Slurry is a mixture of nitrate (such as ammonium nitrate and sodium nitrate), a fuel sensitizer either explosive or non-explosive and varying amounts of water. The mixture is thickened with guar gum to slurry consistency and cross linked with some transition metal ions to form an effective gel matrix. Additional crystalline oxidizer and fuel is suspended in the gel matrix. Other ingredients may be added as fuels, sensitizers, stabilizers, etc. Slurry explosives were first developed as a result of attempts to water proof, improve the density and strength of ANFO.