A method and apparatus for placement of continuous pre-split, gel
explosive in an elongated borehole or cavity. An anchor is attached to
one end of a selected length of continuous gel explosive. A suitable
anchor is a flexible, plastic "pilgrim's hat" with a hole in the narrow,
closed end. The size of the anchor depends on the width of the borehole;
the flared skirt should be narrow enough to permit insertion of the
anchor into the hole but wide enough to resist removal. One end of the
explosive charge is pressed through the hole in the anchor. The remainder
of the length of explosive is placed inside a tubular member, such as PVC
pipe. The loaded pipe then is inserted into the borehole or cavity with
the anchor leading. The pipe is used to push the anchor back into the
hole to the desired depth. Then, the pipe is withdrawn. The flexible
skirt on the anchor engages the sidewall of the borehole and thus resists
removal with the pipe. As the pipe is pulled out of the borehole, the
explosive charge is left behind in a substantially linear arrangement.
The explosive is detonated in a conventional manner.