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A dragline is a large, cable-operated excavator used in large-scale surface mining and civil engineering projects, such as coal mines and large construction sites.
Draglines are well suited for excavating large quantities of overburden, gravel, and waste. Although their material transporting ability is limited, draglines with booms up to 70 ft long are capable of acting as the sole piece of mining equipment.
As with the bulldozer, draglines can excavate overburden and pay gravel, load the mill, and remove tailings; however, draglines are relatively inefficient at bedrock cleanup, and do not handle difficult digging as well as backhoes or dozers.
Depths of over 200 ft are obtainable with this type of machine, and when used in conjunction with front-end loaders or rear-dump trucks, large-capacity operations are possible. Draglines handle from 28 LCY/h for an 84-hp unit to 264 LCY/h for a 540-hp machine.
Capacity is dependent upon bucket efficiency, swing angle, and operator ability. Draglines are ideal for overburden removal and for large, deep deposits where bedrock cleanup is not critical. They must, however, be matched with the right equipment (i.e., portable mills or gravel transportation machinery).
Reference
[1] S. Stebbins, “Cost Estimation Handbook for Small Placer Mines I.C. 9170,” 1986. Accessed: Aug. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Cost-Estimation-Handbook-for-Small-Placer-Mines-Stebbins/94c188525178d65cc964f7af20fff0182d8c1c14
