AbstractMajor savings for operators of seismic parties have been achieved by the use of prilled ammonium nitrate as a substitute for gelatin dynamite in areas where shot holes are dry. Pound for pound, the prills appear to have the same energy yield as 60% gelatin dynamite, and some improvement of records has been noted where prills are used. Safety problems are less with ammonium nitrate than with dynamite, and the development of efficient field handling techniques prevents the loss of production.