Explosive designed for use in mining, where it is required to blast with the least amount of shattering and/or to reduce explosive cost. The density of ordinary explosives may be decreased by (1) loose packing, (2) an alteration in the granular state of the ammonium nitrate, and (3) the impregnation of woodmeal or suitable substitutes. By decreasing the density of an explosive the same weight of explosive is used, but owing to its greater bulk the explosive effects are distributed over a greater area, thus producing a less shattering effect.