TABLE 3.—Gradation of Black Blasting Powder.
| Grade. | Mesh. |
|---|---|
| CC | 2-2½ |
| C | 2½-3 |
| F | 3-5 |
| FF | 5-8 |
| FFF | 8-16 |
| FFFF | 16-28 |
In late years there has been considerable demand for special sizes and mixed grains for individual mines, especially in Illinois. As no material change has been made in the brands, the letters now used are not indicative of the size of the grains, which they are supposed to represent. Of 29 samples of black blasting powder recently received from the Illinois Powder Commission, only 10 were found to contain 95% of the size of grains they were supposed to represent; 4 contained 90%; 7 varied from 80 to 90%; several others were mixtures of small and large grains, and were branded FF black blasting powder; and one sample contained only 8.5% of the size of grains it was supposed to represent. The remaining samples showed many variations, even when sold under the same name. The practice of thus mixing grades is exceedingly dangerous, because a miner, after becoming accustomed to one brand of FF powder of uniform separation, may receive another make of similar brand but of mixed grains, and, consequently, he cannot gauge the quantity of powder to be used. The result is often an over-load or a blown-out shot. The smaller grains will burn first, and the larger ones may be thrown out before combustion is complete, and thus ignite any fire-damp present.
Fig. 1.—Impact Machine.
Fig. 2.—Lamp Testing Box.
Lamp Testing Gallery.
At the Pittsburg testing station, there is a gallery for testing safety lamps in the presence of various percentages of inflammable gas. In this gallery the safety of the lamps in these gaseous mixtures may be tested, and it is also possible for mine inspectors and fire bosses to bring their safety lamps to this station, and test their measurements of percentage of gas, by noting the length and the appearance of the flame in the presence of mixtures containing known percentages of methane and air.