Brief information is given on the development of mining, including the maintenance of mine workings and mining systems, on rocks and minerals, methods of destruction of hard rocks. Materials on smoky and smokeless powders as the first means for use in military and mining are presented. Contains data on dynamites of A. Nobel and Russian scientists, on ammonites and explosives that do not contain chemical explosives. The history of the development of means of initiating charges is highlighted. Areas of application of explosions in mining, construction and industry are considered. Bibliographic information about scientists and explosives engineers of the USSR and Russia is highlighted in a special section. In the final part, methods of drilling holes, holes, wells on Earth and other planets are described.