Which term is used to describe the device family including ordinary electric and non-electric blasting caps, exploders, primers and detonators?

• A. Detonator
• B. Fuse Wire
• C. Initiator
• D. Primer

Answer: (A)

Detonators are the devices that initiate a blasting charge. The family described—electric and non-electric blasting caps, exploders, primers, and detonators themselves—falls under the umbrella term detonators. These devices all serve the same purpose: to deliver a controlled initiation that starts the main explosive so it detonates properly. Electric caps use an electrical signal to trigger, non-electric caps use a different initiation method, and primers are small charges used to bridge the initiation to the main charge. In mining practice, detonator is the conventional, overarching term for all initiating devices, which is why it’s the best answer.