those to U.S. Bureau of Mines publications, are
only briefly mentioned. The reason is that those publications (Bulletins, RIs, ICs, etc)
are very well indexed (so anyone interested can easily search for them), and there are so
many good USBM publications that I couldnt begin to cite even a minor number of
them. A source cited above because of the two books published by the organization is the
IME (Institute of Makers of Explosives). Unmentioned, but important, are the Safety
Library Publications (SLPs) of that organization, which are the leading sources for
handling explosives in a safe manner. Also unmentioned are the numerous publications
of such organizations as MSHA, OSHA, ATF, the Corps of Engineers, the Forest

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Service, and others. The explosives user should be aware of these publications and be
thoroughly familiar with their contents.
It seems that every week or so another publishers list appears in the mail
announcing a new book on explosives or blasting. Some of these are no doubt good
references, but it is impossible for me to examine all of them. Also, the International
Society of Explosives Engineers, in their Blasters Library, lists a great number of books
for sale. Many of these are noted above, but there are also many I have not listed because
they do not fit my criteria for being valuable references. Readers, however, should refer
to the ISEE list and make their own decision as to what to add to their personal library.
I hope this paper will be of lasting value to those in the explosives and blasting
industries who desire to broaden their knowledge of their profession.

Copyright 2003 International Society of Explosives Engineers

2000 BAI - THE LITERATURE OF EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING

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