Abstract: A hydraulic valve block configured to specifically control an operation of a clam actuator of a face shovel bucket of a face shovel machine is disclosed. The hydraulic valve block comprises a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet connected to the first inlet via a first line and a second outlet connected to the second inlet via a second line. The hydraulic valve block further comprises a two port two position directional control valve interconnected between the first line and the second line, a first pressure relief valve interconnected between the first line and the second line and arranged in series with the two port two position directional control valve, and a second pressure relief valve interconnected between the first line and the second line and arranged in parallel to the first pressure relief valve and the two port two position directional control valve.