If the remaining part of a blasted hole still contains explosive, what is this condition called?

• A. Misfire
• B. Bootleg
• C. DUD
• D. Unexploded

Answer: (A)

When a blasting charge does not detonate as intended and still-ungone explosive remains in the hole, it is called a misfire. This term covers situations where initiation fails or only part of the charge goes off, leaving explosive material in place that can pose a serious hazard until it is properly dealt with by trained personnel. The other terms don’t fit as well: bootleg refers to illegal possession or smuggling of explosives, which isn’t about the blasting outcome; unexploded isn’t a standard term used in these safety contexts; a dud typically refers to a charge that fails to detonate completely, but many safety references classify the situation of leftover explosive in a drilled hole specifically as a misfire.