Blasting represents one of the most relevant unit operations in the process of mineral extraction. The final objective of this operation is that of obtaining an adequate final fragment size distribution such that the combined costs of drilling, blasting, excavation and transport, and crushing/grinding, are minimised, while at the same time producing the minimum possible level of damage to the surrounding rock mass. The strong influence that drilling and blasting has over the subsequent processes involved in the operational cycle makes it imminently desirable to have access to experience and technology which make possible the evaluation and optimisation of this unit operation. The correct use of vibration monitoring techniques offers a number of benefits in terms of their ability to examine any blasting process in detail. In effect, the measurement of particle velocity levels that result from the detonation of each explosive charge offers a means by which it is possible to measure relative efficiency of each charge, interactions (productive and counterproductive) between adjacent charges, and a definitive indication of general performance of any given blast design and its implementation. In this way the monitoring of blast vibrations in rock due to the blast event, can be used as a diagnostic tool, given that the correct interpretation of the vibration traces allows the determination of the level of interaction between the design and operational variables of the blast event. This makes it possible to evaluate, for example, the presence of out of sequence detonations, statistical scatter in the detonation times of pyrotechnic delay detonators, deficient detonation of charges, instantaneous detonation of charges and sympathetic detonation of charges, as well as the general of vibration levels in terms of peak particle velocity, acceleration, and displacement. Another important use of such data is in the construction of a database relating vibration levels to charge weight, hole diameter, and distance, for any given rock type, enables the calibration of predictive vibration models which in turn make it possible to predict the damaging effects of blasting. Knowledge of both the vibration levels induced, combined with quantitative measures of the geomechanical competence of a rock mass make it possible to estimate the probability of producing blast induced damage. The high levels of vibration generated by some blast events may damage the rock mass, producing new fractures or extending and dilating existing fractures. The vibration in this context may be considered as a dynamic stress provoking strain in the rock mass. This paper describes the application of the vibration monitoring technique, particularly in the underground mining environment, and its importance in diagnosis, modelling, control, and optimisation of the development blasting process. The potential of the technique is assessed in the context of achieving substantial techno-economic improvements development blasting results, increasing output whilst minimising the operational costs of the mining process.