Part 23

During the War a modification of the explosive was introduced for use in coal mines. This contains up to 30 per cent. of sodium chloride.

=MINERITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Forcite Co. of Baelen Wezel in Belgium, identical in composition with Kohlen-carbonite and Colinite antigrisouteuse.

=MINER’S FRIEND, NOS. 1 to 6.= American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are ammonium nitrate explosives.

=MINITE.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite type which was on the old Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 89 Trinitro-toluene 10 Ammonium oxalate 1

There was also an explosive of the Carbonite type of this name made at Arendonck in Belgium--

Nitroglycerine 25 Potassium nitrate 35 Flour 39·5 Soda 0·5

Charge limite 750 g.

=MIN-ITE.=--American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. Brands A, A-2, B, and B-2 are nitroglycerine explosives, whereas Nos. 5-D and 6-D are ammonium nitrate mixtures.

=MINOLITE.=--A Belgian blasting explosive, which is also approved for transport over the German railways. It contains ammonium nitrate, dinitro- or trinitro-naphthalene with other substances added in some cases. A variety for use in coal mines is called Minolite antigrisouteuse.

Minolite Minolite antigrisouteuse. nouvelle.

Ammonium nitrate 72 87 Sodium nitrate 23 3 Trinitro-toluene 3 -- Trinitro-naphthalene 2 5 Dinitro-naphthalene -- 3 Quebracho -- 2

Charge limite 400 g.

There was also a variety containing lead nitrate, but this could not be used in mines because of the poisonous smoke it evolved.

=*MISCHPULVER= is a name given in German to ungelatinised smokeless nitro-cellulose powders.

=MITCHELLITE= was an explosive that was formerly licensed for manufacture in Great Britain, and was made at Bonnybridge, Stirling, but the factory and the licence were transferred to the M.B. Powder Co. in 1910. It was apparently a chlorate or perchlorate explosive. It is said to be manufactured at Monticello, Indiana, U.S.A.

=*MODDITE.=--A sporting rifle powder made by Eley Bros. Analysis of a sample showed--

Nitroglycerine 38·7 Nitrocellulose 56·8 Mineral jelly 4·3 Volatile matter 0·2

Of the nitrocellulose about one-third was soluble in ether-alcohol. It was made in the form of strip.

=MONACHIT= is a German blasting explosive which was known at one time as Vigorit. It is distinguished by containing nitro-compounds derived from naphtha, mostly nitro-xylenes and nitro-mesitylenes.

Monachit I. contains ammonium nitrate, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-compounds, of which not more than 60 per cent. must be trinitro-bodies, also vegetable meal and potassium nitrate.

Monachit II. contains in addition not more than 1 per cent. of collodion cotton, not more than 1 per cent. of charcoal, also hydrocarbons and ammonium oxalate or other salts to act as cooling agents, and render the explosive suitable for use in coal mines, e. g.--

Ammonium nitrate 81 64 Potassium nitrate 5 3 Nitro-compounds 13 14 Collodion cotton -- 1 Flour 1 -- Charcoal -- 1 Potassium chloride -- 17

The collodion cotton is to gelatinise the nitro-compounds when they are liquid.

=MONARKITE= is a coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd., and is on the Permitted List--

Date of Permit 10-2-14 Revised 20-9-19

Ammonium nitrate 49 Sodium nitrate 9 Nitroglycerine 11·5 Collodion cotton 0·3 Starch 3·5 Mineral jelly 2 Sodium chloride 24·7

Limit charge 18 oz. Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·30”