The invention relates to a method for sinking or introducing cavities in rock, wherein the face of the cavity (2) is melted using electrical plasma generators. In order in such a method to produce an energy density at the face of the cavity (2), the energy density being sufficient to completely or partially evaporate the in-situ stone, the invention proposes arranging a heat shield (4) immediately over the face of the cavity (2), the heat shield (4) forming with the face of the cavity (2) a dynamic pressure space (7) in which a temperature of more than 2000 C. is established at a pressure of more than 2 bar by heating with plasma generators (8). This supply of energy is sufficient to melt the stone in-situ at the face of the cavity (2), to completely or partially gasify it and to remove it from the cavity (2).