What describes a shunted fuse and cap?

• A. A clamp used to secure the cap in place
• B. A method of routing wiring between components
• C. A fuse used to delay initiation
• D. A staple connecting powder train to the cap

Answer: (D)

The term describes a simple mechanical connection between the powder train and the blasting cap, typically a small staple that holds them together so ignition can pass from the fuse into the cap and then into the rest of the train. This makes the initiation path direct and reliable, which is why a staple linking the cap to the powder train best fits the idea of a shunted fuse and cap.

The other options describe things that aren’t about how the fuse and cap are joined: a clamp to secure the cap, routing wiring between components, or a delay fuse. None of those capture the notion of a direct physical connection (a staple) tying the cap to the powder train.