Title
Nitroglycerin processing plant, explosives factory, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy, 1888
Caption
Nitroglycerin processing plant, explosives factory, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy, 1888. Nitroglycerin mixed with Kieselghur (a diatomaceous earth) to produce Dynamite. Patented by Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) in 1867, Dynamite a more stable high explosive than gunpowder and nitroclycernin, and quickly gained popularity for blasting in mining, tunnelling and quarrying. Because of the instablility of the materials used in its production, earth embankments separate each building and surround the whole complex. The roofs of the buildings were not fixed so that in the event of an explosion the blast would travel vertically rather than horizontally. From "La Nature", Paris, 1888. Engraving.
Date
19th century
Credit line
Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library
Reference
ARP07102_390006445
License type
Rights managed
Available size
20,2Mb (2,6Mb) / 11,8in x 6,6in / 3543 x 1988 (300dpi)