The analysis of existing methods for assessing the state of the coal massif by the character of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is made. The hypothesis of greater informativity of an electromagnetic flux, than currently assumed, is put forward. The results of a series of laboratory experiments on the study of EMR as a flow of information on the destruction of the coal massif by cutting at different values of the parameters of the external electromagnetic fields, the characteristics of the removed chips can be used to assess the real state of the bottom-hole part of the massif, which will contribute to improving the efficiency of mining operations by operational control of the modes of excavation machines.