A small explosive or pyrotechnic device designed to trigger the main blasting charge in a borehole. In mining, fuzes can be non-electric, using a shock tube or safety fuse, or electric, using a wire and blasting cap. They often contain precise delay elements to sequence the blast and optimize rock fragmentation.
Heard on the job
Make sure every fuze is properly seated in the booster before you stem the hole.
Insider tip
While 'fuse' is common in general English, 'fuze' is often preferred in blasting and ordnance to distinguish the explosive detonator from an electrical safety fuse.
Also heard as
- fuse