A solution of ammonia in water, NH4 OH . CTD
Used in explosives and as a fertilizer. NH4 NO3 ; mol wt,
80.04; colorless. Bennett
These explosives are similar to the straight gelatins except that the main
constituent is ammonium nitrate instead of sodium nitrate. Ammonium
nitrate is a more active explosive ingredient than sodium nitrate;
therefore it can be substituted for nitroglycerin in much larger
quantities and still give explosives of high weight strength. The
nitroglycerin content is usually 25% to 35%, and the ammonium nitrate
content ranges from about 30% to 60%. Ammonium nitrate gelignites are
characterized by plastic consistency; high densities of 1.5 to 1.6 g/cm
3 ; medium velocity of detonation of 2,500 m/s; and good fume
properties. The ammonium nitrate gelignites are useful all-purpose
explosives and are widely used in metal mines, nongassy coal mines,
quarries, tunneling, and construction work. Its wide range of strengths
enables a suitable grade to be selected for blasting almost every variety
of rock from hard to soft. McAdam, 2
A former named for gersdorffite.
a. Said of a mineral or other substance that lacks crystalline structure,
or whose internal arrangement is so irregular that there is no
characteristic external form. Ant. crystalline. AGI
b. The state of a solid lacking crystal structure, specif. lacking
long-range order.
c. A term formerly used to describe a body of rock occurring in a
continuous mass, without division into parts. CF:massive
A somewhat inaccurate term for a coal in which distinct plant material is
not discernible. Tomkeieff
Very fine-grained, generally sooty graphite from metamorphosed coalbeds.
The word amorphous is a misnomer because all graphite is crystalline. The
term has also been applied to very fine particles of flake graphite that
can be sold only for low-value uses (such as foundry facings), and to
fine-grained varieties of Ceylon lump graphite. AGI
Metal in which the regular arrangement of atoms characteristic of the
crystalline state has been destroyed. CTD
A mineral with no definite crystalline structure. Nelson
A type of peat in which the original structure of the plants has been
destroyed as the result of decomposition of the cellulose matter. It is
heavy, compact, and plastic when wet. See also:fibrous peat
Tomkeieff
See:phosphorus
a. A monoclinic mineral in the cummingtonite-grunerite series.
Sinclair, 7
b. A commercial asbestos composed of asbestiform gedrite, grunerite, or
anthophyllite of the amphibole group; has typically long fibers.
A former name for samarskite.
An obsolete term for a black carbonaceous or bituminous shale. AGI
An ancient name applied to a variety of bituminous earth used as an
insecticide sprinkled over vines. Tomkeieff
The practical unit of electric current. The current produced by 1 V acting
through a resistance of 1 Omega . Webster 3rd
The quantity of electricity carried past any point of a circuit in 1 h by
a steady current of 1 A; 1 A.h equals 3,600 C. Webster 3rd
A watt. Standard, 2
A mineral group; characterized by double chains of silica tetrahedra
having the composition A0-1 B2 Y5 Z8 O (sub
22) (OH,F,Cl) , where (A=Ca,Na,K,Pb,B), (B=Ca,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn,Na),
(Y=Al,Cr,Fe,Mg,Mn,Ti), and (Z=Al,Be,Si,Ti); in the orthorhombic or
monoclinic crystal systems, including actinolite, anthophyllite,
arfvedsonite, cummingtonite, hornblende, richterite, glaucophane,
grunerite, anthophyllite, riebeckite, tremolite, and others. All display a
diagnostic prismatic cleavage in two directions parallel to crystal faces
and intersecting at angles of about 54 degrees and 124 degrees . Some
members may be asbestiform. See also:pyroxene
A granular, more or less banded rock containing grunerite, other
ferruginous silicates, and magnetite; produced by metamorphism of
ferruginous cherts, such as taconite and jaspillite.
A general term, for use in the field, to designate any coarse-grained,
holocrystalline igneous rock almost entirely composed of amphibole
minerals. Syn:amphibololite