Wyodak's engineers determine where and how deep to drill. Once a hole is drilled, the boosters are attached to a detonation cord and lowered into the hole.

The ammonium nitrate fuel oil is delivered to the blasting site by truck and is poured into the hole.

After measuring the hole and assuring that the explosive mixture is at the correct height, workers stem or shovel material back into the hole to contain the blast.

The blast is then detonated.