Which statement describes a misfire?

Which statement describes a misfire?

• A. The explosive detonates early
• B. The explosive charge fails to detonate
• C. The blast cannot be fired
• D. The explosive becomes unstable before detonation

Answer: (B)

A misfire means the charge does not detonate after it has been initiated. The statement that best describes a misfire is that the explosive charge fails to detonate. This can happen for reasons like a faulty detonator, improper priming, moisture or debris in the borehole, or a broken initiation circuit. In this situation, no explosive energy is released as planned, and special safety steps are required before re-trying the shot. The other situations describe different problems: detonating early describes premature detonation, not a misfire; a blast that cannot be fired points to a broader inability to initiate the blast at all, not a failure of the charge to detonate; and instability before detonation is a hazard due to changing conditions in the explosive, not a failure to detonate.

A misfire means the charge does not detonate after it has been initiated. The statement that best describes a misfire is that the explosive charge fails to detonate. This can happen for reasons like a faulty detonator, improper priming, moisture or debris in the borehole, or a broken initiation circuit. In this situation, no explosive energy is released as planned, and special safety steps are required before re-trying the shot.

The other situations describe different problems: detonating early describes premature detonation, not a misfire; a blast that cannot be fired points to a broader inability to initiate the blast at all, not a failure of the charge to detonate; and instability before detonation is a hazard due to changing conditions in the explosive, not a failure to detonate.