The principal commercial high explosives used for blast hole charges are of three categories:

1. Dynamite: It is a nitroglycerin based product and is the most sensitive of all the generic classes of explosives being used. It is available in market in many grades and sizes to meet the requirements of different jobs of mining, quarries etc. For firing the dynamite, a detonator is used.If detonator is used one of cartridges serves as a primer.

2. Slurries: A slurry explosive is made of oxidizing salts and a fuel sensitizer mixed with water gel or emulsifying agenet along with varying amounts of water. They are used in wet conditions.

3. ANFO: The ANFO( ammonium nitrate and fuel oil mixture) is used extensively for construction blasting. It is the cheapest source of energy and is much safer than dynamite because it can be detonated by special primers.

Explosives can also be Low Explosives or High Explosives

• Low Explosives: These are oldest known blasting explosives of black powder form. These are mixtures of Sulphur, Charcoal and sodium or Potassium nitrate. These are used where a slow heaving action is required.

• High explosives: They usually contain nitroglycerine(NGL) or trinitrotoluene(TNT) as main constituents and are initiated by a detonator. The action of high explosives is very fast and gives better production.

Precautions to be taken during transportation and storing of blasting materials:

• All laws in this respect should rigidly be followed.

• Do not leave an explosive in any location.

• Do not smoke, permit smoking or have any source of fire or flame near the explosives.

• Do not keep explosives where they are exposed to excessive heat, spark or impact.

• Do not allow any unauthorized or unrequired person to be present where explosives are handled.

• Detonators should not be stored with other explosives.

• Vehicles transporting explosives should be marked with the word 'Explosive'

• Vehicles transporting it should not be overloaded and should be in perfect working condition.