There are a number of rock breakage mechanisms including: Drilling and blasting and mechanical breakage methods are the most common types of rock breakage used in the mining industry. Drilling itself employs mechanical breakage of the rock to advance the drill hole. There are two main types of mechanical excavation tools namely indenters and drag bits or picks. The breakage mechanism for each is described in the pictures below. Indenters break the rock by applying a force that is predominantly perpendicular to the rock surface. Drag bits apply a force that is perpendicular to the rock surface. 
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