Aim. To minimize atmospheric pollution during open-pit coal mining, which increases with growth in production volumes and involvement of lower-quality coals in the development. Methods. Analysis, mathematical modeling, discrete optimization, expert assessment, engineering forecasting, environmental and economic calculations and recommendations. Results. The author has carried out the quarry dust typification according to the danger to the environment. The paper introduces the results of assessing the condition of ledges as dust generators based on visual observations and graphical constructions. Based on the results of trapping by reference points the author measured the parameters of dust propagation and established the mechanism of its migration in the vicinity of the quarry. The author determined the dynamics of dust content depending on seasons and differentiated the atmospheric pollution zones. The sources of dust formation within the quarry were ranked according to the degree of danger, with the priority of explosive stripping of coal and rocks being established. The mechanism of formation of zones of regulated and unregulated crushing with the formation of large and mobile fractions was established on the example of the Bogatyr quarry. The author determined the integrating indicator of the state of the surface atmosphere of the quarry by dust sources and established the dependence approximating the data with a confidence probability. The paper introduces the model for describing the effects of a group of pollutants at a point in the controlled area and a model of the intensity of dust formation. The integral indicator of atmospheric dust content was measured. A technique for managing the atmosphere of a quarry is proposed. The author stated the matrix of financing the modernization of technologies with limited material resources. It is shown that the probability of good indicators of the atmosphere state is associated with the duration of reliability of technological processes.