Digging up, if not blowing up (6)
I believe the answer is:
mining
'digging up' is the definition.
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mining that I've seen before include "non-renewable industry" , "Excavating (ores)" , "Extracting ore etc. from the earth" , "Laying down explosives" , "Extracting ores or coal from the earth" .)