The present application discloses vertical spiral conveyors for transporting loose material without the use of vibration or oscillation and methods of transporting materials without the use of vibration or oscillation. In certain embodiments, the vertical spiral conveyor comprises a vertical spiral fabrication having a spiral conveyor tray connected to a vertical member that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, a drive arm extending from the vertical spiral fabrication, and a drive system for rotating the vertical spiral fabrication about the axis of rotation. The drive system comprises a power source and a transmission coupled to the drive arm. The drive system generates alternating forward and backward strokes on the drive arm that rotate the vertical spiral fabrication clockwise and counterclockwise about the axis of rotation to cause loose material to be conveyed around the spiral conveyor tray.