Research conducted over the last few decades have acknowledged the importance of blast-induced fragment conditioning on the comminution and concentration stages. These studies demonstrate that blast-induced conditioning can be considered as a highly relevant factor in the value chain of the mining industry. Despite the significant benefits awarded to this phenomenon, there are few comprehensive studies about the topic and, in contrast, many questions have been asked regarding the mechanisms of generation and extension. This paper presents a critical review on microfracturing induced by blasting which intends to summarise the current knowledge by presenting the key identified factors related to the phenomenon and discussing its impact on downstream processes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.