Information necessary for the design of open field development is given, opening schemes and development systems, methods of trenching are given, the stability conditions for the slopes of the ledges and sides of quarries are determined, drilling and blasting, excavation and scraper operations, hydraulic mechanization, transportation schemes, dumps and reclamation are considered. Fourth edition (3rd ed. - 1974) was supplemented with new materials based on the results of scientific research in the field of open-pit mining, data on averaging the quality of minerals were presented, an updated methodology for calculating technical and economic indicators in the design of quarries was included. For a wide range of engineering and technical workers of mining enterprises, design and research institutes.