Part 22

=LUXIT I.= is a German blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate, not more than 17 per cent. of trinitro-toluene, and not more than 5 per cent. of wood meal.

=LYDDITE.=--A high explosive used in the British Services for filling shell. It consists simply of picric acid, which is melted under proper precautions and poured into the shell.

*Poudre =M= is a shot-gun powder made by the French Government, and is the one that is most used in France. Its composition is--

Nitrocotton 71 Barium nitrate 20 Potassium nitrate 5 Camphor. 3 Binding material 1

The nitrocotton has a solubility of only 15 or 20 per cent., and is partially gelatinised with ether-alcohol aided by the camphor. It is granulated under edge runners, granulated and drummed.

=MACARIT.=--A Belgian high explosive for filling shell--

Trinitro-toluene 30 Lead nitrate 70

It has a high density and is not deliquescent. For equal weights its power is less than that of trinitro-toluene or picric acid, but for equal volumes it is somewhat greater.

=MARKANIT.= See =SILESIA=.

=MARSIT.=--A sort of Oxyliquit. Liquid oxygen is passed into a linen bag containing soot.

=M.B. POWDER= (Modernised Black) is a black powder mixture in which part of the potassium nitrate has been replaced by potassium or ammonium perchlorate, generally the potassium salt. It is manufactured at Bonnybridge, Stirling, at the works originally erected for making Mitchellite. During manufacture the composition is heated in steam boilers. (See “Arms and Explosives,” 1911, p. 7.)

=M.D.= See =CORDITE=.

=MEGANIT= is a Hungarian nitroglycerine explosive similar to American dynamite, except that it contains a small percentage of nitrated vegetable ivory.

=MELANITE.=--A Belgian blasting explosive consisting of--

Nitroglycerine 78 Collodion cotton 4 Sodium nitrate 18

It contains, therefore, a considerable excess of oxygen.

=MÉLINITE= is a high explosive used by the French for filling shell and other military purposes. It consists essentially of picric acid, to which other substances are sometimes added. Paraffin wax has been added to diminish the sensitiveness. Mélinite D is simply picric acid, but Mélinite O contains also a little Crésilite 2 (q. v.).

=MELLING POWDER= was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.

Date of Permit 1-9-13

Nitroglycerine 5 Ammonium nitrate 53·5 Sodium nitrate 12 Trinitro-toluene 6 Wood meal 4·5 Ammonium oxalate 19

Limit charge 12 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·62”

=MERCURIT= is a blasting explosive that has been introduced recently in Germany. It consists of 88 per cent. of potassium chlorate and 12 per cent. of high boiling neutral tar oil. In Mercurit II. up to 20 per cent. of the chlorate may be replaced by perchlorate.

=MERSEY POWDER= was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.

Date of Permit 3-7-15

Nitroglycerine 5·5 Ammonium nitrate 51 Sodium nitrate 11 Trinitro-toluene 6 Wood meal 3·5 Ammonium chloride 23

Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·60”

=METEOR AXXO= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a low-grade dynamite containing a hydrated salt.

=MIEDZIANKIT= (also called Egelit or Kieselbacher Chloratsprengstoff) is a German chlorate explosive of the Sprengel class. It consists of porous potassium chlorate impregnated with not more than 10 per cent. of kerosene, having a flash point not below 30° C. It has met with some unfavourable reports, as it is found that results are not uniform unless the impregnation be carried out in special factories, the original idea having been that it was to be done shortly before use.