Open cut mining in Australia is facing the greatest challenge in its history in attempting to compete not only with other
operations internationally, but also with underground operations domestically. Most flat dip and shallow depth surface-
mineable coal reserves have been depleted during the last two decades and new open cut operations must extract deeper
coal deposits. As open cut coal mines move into deeper areas and the stripping ratios increase, the relative cost of
overburden removal also increases. It therefore becomes even more important to design the mine around the optimum
overburden removal scheme. The deeper mines are usually multi-seam operations with a more complex geology and
with more geotechnical and hydrological problems. Deeper mines are subjected to greater problems requiring more
detailed mine planning and design, such as selection of the optimum mining method and pit layout. In planning and
design of such operations, the number of alternative methods which need to be considered is consequently greater.
Dragline productivity and its stripping capabilities are directly affected by the selection of digging method, strip layout
and pit geometry. Every mine has a unique combination of geological conditions. The operating methods that work well
at one mine may not necessarily work at another site. Selection of an optimal stripping method, strip layout and pit
geometry for a given dragline must be considered with respect to the geological conditions of the mine. With increasing
geological complexity of Australian strip mines, it is becoming more important to use sophisticated techniques such as
computerised mine planning methods to assist in optimising dragline operations.