In the modern state of the Russian economy, the problems of intensification of mineral production are of paramount importance. In this regard, it is necessary to clearly substantiate the content of the concept of intensification of production as an important scientific and production economic category. Intensification of iron ore production by open-cut mining depends both on the use of new, more powerful and productive equipment and on the use of more efficient schemes of deposit stripping and development systems, as well as on the implementation of the most rational transportation schemes.