Book excerpt: Industrial Explosives and their Applications for Rock Excavation focuses on applications of industrial explosives in civil and mining engineering works. Explosives and their actions are explained in terms of basics, principles, and related chemistry. Explosives and initiation devices are described, including their characteristics, geometry, and timing aspects of the blast design. Designing blasts for rock excavation works is explained, including devices for obtaining large-sized blocks, construction of yards, and excavation of big foundations. Finally, criteria for the mitigation of the associated seismic disturbances are summarized. The book: provides an updated vision of industrial explosives, including the best technical advice for rock excavation; contains harmonized preliminary modules aimed at introducing basic concepts of chemistry and physics applied to the drilling and blasting technique; defines balanced mix of theory capable of providing skills to design an efficient blasting; covers excavation problems from different points of view and in different contexts; and addresses issues of drilling and loading blast-holes. Industrial Explosives and their Applications for Rock Excavation is aimed at graduate students, researchers, and professionals in mining engineering and explosives technology.