Abstract: This study provides the results of a study on mechanical loosening using the bulldozers of different capacity. Creation of powerful and super-powerful bulldozers and improvement of the designs of modern rippers over the past 5 years has significantly expanded the scope of mechanical loosening which is now considered as one of highly efficient production processes in open mining. In order to improve the quality of mined raw materials and minimize their losses, the schemes with the involvement of rippers like layered rock excavation and with the creation of intermediate warehouses, etc. are used successfully. In Russia and abroad, progressive manufacturing of rippers is explained by a number of advantages in comparison with the existing methods of loosening. In open-pit mining, the rippers allow to eliminate some of the shortcomings inherent in drilling and blasting such as seismic effect and damaging effect of rock fragments during projection, significantly reduce the cost of loosening by more than 1.5-2 times as well as to improve work safety and capacity.