You absolutely can, and probably should if your intent is to go really, really deep — sort of a "nuclear jackhammer". The usual concerns are a little bit shifte

You absolutely can, and probably should if your intent is to go really, really deep — sort of a "nuclear jackhammer". The usual concerns are a little bit shifted in that context, you're likely to explode your stuff into billions of tons of e.g. mercury (some heavier-than-earth compound) to help with extraction of dirt... good times in perspective. Have fun with it, https://youtu.be/jZQP2oNDkAM?t=525 https://youtu.be/jZQP2oNDkAM?t=525 (he talks specifically about nukes at 8:45, but I really recommend watching the whole if you're into this kind of 'crazy-but-great' ideas. ;-)