Reference Book: Exploration Drilling 2021

Reference book
Exploration drilling 2021

2 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Preface
Contents
4 Introduction
7 Talking technically
89 Case stories
104 Product specifications
Epiroc Exploration drilling – Preface 3

A new era of exploration drilling
Mining companies large and small are venturing deeper than ever into the Earth’s
crust, often in remote locations, and exploration drillers are carrying out their task in
increasingly extreme environments.
At the same time, automation is gathering pace and exploration worksites are rapidly
becoming smarter. Sensors and data analysis are vital enablers today in the pursuit
of efficiency and high-quality samples. The possibility to retrieve real-time data has
revolutionized performance while helping to reduce maintenance costs and increase
asset utilization.
Improving safety, depth capacity, speed and sample recovery is a common endeavor
that unites operators, site managers, engineers, OEMs and others worldwide. But there
is always more than one way to tackle challenges at exploration sites.
I am pleased to welcome you to this insiders’ guide to exploration drilling. This second
edition of our technical reference book is packed with in-depth perspectives on
drilling topics as well as a comprehensive collection of case stories reflecting valuable
experiences from worksites around the world.
Epiroc has made a big leap forward in terms of innovation, both

in sustainability and in efficiency gains. For example, many Epiroc
exploration drill rigs are now fitted with modern Tier 4F/Stage V
engines that reduce NOx emissions by up to 80 percent.
Diamec Smart 6M is our most recent product, it is an underground

core drilling with a mobile carrier. It utilizes the drilling capacity of
the Diamec Smart 6 and mobility and sturdiness of the Boomer
S2 rig carrier. A carrier purpose-built for demanding underground
operations with an extremely stable yet flexible boom.
The exploration industry is entering a new chapter with rising

demand for both conventional minerals and metals as well
as innovation-critical materials to support the clean energy
transition. As always, Epiroc is committed to steer the future
of global exploration methods working in close collaboration
with drillers in the field.
Yours sincerely
José Manuel Sanchez

President, Epiroc Surface division
Epiroc Exploration drilling – Preface 5
6 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically
Talking
technically
8 Past, present and future in exploration
15 Entering a smarter era of exploration
19 The driller’s guide to geology
25 The search for new orebodies
33 Long-term view is key for exploration
38 New materials come into play
42 Chips or cores? It’s about striking the right balance
48 The power of Reverse Circulation drilling
55 Introducing the RC “Superhammer”
59 Putting more core in the box
63 Choosing the right bit… and how to get it right
69 Drilling fluid additives – a major contributor to productivity
72 Depth calculation and why it matters
77 All the data you need
80 Keep the rig and business running
Parts and services – the key to high availability
85
for exploration drillers
Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 7

Past, present
and future in
exploration
Digital technologies have revolutionized drilling prac-
tices in recent years, but the basic principles date back
more than a century. Exploration drilling is the perfect
example of this evolution.
Epiroc has deep roots in the world of exploration. As a former part of the Atlas
Copco Group, recognized worldwide as a leader in rock drilling technology, Epiroc
encompasses more than 140 years of exploration drilling expertise.
Following the rebranding in 2017, Epiroc now offers the widest range of equip-
ment on the market for exploration purposes, including around 20 different types
of Reverse Circulation (RC) drill rigs, surface core drilling rigs and underground
core drilling rigs.
Today, the job of exploration is characterized by modern, fast and effective meth-
ods that get more reliable results than ever before while maintaining high safety
standards. However, it hasn’t always been that way.
The early years

So what did exploration look like, say, a hundred years ago? It was in the last
quarter of the 19th century that miners in North America and Europe started to
use core drilling as a means of finding out what lay hidden beneath the surface
of the ground.
In those early days, exploration drillers were only able to drill 1-1.5 m per shift in
hard formations and usually with a crew of four to six men. The early rigs that
came into use in the late 1860s operated at 250 rpm. By 1870, drill rigs driven by
steam engines of five to seven horsepower and faster than 360 rpm, were being
used. In England, a diamond drill rig made history in 1872 by drilling a 697.4 m
deep hole.
However, these early rigs required a good many operators in each crew and the
quality of the samples they brought to the surface was questionable at best. As
a result, the following years saw a surge in technical innovation, including such
developments as the swivel head that could be swung out of the way when
tripping rods, the integrated hoist, the double-tube core barrel and the hydraulic
feed, all of which enabled drilling rates to be increased.

Past, present and future in exploration
Another aspect that affected the performance of explo- of the Mont Cenis railway tunnel where handheld boring
ration drill rigs was the development of the drill rods and techniques were still being used. The work was slow and
accessories and improvements in drill bit design. Training laborious and he realized there was a pressing need to find
and development programs for drillers also improved over- some way of mechanizing drilling in order for projects of
all performance – the more skilled they became at manning this type to be completed on time.
the rigs, the better the quality of the drilling and sampling
operations. Leschot turned to his father, George-August Leschot, for
advice and together with Charles Sechehaye, a highly
Major gamechangers skilled mechanic, he designed and constructed the first
Drilling fluid additives were introduced in the 1920s which fully functional device in 1862 which was subsequently
contributed to keeping the drill bit cool and reduced friction patented in several countries in Europe.
in the hole. But in 1922 the first detachable drill bit came
on to the market and proved to be a gamechanger. Until The set-up consisted of a hollow, rotating pipe crowned
then, it was common practice in the so-called conventional with a drill bit edged with eight black diamonds. Water was
method to use drill rods of different lengths. However, this pumped into the hole to flush out the chips while the core
meant that the drill rods had to be regularly transported to was captured inside the pipe and tripped, or withdrawn, at
the surface for their tips to be sharpened and then trans- regular intervals.
ported back down the shaft into the mine.
The design was unlike any other mechanical impact
The detachable bit eliminated all the time and manpower machines that were under development at the time and
required for bit sharpening work and enabled drillers to the use of an annular, constantly rotating, diamond edged
have sharp bits always on hand, resulting in big savings for bit, made it unique. In addition, while other machines were
the industry. more suited to drilling shorter blast holes, Leschot’s inven-
tion was more suitable for drilling longer holes and also had
Although it is difficult to be certain, the detachable bit is the potential to extract rock cores.
widely believed to be the brainchild of Rodolphe Leschot,
a Swiss-born, French railway engineer whose family had a Without doubt, the diamond core drill became one of the
long history in watchmaking. He saw the need for a machine most strategic inventions of the nineteenth century, replac-
that could speed up the process of building railway tun- ing traditional handheld techniques with modern mass-
nels. At the time, Leschot was working on the construction production extraction which underpinned the supply of the

Past, present and future in exploration
commodities that required for international industrialization Focus on automation

in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The most important technical developments during the first
decade of the new millennium included different types of
By 1880, diamond core drilling had become commonplace rod handling systems as well as more computerized con-
in most parts of the United States and subsequently adopt- trol systems. Here, it is also important to mention that drill
ed in Australia, South Africa, Canada and South East Asia. rigs which lacked computerized control systems started to
From this point on, the development of diamond core drill- move more and more from direct hydraulic to pilot hydrau-
ing rigs followed two disciplines: the solid percussion or lic control. The advantage of pilot hydraulic control is that
impact type of machine for exploration, and the constant makes the rig more user-friendly and easy to operate, while
pressure and rotation type of machine for exploration and reducing the power transferred through the control panel.
geological analysis.
The development of different types of rod handlers stems
The next gamechanger came in 1953 in the form of the mainly from the increased demand for safer operations
so-called wireline core retrieval system. This innovation and fewer injuries, as well as less wear on the personnel
revolutionized the diamond drilling industry by increasing working with the equipment. Computerized systems help
productivity on the worksite and also making the job safer the operator to run the rig and also makes the rig easier to
when tripping core from the bottom of the hole. And this learn to operate. At the same time, computerized systems
was followed in the 1980s by the introduction of diamond enable operators to perform other tasks if the rig can run
impregnated bits for hard and abrasive formations. The autonomously during certain periods.
advantage of these bits is that the matrix is designed in
such a way as to enable new diamonds to be exposed as The computerized systems also enable the development
the bit wears down. This ensures that the bit always has of automation which not only provide operators with a safer
optimal cutting power. rig, they pave the way for higher productivity and lower
costs. Today’s exploration drillers are able to use many
The impact of these inventions on the industry has been different sophisticated techniques for discovery and prov-
profound in terms of productivity and efficiency as well as ing deposits such as satellite imagery, airborne surveying
it wasn’t until the beginning of 2000 that the next phase in and integrated data analysis of geological, geochemical
the development of exploration equipment got under way, and geophysical conditions. But as of today, they continue
in line with increased investment from the mining industry to rely on diamond core drilling technology as the most
in continuous exploration services. reliable tools.
Diamond core drilling

rigs are among the
most popular and
widely used rigs in the
exploration drilling
world. For a complete
overview of the Epiroc
range, please turn to
the specification
section at the end
of this book.

Entering a smarter
era of exploration
A new age of automation is upon us. Here’s why
Epiroc leads the way when it comes to exploration
solutions that keep drillers safe, more productive and
better informed.
While exploration has never been as challenging as it is today, advances in tech-

nology have meant that the most arduous and repetitive tasks of drilling can be
confidently overcome – largely thanks to the rapid progress of advanced control
systems and automation.
Gone are the days when operators had to pay close attention to every aspect of
drilling at every second of each shift, which often required immense physical and
psychological stamina. Automation is now one of the reasons why exploration
projects are perfectly viable at sites that are exposed to severe weather events
and extreme temperatures.
In addition, automated functions play a critical role when it comes to living up to

modern safety standards for operators on site and are also viewed as an impor-
tant way of maximizing efficiency and the predictability of drilling performance.
Behind the scenes

The extensive portfolio of Epiroc equipment is continuously upgraded to make
exploration safer, more efficient and more productive. Today, remote control,
monitoring and automation are changing the nature of operations – helping
drillers to work from a safe distance while collecting and analyzing data.
In this context, it is interesting to take a brief look behind the scenes at how auto-
mation at Epiroc is organized. We have a way to optimize our customers' value
chain through Machine Automation, Process Automation and System Integration.
We call this 6th Sense and it enables a smart, safe and seamless operation.
Machine Automation covers the full spectrum of drill rig functionality from auto-
mated drilling and rod running to inner tube pumping and wireline cycle. Process
Automation deals with the automation of workflows and ways of leveraging
performance data. Finally, System Integration ensures that all component sub-
systems that make up different segments of the value chain are fully compatible
and integrated into one system. This is a major consideration for project plan-
ners as they prepare for automation and will help them act upon the necessary
processes which can best increase value.
All models in the Diamec Smart series can drill unattended, which is invaluable
during shift changes, and in this way ensures more core in the box at the end of
each operation. It means that the highest standards of drilling can be repeated
time-after-time.

Entering a smarter era of exploration
includes avoiding long exposure to freezing or extremely

hot weather conditions. But there are many parameters to
take into consideration including the need for extra training,
a potential resistance to new technologies within organiza-
tions, the solid commitment required from management,
and of course, the cost of automation.
Smarter exploration is a journey and we help customers

every step along the way. Here's how:
• Insight – The first step for understanding customers'
operational challenges and learning their work pro-
cesses. Data is collected and analyzed to identify where
improvements can be made and how. The analysis covers
the complete production cycle, from pre-planning to
drilling performance and optimal service intervals.
A Diamec Smart control panel. Based on this information, Epiroc specialists can suggest
the optimal solution and most appropriate product.
• Control – Once commissioned, new technologies and
From the touch screen on the remote control panel, drill- products are monitored to ensure the best perfor-
ing parameters are easily set and monitored. The control mance. Epiroc specialists work together with site per-
panel’s low weight also means that drillers can operate sonnel to measure KPIs, and define optimal operations
the machine from a distance which improves both safety to get the most value.
and ergonomy. We pride ourselves on our Rod Handling • Optimize – To move to the next level of efficiency and
System (RHS) which automatically adds and removes drill productivity, parameters are checked and measured
rods. One of its unique features is that it allows drillers to set continuously by Epiroc technicians and adjusted to
the presenting/receiving angle independent of the drilling maximize drilling performance and economy.
angle which, in turn, provides flexibility and leads to higher
productivity. All in all, this means that operators no longer The bird’s eye view
have to do the heavy lifting. By leveraging the power of automation, monitoring and
data analysis, exploration drillers and all other personnel
Furthermore, many of our exploration drill rigs are equipped can get a complete overview of operations. For example,
with monitoring capabilities that pave the way for continu- the telematics solution mentioned previously not only
ous improvements. The most important technology fea- gathers, compares and communicates equipment data
tures are: about individual units, but for entire fleets of equipment.
• Measure While Drilling (MWD) – Epiroc’s monitoring This real-time tracking of data includes everything from drill
tool that logs all relevant data and enables effective rig position (GPS) equipment utilization and performance,
analysis of drilling performance fuel consumption and machine health. Moreover, increased
• Certiq – A fleet monitoring system that gathers, com- intelligence means that vital operational KPIs and service
pares and communicates vital equipment information activities can be planned with the best possible accuracy.
• Exploration Manager – Desktop software solution that Taken together, it is clear today that the higher the degree
facilitates the planning and evaluation of exploration of automation, the better life will be for all stakeholders in
drilling projects exploration projects as it paves the way for smarter deci-
sions and addresses issues such as the lack of skilled labor.
Regardless of where in the world exploration sites are
located, customers are reaping the benefits and achieving Our automation solutions have been tried and tested in
less downtime, fewer delays, better drilling performance exploration environments that face extreme weather and
and increased safety. In addition, thanks to greater precision tough ground conditions – helping to ensure that customers
they are able to retrieve more accurate samples, increase are performing at the best of their ability in each assignment.
bit life and reduce total cost of ownership for each drill rig.
Drilling in extreme environments

The Rod Handling System (RHS) used with a Christensen
Global demand for minerals and metals continues to grow
surface core drilling rig.
while existing resources are steadily depleted. At the same
time, exploration sites are becoming less and less acces-
sible. Greenfield operations in increasingly remote locations
are therefore the only long-term solution. Technology plays
Read more about innovation
an integral role when it comes to iden-tifying mineraliza- and technology
tion and keeping operators out of harm’s way, and that

Depth calculation and why it matters

The driller’s
guide to
geology
Understanding the geology of worksites is paramount
in exploration drilling. Below, a review of how the job
is impacted by the prevailing rock conditions.
The geological conditions in open-pit mining have a direct effect on the efficiency
and effectiveness of exploration work. From the most favorable conditions to
the worst, the rock formations in the pit determine exploration drilling strategies,
equipment requirements, and the quality of the samples that can be reasonably
expected. Productivity in core drilling depends on many different parameters, but
the rock conditions is normally the biggest factor to affect the speed of drilling,
and therefore the level of productivity as well the cost.
Minerals and geology

Of the 118 known elements, some of which do not occur naturally, oxygen is
by far the most common, making up about 50% of the Earth's crust by weight.
Silicon forms about 25% and the other common elements such as aluminum,
iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and titanium make up 99% of the
Earth's crust.
Silicon, aluminum and oxygen occur in the most common minerals such as
quartz, feldspar and mica. These form part of a large group of silicates that are
compounds of silicic acid and other elements. Amphiboles and pyroxenes contain
aluminum, potassium and iron.
Some of the planet's most common rocks, granite and gneiss, are composed of
silicates. Oxygen also occurs commonly in combination with metallic elements,
which are often important sources for mining purposes. These compounds can
form part of oxidic ores, such as the iron ores magnetite and hematite.

The driller’s guide to geology
4 1000
2000
3000
4000 (km)
5000
6000
1. Earth Crust
2. Mantle
3. Outer Core
4. Inner Core
Figure 1: The Earth's interior consists of four main layers. Heavy metals such as iron and nickel are most abundant in the core.
Sulphur also readily combines with metallic elements to form The particle size and the extent to which the mineral is
sulphide ores, including galena, sphalerite, molybdenite and hydrated (mixed with water) indicate the way the rock will
arsenopyrite. Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is also a very important behave when excavated (see geological methods, p.25).
and abundant ore forming mineral that contains copper. Hardness is commonly graded according to the Mohs
1 Earth
Other large Crustgroups important in mining include
mineral 10-point scale. The density of light-colored minerals is usu-
2 Mantle
halogenides such as fluorite and halite; carbonates such ally below 3. Exceptions are barite or heavy spar (barium
3 Outer Core
as calcite,
4 dolomite and malachite; sulphates such as barite;
Inner Core sulphate – BaSO4 – density 4.5 g/cm3), scheelite (calcium
tungstates such as scheelite; and phosphates such as apa- tungstate – CaWO4 – density 6.0 g/cm3) and cerussite (lead
tite. Rarely, some elements can occur naturally, without com- carbonate – PbCO4 – density 6.5 g/cm3).
bination. The important ones are the metals gold, silver and
copper, plus carbon in the form of diamonds and graphite. Dark-colored minerals with some iron and silicate have
densities of between 3 and 4. Metallic ore minerals have
Properties and characteristics densities over 4, and gold has a very high density of 19.3.
It is true to say that mineralization is rarely pure. Instead, it is Minerals with tungsten, osmium and iridium are normally
usually mixed, consisting of both homogenous and heter- even denser. Although ore-forming mineral density may be
ogeneous structures. Feldspar accounts for almost 50% of high, the total ore density depends entirely on the host rock
the mineral composition of the Earth's mineral composition, where these minerals exist.
followed by pyroxene and amphibole minerals and then
quartz and mica, making up about 90% of the Earth's crust. Streak is the color of the mineral powder produced when
In addition, minerals have a wide variety of properties and a mineral is scratched or rubbed against unglazed white
characteristics, and it is these that determine the best way porcelain which may be different from the color of the
to extract them. mineral mass.
Typical characteristics are: Fracture is the surface characteristic produced by breaking

• Hardness a piece of the mineral and is usually uneven in one direction
• Density or another. Cleavage denotes the properties of a crystal
• Color which allows it to be split along flat surfaces. Both fracture
• Streak and cleavage can be important to the structure of rocks
• Luster containing substantial amounts of the minerals concerned.
• Fracture Rock is normally comprised of a mixture of materials.
• Cleavage The rock may not only combine the properties of these
• Crystalline form minerals, but also exhibit properties resulting from the way

1. Volcanic rocks – fine-grained mine-

rals including feldspar, quartz, olivine,
hornblende, magnetite and mica
2. River valley deposits may include gold,
platinum, diamonds, cassiterite or 1
magnetite, as well as clays and sands
3. Metamorphic sandstone high 2
proportion of quartz 6
4. Metamorphic limestone such as
marble. etc. – calcite and dolomite. 7
3
5. Metamorphic shales such as slates,
schists, etc. – with garnet, mica, 8
feldspar 9
4
10
6. Weathered orebodies producing 5
azurite, malachite, cuprite, etc.
7. Weathered sandstone, perhaps 11
having high quartz content
8. Orebodies, e.g. containing galena,
sphalerite and chalcophyrite
9. Recent alluvium, lake and sea-bed
deposits
10. Weathered shale, perhaps forming
bauxite
11. Typical formation and placement
of mineral- and oreforming zones
Figure 2: Overview of principal mineral groups and typical location of ore formations.
in which the rocks were formed or subsequently altered and density. In turn, these rock properties determine the
by heat, pressure and other forces in the Earth's crust. It penetration rate that can be achieved when drilling explora-
is comparatively rare to find a homogeneous
1 Volcanic rockrocksmass, tion holes
– fine-grained and the extent
minerals 6 of wear on the
Weathered drilling producing
orebodies equipment. azurite,
and the discontinuities such as faults including
filled with feldspar,
crushed quartz,
In olivine, hornblen-
some circumstances, malachite, cuprite,characteristics
certain mineral etc.
de, magnetite andare
material, major jointing and bedding non-conformities mica. will directly influence 7theWeathered sandstone,
mining method. Many perhaps having high
salts, for
hard to predict. 2 River valley deposits may include gold, quartz content.
example, are especially elastic and can absorb the shock
platinum, diamonds, cassiterite or 8 Orebodies, e.g. containing galena,
from blasting.
magnetite, as well as clays and sands. sphalerite.
These discontinuities are also important, not only for
3 Metamorphic the
sandstone – high proportion of 9 Recent alluvium, lake and sea-bed deposits
structural integrity of a mine and gaining
quartz.access to min- Good and bad conditions e.g.
eral deposits, but also as paths for 4fluids that causelimestone
Metamorphic min- By far the best
as marble. etc –formation for drilling isshale,
10 Weathered hard,perhaps
solid rock. The bauxite.
forming
calcite
eral concentrations in the Earth. In order and dolomite.
for mining to be 11 Contact
penetration rate is higher, zones
the wear on between
consumablesigneouslow,and
economically viable, the minerals 5have Metamorphic shales
to be present in as slates,
and the schists, etc. –
hole deviation ’country’
less. rocks –ifgarnet,
Conversely, hornblende,
the formation is
with garnet, mica, feldspar. sulphides.
sufficient concentration to be worth extracting and within softer and has cracks and layers, hole deviation increases,
rock structures that can be excavated safely and economi- consumables wear quicker, penetration rates are lower and
cally. It must also be possible to enrich the minerals in an the risk of getting stuck, or losing parts of the core, is higher.
economical way. It may also be more difficult to keep the hole open and
prevent it from collapsing.
For mine development and production drilling, the rock
must be correctly appraised because the results will affect Flushing the hole is also extremely important and can
projected drill penetration rates, hole quality and drill steel make the difference between success or failure when
costs. In order to determine overall rock characteristics, it is drilling. One common problem is water loss. This occurs
necessary to distinguish between microscopic and macro- when drilling is carried out in bad rock formations with a
scopic properties. As rock is composed of grains of various lot of cracks through which much of the water can drain
minerals, its microscopic properties include: away. The greater the cracks, the more water will be lost.
In more fragmented rock conditions, the water can often
• Mineral composition be lost completely which has an extremely adverse effect
• Grain size on the drilling process, damaging equipment and jamming
• The form and distribution of the grain drill rods in the hole. The technique of water flushing dif-
• If the grains are loose or cemented together fers greatly depending on the rock formation. In hard rock
conditions the possibility to use water alone is higher, while
Collectively, these factors comprise the properties of the in soft rock formations there is often a need to use polymers
rock such as hardness, abrasiveness, compressive strength or mud. Flushing is done for several reasons. It cools the bit,

Figure 3: The Earth's eight major tectonic plates meet and create subduction zones, where relative motion carries the plates into the
mantle. Spreading centers is the opposite phenomena, where tectonic plates move apart. These geologically active boundaries often
result in the formation of interesting mineralizations.
cleans the face in front of the bit and bring the chips to the In addition, innovation with regard to In-The-Hole (ITH)
surface, reduces the friction between the rod and the hole technique is also making life easier by helping the driller
and reduces vibrations in the drill string. to ensure that the overshot is properly connected when
retrieving the core. This reduces the need for maintenance
Hole flushing in unstable formations is far more compli- on the ITH equipment and improved of the diamond bits.
cated than in hard formations since it is necessary to keep
track of the density and viscosity of the fluid used to flush If it is possible to improve the performance of the diamond
the hole. It is also required that the driller understands the bits, the same bit will last longer. This means that the inter-
relationship between these parameters and the stability in vals between bit changes become longer and productivity
the hole, the capability of the fluid to transport sand and increases. Changing the bit is time consuming. The deeper
chips to the surface, the ability to control loss of water and the hole, the more time is spent tripping rods in and out of it.
the ability to build up a filter cake in the hole. Flushing in
these adverse conditions is also used for other reasons, too, The vision of automation
such as stabilizing the hole, sealing cracks and increasing There is no doubt that most companies developing core
the capacity to bring the cuttings to the surface. drilling equipment are heavily focused on increasing the
level of automation in exploration. Initially, this may only be
The driller’s challenge limited, for example to enable a rig to drill one rod automati-
Today, exploration drillers face a range of different chal- cally during a shift change. But it is clear that the aim is to
lenges, not least that geologists are demanding bigger automate more, eventually to enable a whole round trip to
and bigger core samples. The bigger the sample, the more be completed automatically.
information can be obtained. This presupposes, of course,
that there are drill rigs that can handle these large size cores However, to be able to run a core drilling rig fully autono-
at the specified depths. mously is a very long-term vision. Core drilling rigs are much
more complex than those designed for drill-and-blast.
The depths required are also getting deeper due to the Arguably, the development of core drilling equipment is
fact that the shallower deposits are already being extracted. more focused on extracting detailed data from the rig that
Furthermore, adverse rock formations make the driller’s job can enable the driller to analyze exactly what is happening
trickier since it is then more difficult to extract core samples during the drilling process.
that are of good quality and intact at an acceptable cost.
Today’s exploration drill rigs go a long way to meet these In addition to this, developers are also focused on increas-
demands and increase productivity at the same time, there- ing the amount of data that can be extracted from each
by enabling the exploration driller to increase earnings. rig, so that the differences between different drillers and
rock formations can be studied. Other innovations under
One major benefit is that these rigs provide more detailed development include the transfer of data to remote sites to
information on the various parameters which enables the inform drillers of when it is time for maintenance, and when
driller to monitor the events more closely while drilling and an event may potentially lead to a breakdown.
to take any necessary action before something goes wrong.

Table of main igneous rock types

Silica (Si02) content Plutonic rocks Dykes and Sills Volcanic (mainly lava)
Basic – <52% Si02 Gabbro Diabase Basalt
Diorite Porphyrite Andesite
Intermediate – 52–65% Si02
Syenite Syenite Trachyte porphyry
Quartz diorite Quartz porphyrite Dacite
Acidic – >65% Si02 Granodiorite Granodiorite porphyry Rhyodacite
Granite Quartz porphyry Rhyolite
Table 1: Main igneous rock types according to chemical composition (silica content) and location where magma turned into solid rock.
Some sedimetary rock types

Rock Original material
Conglomerate Gravel, stones and boulders, generally with limestone or quartzitic cement
Greywacke Variable grain size from clay to gravel, often with angular shape
Sandstone Sand
Clay Fine-grained argillaceous material and precipitated aluminates
Limestone Precipitated calcium carbonate, corals, shellfish
Coals Vegetation in swamp conditions
Rock salt, potash, gypsum, etc Chemicals in solution precipitated out by heat
Loess Wind-blown clay and sand
Table 2: Typical sedimentary rock types and the material from which they originate.
Typical metamorphic rocks

Rock type Original rock Degree of metamorphism
Amphibolite Basalt, diabase, gabbro High
Mica schist Mudstone, greywacke, etc Medium to high
Gneiss Various igneous rocks High
Green-schist Basalt, diabase, gabbro Low
Quartzite Sandstone Medium to high
Leptite Dacite Medium
Slate Shale Low
Veined gneiss Silicic acid-rich silicate rocks High
Marble Limestone Low
Table 3: Typical metamorphic rock types and their origin, followed by the degree of metamorphism that is needed.
Anortosite Granitic gneiss

on
ati
Amphibolite lliz Sm
sta el
ry Magma tin
Mica gneiss g
C
Quartzite Marble Limestone
Diabase Phyllite
Roc atic
ks
m
Me ocks
Mag
tam
Sandstone Pegmatite
R
orphic
Diorite
Erosion tr
Weatheransp.
Gabbro Argillaceous, shale clay

ism
Monzonite
orph
ing
ta m
Greywacke Norite
Me
ry
ed ta
Gneiss granite Mica schist en
S
im im cks
en d
ts Se Ro
Gneiss
Taconite Granite
C e m e n t at i o n
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Figure 5: Relationship between Drilling Rate Index (DRI) and various rock types. The rock forming cycle shows the creation of various rock types and how they deteriorate.

The search for
new orebodies
Exploiting an existing orebody is easy. Finding new
ore deposits and defining their extent and metal
content is a good deal harder.
Mining companies have to ensure that the deposit is economically viable, and
need a guarantee of ore production over a sufficiently long period of time, before
they can consider the substantial investments required to set up a mining opera-
tion. Even after production starts, it is necessary to locate and delineate any
extensions to the mineralization, and to look for new prospects that may replace
the reserves being mined.
Prospecting and exploration

Prospecting and exploration is the first phase in the life cycle of a mine (next
page), followed by development, extraction and finally closure and reclamation.
These activities, which often occur simultaneously and can take 2–8 years to
complete, involve searching for mineral deposits using a variety of geological
methods. Geologists search for surface minerals through visual examination,
whereas geophysicists identify underground mineral deposits by detecting rock
alterations beneath the surface. Geochemistry is also used to analyze samples
of soil, rock, and water. These methods are supplemented by aerial or satel-
lite photography and combined with historical maps and literature to develop
detailed maps of surface and underground rock formations.
Drilling is used to search for mineral occurrences or clues in the rocks that may
lead to mineral deposits. The information gathered during this stage may or may
not lead to a discovery of valuable minerals. Additional techniques are used to
determine the possible size and value of a mineral deposit discovered during
prospecting. Depending on the ownership of the land, a Mineral Rights Lease
may be required which is a contract that allows the holder to explore and exploit
an area that contains minerals. Samples collected by drilling undergo various
analyses by geologists and metallurgists to determine the richness and extent
of the mineral, both vertically and horizontally. Such analyses of geological con-
fidence and technical and economic evaluation allow the deposit to be labeled a
“mineral resource” and/or an “ore reserve”. This helps to establish the economic
value of the deposit and to estimate mining costs.
The first step is to conduct a review of historical and existing data. Especially from
closed down mines and terminated exploration, core samples and other relevant
information which can often be obtained. This can result in great savings in time
and money required for new activities. One of the cheapest phases of property
exploration is the preparation of a comprehensive, detailed and accurate geologi-
cal map which often starts with basic instruments such as tape and compass.

The search for new orebodies
6. Mine closure and rehabilitation
7. Monitoring and evaluation

Primary exploration stage
8. Lease relinquishment
4. Development stage:
5. Production stage
Mine construction
Generative stage
Evaluation stage
2. Exploration:
3. Exploration:
1. Exploration:
Lifecycle of a mine
Source: Minerals Council of Australia, 2014.
Exploration is a lengthy process that accounts for the first three stages of the mine lifecycle.
The accuracy can be enhanced by using aerial photogra- explorer basic information to determine where to find areas
phy to help locate outcrops, major fault zones and basic with good mineral potential.
topographic control. Each step adds more costs, but it also
improves the accuracy and detail of the resulting map. Geophysical exploration
Soil-covered ground is inaccessible to the prospector, After their introduction in the 1950’s airborne geophysical
whose first check would be to look for an outcrop of the surveys became commonly used as a first step in geophysi-
mineralization. cal exploration. Large areas can be effectively covered in
a short period of time. One of the most common aero-
Where the ground cover comprises a shallow layer of allu- geophysical maps are magnetometer maps which record
vial material, trenches can be dug across the mineralized the variations in the earth’s magnetic field with high degree
area to expose the bedrock. A prospector will identify the of accuracy.
discovery, measure both width and length, and estimate
the mineralized area. Samples from the trenches are sent The optimal selection of altitude and spacing as well as
to the laboratory for analysis. Even when minerals can be choice of instrumentation is important. From the surface,
found on the surface, determining any extension in depth different geophysical methods are used to explore subsur-
is a matter of qualified guesswork. face formations, based on the physical properties of rock
and metal bearing minerals such as magnetism, gravity,
If the prospector's findings, and his theorizing about the electrical conductivity, radioactivity, and sound velocity.
probable existence of an orebody are solid, the next step
would be to explore the surrounding ground. Exploration Two or more methods are often combined in one survey,
is a term embracing geophysics, geochemistry, and finally to acquire more reliable data. Results from the surveys are
drilling into the ground for obtaining samples from any compiled and matched with geological information from
depth. surface and chips or core samples from any previous core
drilling, to decide if it is worth proceeding with further ex-
Efficient mineral exploration depends on increasingly ploration. If the answer is ‘yes’, the information forms the
sophisticated map production for planning purpose and basis for future drilling campaigns.
access routes, for geological, geophysical, geochemical
and structural mapping. Today detailed aerial topographic As geophysical surveys are commonly conducted from
maps are available in many parts of the world giving the the air to begin with, information from the surface surveys

are compared and added to the aerial mapping. Magnetic All results from the survey are superimposed on maps
surveys measure variations in the earth’s magnetic field which will show dozens or often hundreds of anomalous
caused by magnetic properties of subsurface rock forma- patterns which are useful when optimum location of drill
tions. In prospecting for metallic minerals, these techniques holes are decided.
are particularly useful for locating magnetite, pyrrhotite and
ilmenite. EM (Electromagnetic) surveys are based on varia- Geochemical surveying
tions of electric conductivity in the rock mass. A transmit- Geochemical surveying is another exploration technology
ter is used to create a primary alternating electromagnetic featuring several specialities, the main one being to detect
field. Induced currents produce a secondary field in the the presence of metals in the topsoil. By taking a large
rock mass. The resultant field can be traced and measured, number of samples over an extended area and analyzing
thus revealing the conductivity of the underground masses. the contents of each metal, regions of interest are identified.
Electromagnetic surveys are mainly used to map geologi- The area is then selected for more detailed studies. The
cal structures, and to discover mineral deposits such as geochemist will take stream samples on a regional basis
sulphides containing copper or lead, magnetite, pyrite, covering many square kilometers of the supposed favour-
graphite, and certain manganese minerals. Electric surveys able terrain. That survey will be followed by more detailed
measure either the natural flow of electricity in the ground, sampling of variations in chemical composition of drainages
or “galvanic” currents led into the ground and accurately and by soil sample grids in anomalous areas.
controlled.
The area chosen might be relatively acidic or the metal
Electrical surveys are used to locate mineral deposits at ions in the ground water neutralized by a bed of limestone.
shallow depth and map geological structures to deter- Rapid and accurate analytical methods such as atomic
mine the depth of overburden to bedrock, or to locate the emission spectroscopy (ICP) have made it possible to deter-
groundwater table. IP (Induced Polarization) surveys are mine many elements, commonly 30, in each sample which
conducted along grid lines with readings taken at receiving generates a vast amount of data.
electrodes planted in the earth and moved from station to
station. The electrodes, connected to a receiver, measure Exploration commonly includes programs of soil sampling.
the chargeability (the capacity for various minerals to build This entails digging holes at certain intervals to collect soil
up a charge of electricity) and resistivity effects on current samples from identified horizons. The samples are placed
forced into the ground and bedrock. in bags, dried, screened to collect the finer material and
analyzed for “pathfinder” elements. A soil sampling survey
The minerals detected by IP surveys are generally the might result in thousands of samples which need com-
same as for EM methods. Gravimetric surveys measure puter programs for efficient data handling. Geochemical
small variations in the gravitational field caused by the pull surveys can also be conducted on rock chips from outcrops
of underlying rock masses. The variation in gravity may be or rocky debris. Biochemical surveys might use leaves or
caused by faults, anticlines, and salt domes that are often bark in forested regions or plants and sage brush in arid
associated with oil-bearing formations. Gravimetric surveys environments.
are also used to detect high-density minerals, such as iron
ore, pyrites and lead-zinc mineralizations. Exploratory drilling
The next and most expensive part of the exploration se-
In regions where rock formations contain radioactive miner- quence is drilling. Drilling penetrates deep into the ground
als, the intensity of radiation will be considerably higher and brings up samples of whatever it finds on its way. If
than the normal background level. Measuring radiation there is any mineralization at given points far beneath the
levels helps locate deposits containing uranium, thorium surface, drilling can give a straightforward answer and can
and other minerals associated with radioactive substances. quantify its presence at that particular point.
Seismic surveying is based on variations of sound veloc- There are two main methods of exploratory drilling. Core
ity experienced in different geological strata. The time is drilling, yields a solid cylinder shaped sample of the ground
measured for sound to travel from a source on the surface, at an exact depth. Percussion drilling yields a crushed
through the underlying layers, and up again to one or more sample, comprising cuttings from a fairly well determined
detectors placed some distance on surface. depth in the hole. Beyond that, the drill hole itself can pro-
vide a complementary amount of information, particularly
The source of sound might be the blow of a sledgehammer, by logging using devices to detect physical anomalies,
a heavy fallen weight, a mechanical vibrator or an explosive similar to the geophysical surveys mentioned above.
charge. Seismic surveys determine the quality of bedrock
and can locate the contact surface of geological layers, or Core drilling is also used to define the size and the exact
of a compact mineral deposit in the ground. Seismic sur- boundaries of mineralization. This is important for deter-
veys are also used to locate oil-bearing strata. mining ore grades being handled, and vital for calculating

High value Exploration risk
Discovery
Mineral deposits are
discovered. Mining
viability is assessed
and mining rights and
permissions are secured.
Evaluation
Drilling results are evaluated
to define the best way of
reaching potential mineral Mining gets underway
deposits. First-stage
The mine becomes operational
investors are engaged.
and ore is extracted from the
deposit to meet market demand,
generating cash-flow.
Activity launch
Initial probing to prove
geology concept using
surface exploration Orphan period Mine development and
drilling. Speculators invest during long-term investment
Low value the "orphan period" when The mine owner and financiers
the business case for invest capital to develop the
proven deposits is mine while assessing long-term
further refined.
Life cycle profitability.
4-5 years 1-2 years 2-3 years 2 years 1 years

Timeline
Concept Pre-discovery Discovery Feasibility Development Startup Depletion
Activity • Market strategy • Trenching • Global resource • Engineering • Financing • Startup

• Prospecting rights • Geophysics definition • Cost estimates • Engineering • Opeeration
• Geochemestry • In-fill drilling • Optimization • Permitting
• Geology • Step-out drilling • Operating costs • Construction
• CAPEX
• Reserve calculations
Source: Pierre Lassonde/Visual Capitalist.
The mine is born: total process from initial exploration to development and start-up may take up to 12 years.
the mineral reserves that will keep the mine running in Compared with core drilling equipment, which is readily
the future. A strategically placed underground core drill- disassembled, reverse circulation (RC) drill rigs can be both
ing operation may also intersect new ore bodies in the truck-mounted and crawler-mounted but are restricted
neighbourhood. The core is an intact sample of the under- to accessible terrain and better road conditions. They are
ground geology, which can be examined thoroughly by the generally not heli-portable so if the drilling site is remote
geologist to determine the exact nature of the rock and any and inaccessible, core drilling rigs will be flown in by heli-
mineralization. copter.
Samples of special interest are sent to a laboratory for ana- From prospecting to mining
lysis to reveal any metal contents. Cores from exploration To quantify the mineralization, and to define the shape, size
drilling are stored in special boxes and kept in archives for and metal content of the deposit, the step by step proce-
a long period of time. Boxes are marked to identify from dure in exploration activities is required. At every step of the
which hole, and at what depth, the sample was taken. The procedure, the geologists examine the information at hand,
information gathered by core drilling is important, and rep- to recommend continuing the exploration efforts.
resents substantial capital investment.
The objective is to be fairly certain that the deposit is eco-
To obtain fast geological information at less cost, reverse nomically viable by providing detailed knowledge of the
circulation methods are commonly used. Instead of core geology for a clear financial picture. Ore is an economic
samples the geologist gets access to drill cuttings (chips) concept, defined as a concentration of minerals, which
throughout the hole length which are checked and mapped can be economically exploited and turned into a saleable
for mineral content after laboratory analysis. product.

Understanding the terminology

A mineral resource is a concentration of potentially valuable mate-
rial that naturally occurs in the earth that can potentially be mined
for economic gain. Whether it is worth extracting now or later may
depend on the amount, form, location, and quality of the material,
a concept called geological confidence.
Experts use geological sampling and testing methods to classify a

mineral resource into three different categories according to geo-
logical confidence. When the amount and quality of the mineral
can be estimated with only a low level of confidence based on
limited sampling, it is called an “inferred” mineral resource. Such
a resource will likely not be mined at this time, but may be mined
one day in the future, either because all other reserves have been
exploited or because improvements in technology make it easier
to extract less concentrated ores.
Additional sampling may allow the amount, quality, density, shape,

The reverse circulation drill rig Explorac 235. and physical characteristics of the mineral to be estimated with a
reasonable level of confidence, and it is classified as an “indicated”
mineral resource.
Before a mineral deposit can be labeled as an
orebody, full knowledge is required about the If further sampling and reliable and detailed exploration allow the
mineralization, proposed mining technology amount, quality, density, shape, and physical characteristics of the
and processing methods. The environmental mineral to be accurately estimated with a high level of confidence,
impacts of mining and mineral processing it is classified as a “measured” mineral resource.
are carefully studied and need approval. If
no serious negative impacts are found, the An ore reserve is the part of the mineral resource that can be eco-
owners apply for permission to conduct nomically profitable to mine (i.e., there is enough valuable metal to
mining operations in the area. A prerequisite be worth removing it and extracting it from all of the surrounding
for this application is the owner's confidence rock).
of sustained profitability over a long period
of time. After a deposit has been identified as an inferred, indicated, or
measured mineral resource, it is next labeled as a “probable” or
At this stage a comprehensive feasibility study “proved” ore reserve. This classification is based on what is known
is undertaken covering capital requirements, about the mineral resource through sampling, combined with con-
returns on investment, payback period and sideration of “modifying factors,” such as mining, metallurgic, eco-
other essentials, in order for the board of nomic, environmental, marketing, legal, political, and social factors.
directors of the company to make the final
decision on developing the prospect into a With some information available about the concentration of the
mine. ore (i.e., indicated mineral resource), and some uncertainty in the
modifying factors, the deposit can be labeled a probable ore
The cost of a feasibility study is quite substan- reserve. A mine developed from a probable ore reserve has a
tial and could reach an amount of approxi- chance of success but is still financially risky. A measured mineral
mately 5% of the required capital cost for resource may also be labeled as only a possible ore reserve, if
the entire mining project. Based on all geo- there is uncertainty in the consideration of the modifying factors;
logical documentation and the study, owners if these uncertainties can be removed, it may later be labeled a
get a good idea of how to mine the deposit; proved ore reserve.
whether it will be surface open pit mining
or underground operations with or without When the concentration of ore has been accurately and confi-
backfilling of the excavated stopes. dently measured to be high (i.e. measured mineral resource),
and there is limited uncertainty about the modifying factors, it is
In the majority of cases, mining will start with classified as a proved ore reserve. This is the highest confidence
open pit excavation, gradually turning into un- category of reserve estimate, implying high geological, technical,
derground mining once the waste to ore ratio and economic confidence that it can be mined at a profit.
becomes too excessive at deeper horizons.

Long-term
view is key for
exploration
The volatility of the exploration industry is directly
linked to events in the mining industry and the world
economy. However, despite the ups and downs, “core
in the box” remains a necessity.
Drilling is at the heart of all global development. Whether it is used in quarrying to

obtain materials for roads and bridges, in mining to extract metals and minerals
or in construction work, modern drilling equipment is indispensable.
Both the mining and exploration industries rely on effective and reliable drilling
equipment, and both are dependent on global investment and growth.
Global spending
Exploration expenditure is mainly driven by metals demand. When the demand
peaks, so does exploration expenditure. By studying non-ferrous exploration bud-
gets over a 20-year period, the industry’s highs and lows can be traced. After a
flat period in the beginning of the 1990s, there was an increase in spending for
six consecutive years, reaching a peak in 1997. In 2002, after a steady five years
of exploration activities, spending reverted to the 1989 level.
Subsequently, budgets increased dramatically year-over-year, reaching an all-

time high in 2008, only to fall back again as a result of the global financial crisis
of that year and the economic downturn that followed. The most notable decline
was seen between 2012 and 2016 when exploration remained at a low level, but
it has since shown positive growth. However, due to a combination of factors, the
outlook for the foreseeable future is less certain.
This was confirmed by the S&P Global Market Intelligence’s 30th annual study of
corporate exploration strategies, published in early 2020. The survey of 3 000
companies found that the global exploration budget for nonferrous metals in
2019 had declined to an estimated USD 9.8 billion, from USD 10.1 billion in 2018
(–3%). Moreover, the study estimated that the global exploration budget would
remain flat in 2020, or similar to 2019, and that the near-term demand for com-
modities remained unclear due, in part, to geopolitical tensions between the U.S.
and China and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Long-term view is key for exploration
Global exploration budget down but remains above 2015-2017 levels

Global nonferrous exploration budget
24 Annual indexed metals price 4
Global non ferrous exploration budget
Annual indexed metals price

21
Recent trend changes
18 3
15
(1996=1)
(USD)
12 2
6 1
0 0
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Data as of Jan. 15, 2020. Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Top 20 country budget changes Year-Over-Year (YOY) in 2019
Mexico
Canada
China
DRC
Peru
PNG
Russia
Ireland
Senegal
Brazil
Namibia
New Zealand
Tanzania
Angola
Colombia
Ecuador
Indonesia
Chile
US
Australia
-200 -150 -100 -50 -0 50 100 150 200 250
Annual exploration budget change (US$M)
Drilling activity rebounded in the second half of 2019
Copper Gold Lead-zinc Silver Nickel PGM Minor base metals Specialty metals
600
Number of projects drilled
500
400
300
200
100
0
M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D M J S D
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

More explorers
The recovery in exploration began in late 2016 and contin-
ued through the first part of 2018. At that time, there were
more than 1 650 companies actively exploring but still one-
third fewer than in 2012.
According to the S&P survey of 2019, the number of active

explorers had increased by 3% to 1 708, making it only the
second year since 2012 with an annual increase. Many
companies that had been dormant for the past several
years were reactivated in 2018, before prices began to pull
back and financings became harder to secure. This led to
a decrease in the average and median exploration budgets
to USD 5.4 million and USD 1.1 million respectively.
The S&P report has long shown that the mining industry is
allocating an increasing proportion of its exploration spend-
ing to advanced projects and mines. This movement away
from grassroots efforts tends to become more pronounced
during downturns as juniors focus on proven assets rather
than on riskier early-stage exploration, and majors focus on
maximizing value at their existing operations.
This trend accelerated in 2019, with planned spending at

and near mines up 7% to USD 3.57 billion. Mine site explora-
tion accounted for the largest share of global allocations
at 38.5%, the first time on record that mine site allocations
have exceeded both late-stage and grassroots spending,
which were down 14% and 1% respectively, year-over-year.
Increase in all regions The Christensen CT20 surface core drilling rig.
With the slowdown in global exploration, only three of the
seven CES (S&P’s Corporate Exploration Strategies) regions
had higher allocations in 2019, compared with six regional
increases in 2018.
Below, the top five regions for exploration, 2019:

1. Latin America
2. Australia
46%
targeting gold
3. Rest of world (Europe and mainland Asia)
4. Canada
5. Africa
Latin America remained the world's top region for explora-

tion despite a budget decline of more than 4% and a second
consecutive decline in global budget share, to 28% from a
peak of almost 30% in 2017.
25%
targeting copper
Australia jumped from fourth place in 2018 to second place
in 2019, a position it last held in the late 1990s and early
2000s. Budgets for copper and gold were up, with the
majors ramping up their programs in the region. Western
Australia remained the top destination at 63% of the region's
total, with a 15% dollar increase over 2018.
6%
targeting zinc-lead
The Rest of World region, which comprises Europe and
mainland Asia, experienced the largest decline year-over-
year, due to a USD 139 million drop in gold allocations. Exploration drilling targeting. Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The Diamec Smart 6 underground core drilling rig.
Substantial reductions in budgets for copper, platinum regulatory requirements for the exploration and develop-
group metals, or PGM (platinum group metals), diamonds ment of federal mineral resources. In 2019, U.S. allocations
and other targets also contributed to the decline. Russia and rose by 11%, or USD 93 million, compared with a 4% decline
China remained the top countries for exploration, account- in the overall global budget.
ing for a combined 56% of the total budget. Substantial
reductions in budgets for copper, PGM, diamonds and other The increase was fueled mostly by an 80% surge in copper
targets also contributed to the decline. allocations and a 44% increase in budgets for other com-
modities like silver. U.S. gold allocations fell by 22% year-
Canada slid one spot to the fourth position in regional ran- over-year and were almost equal with copper at around
king, with a budget decrease of 9% or USD 134 million year- USD 370 million. Despite a 6% decline in planned spending,
over-year in 2019. Juniors contributed the most to the decline, Nevada remained first among the U.S. states.
with a budget cut of USD 95 million, or 12%, year-over-year,
while majors were down USD 22 million, or 4%. By com- After being the only region with a lower budget in 2018,
modity, the plunge was driven primarily by the nearly USD Pacific/Southeast Asia's allocations increased by 5%, or
200 million, or 21%, decrease in gold exploration, along with USD 15.8 million, year-over-year in 2019. Copper was the
an aggregate USD 40 million decline for PGM and zinc-lead. principal driver with a 12% increase, while gold was up
almost 5%.
Africa was fifth globally for a second consecutive year.
The region's 12% budget decline in 2019 was mostly due Gold continues to dominate
to a nearly USD 150 million drop in allocations for gold and Gold prices remained dominant in 2019. After ending the
copper. Junior explorers cut their budgets the most year- year at USD 1 517/oz, prices reached a multi-year high at
over-year, by 25% for gold and 57% for copper. Despite a the end of January 2020, boosted by geopolitics and the
35% drop in planned spending, the Democratic Republic of coronavirus pandemic. Copper, second to gold among
Congo was the top African country for exploration, a posi- exploration targets, fared poorly in most of 2019, weighed
tion it has held since 2008. down by deteriorating economic outlooks. The London
Metal Exchange average cash copper price for 2019 fell
Since the recovery of global exploration budgets in 2017, to USD 6 005/t from USD 6 527/t in 2018. Zinc followed a
the United States has outperformed most of its regional similar trajectory, with prices falling to average USD 2 548/t
peers, aided by the current government's easing of certain from USD 2 919/t in 2018.

Through the first half of 2019, nickel price movements The industry in a nutshell
resembled those for copper and zinc, but midyear specu- As of 2020, the global mining industry was made up of
lation over an Indonesian ore export ban in January 2020, more than 6 000 companies of which 4 000–5 000 are
later confirmed, sharply increased prices. Nickel cash prices junior exploration companies that do not have a mine in
surpassed USD 18 000/t in September due to concerns operation but hope to find new deposits to exploit.
over supply constraints, before retreating to USD 14 000/t
by year-end. Nickel prices subsequently fell through These junior exploration companies do not have any cash
January 2020. flow but depend on funding from the private sector. They
are small, innovative, and often with highly trained employ-
The price for 62% Fe iron ore averaged USD 93.4/t for 2019 ees. They are willing to take risks, are fast decision makers,
— 34% above USD 69.5/t in 2018. Iron ore prices were esti- and dare to go into new areas and apply geological models
mated to average USD 80.2/t in 2020. in new ground.
Drilling activities down Many of the traditional mining companies have earlier
The difficult financing conditions of late 2018 and early downscaled their internal exploration departments and
2019 had a definite impact on the amount of drilling con- spread their risk by funding juniors. For example, in Canada,
ducted in 2019. Explorers reported a total of 38 958 drill Australia and the U.K. juniors account for some 50% of
holes at 1 093 projects in 2019. This was down 21% and 13% exploration. With the exception of Sweden, this figure is
respectively from the 49 061 drill holes at 1 262 projects in also similar for companies based in the Nordic countries.
2018.
A distinguishing feature of Sweden’s mining industry is that
The greatest impact was on drilling activity in the first half about 75% of exploration activities are carried out by the
of 2019 when there were 18 265 holes reported compared two large mining companies LKAB and Boliden. This can
with 20 723 holes in the second half — a 13% increase. While be compared with other rival countries where about half of
financing activity has since improved — an optimistic sign all exploration is done by companies that have no revenue
for 2020 — the benefits of the increased funding have not from an existing mine and which are relatively small com-
yet manifested in drill results. pared with these two companies.
Gold continued to be the top target in 2019, increasing its Looking ahead
share of global drill holes to 63% from 58% in 2018. This is As mentioned, the world economy has a major influence on
the highest level since 2016. Drilling activity for gold fell 9% exploration drilling. However, many companies have inte-
year-over-year in terms of the number of projects, to 641 grated exploration into their long-term strategies, signalling
projects from 707 in 2018. The drop was even more pro- that “core in the box” is essential for long-term growth.
nounced in the total number of holes reported, which fell
by 6 730 year-over-year. At the same time, exploration drillers will be looking for
even better equipment going forward – more productive,
While some of the cutback in gold drilling was due to more efficient, safer and more accurate – to increase their
fundraising pressures, it also reflected a shift in explorers' ability to provide the industry with higher quality samples.
focus from advanced late-stage projects — which require
more drilling to delineate and define a deposit — to more Note:
grassroots prospects, which require fewer holes to iden- This article is based on the S&P Global Market Intelligence’s
tify a target. The number of grassroots projects reporting 30th annual study of corporate exploration strategies, pub-
drilling for gold increased year-over-year in 2019, to 299 lished March 2020.
from 290, the highest level of grassroots gold drilling since
2012.
Declines in reported drill results for base/other metals —

which combines the industrial base metals with silver and
platinum group metals, or PGM — were more uniform than
for gold, with total drill holes declining 19% year-over-year
and the number of projects falling by 15%. Base metals
prices underperformed in 2019, hampered by the U.S.-
China trade war. In terms of drilling, zinc-lead and nickel
were the most affected, with the number of projects falling
by 19% and 32% respectively. Copper, with a comparatively
more stable price in 2019, declined only 6% in the number
of projects and actually had a 9% increase in the number
of holes reported.

New materials
come into play
The demand from exploration drillers for equipment
and methods that can improve the quality of samples
continues to rise. Here are some of the latest trends.
Mineral exploration is, by definition, the process of finding ore to mine, with ore
being commercially viable concentrations of minerals.
This work, usually undertaken by mining companies, contractors or by funding

junior partnerships, is usually carried out close to existing mine sites where the
aim is to identify and investigate extensions, as well to find and delineate fresh
deposits.
The exploration cycle includes a number of steps and activities such as area
selection, target generation, geophysical methods, remote sensing, geochemical
methods, resource evaluation, reserve definition and extraction of core samples
and chips.
Resource evaluation usually involves core drilling or reverse circulation drilling, by

which time substantial resources have already been invested in the exploration
project. These first drill holes are needed to verify the findings from the initial
investigation and all cores or samples obtained are saved as tangible proof of
what has been found.
For many years, when metals and mineral deposits were in abundance, the
demands from exploration companies were largely driven by a desire to increase
productivity. In recent years, however, the emphasis has shifted. Today’s explora-
tion drillers are looking for drill rigs that that are:
• Lighter and more compact

• More environmentally friendly
• Easier to use and learn
• Equipped with more automated features
Deeper and larger

In addition, to the above, drillers are looking for rigs that are capable of drilling
deeper, larger holes. The reason for this is the rapidly growing demand for all
types of base metals as well as minerals and metals that were previously not
mined in large quantities. These materials are now considered essential for sup-
porting today’s megatrends such as electrification and energy storage.

New materials come into play
These rigs must also be easier to move around from site

to site, thereby reducing the need to disturb the terrain by
removing obstacles such as trees, shrubs and boulders.
In addition, the equipment must meet high standards of
environmental friendliness and sustainability. For example,
it must be possible to remove contaminants from flushing
water through filtering before the water is discarded.
New materials
While population growth and urbanization are escalating
the demand for virtually all base metals, the new ele-
ments that have come into play pose new challenges for
the exploration industry. The shift to clean industrial tech-
nologies, renewable energy, smarter product development,
recycling and not least the development of zero or low-
carbon transport alternatives is reshaping the industry.
The most notable of these is the trend towards electric

vehicles that is driving the demand for materials such as
lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite, all of which are crucial
for developing new battery storage solutions.
However, the fact that many of these resources are located

in remote areas and in much deeper, low grade orebodies,
make them more costly and more time-consuming to real-
The Boyles C5 is compact and heli-portable. ize and will continue to drive the demand for specialized
equipment.
This means that, for the first time in history, exploration drill- Many countries, particularly in the EU region, are also look-
ers are now searching for materials that basically cover ing at the viability of extracting these so-called “innovation
the entire periodic system – from copper, iron and zinc to critical minerals” from existing base metal mines, new sites
manganese, cobalt, lithium and rare earth minerals such as as well as closed mines where these deposits are known
indium, molybdenum and neodymium. to exist. Sweden, for example is engaged in mapping
these deposits with a view to securing supplies for future
The need to drill deeper is a direct reflection of depleting demands.
reserves. The challenge for the exploration driller going
forward is to be able to discover and sample minerals at Going forward
depths of 3 000 meters or more. This places high demands Since the sharp decline in exploration activities that
on the equipment in terms of bigger, more powerful rigs occurred around 2013–2014, the industry has been stea-
that can drill such deep holes, and on drill rods that can dily improving. However, the recovery has been slow and
handle the rigors of drilling at such extreme depths. It natu- in 2020 was still languishing below the peak years of
rally follows that each hole will become more expensive 2011–2012.
to achieve.
However, if the trend in demand from exploration drillers is
At the same time, when it comes to core sampling, there is any indication, it would seem the industry is gearing up for a
an increasing demand for as large diameter core samples brighter future with the focus on more automation, different
as possible; the bigger the core, the more information can types of rod handling systems, more computerized control
be extracted from the rock. systems, better bits and core barrels, and, of course, more
safety.
Light and compact
Market demands for lighter and more compact rigs reflect Whether drillers are exploring potential sites in remote
the need for prospectors to be able to go further afield than areas or working at existing open-pit mines, modern and
ever before in search of new deposits. Since it is too expen- ergonomic drilling equipment is essential for the safe and
sive to build roads to access these remote destinations, productive output of quality samples that geologists can
exploration drillers require lightweight, compact rigs that assess.
can be transported by helicopter.

Exploration trends: What drillers want in the quest for better samples

Chips or cores?
It’s about striking
the right balance
Choosing the right exploration method is the first and
most important decision that geologists and drillers
have to make. Here’s a look at the key considerations.
Chips or cores? That’s the question often faced by geologists when deciding
which method of exploration drilling will get the most effective and economical
results. Core drilling, Reverse Circulation drilling (RC), or a combination of the two?
Technical logic
Since man first started searching for minerals and precious metals, three key
factors have consistently proved decisive for success: time, cost and confidence.
In other words, the time required, the cost of getting the job done, and confidence
in the quality of the samples brought to the surface for analysis. This is more a
question of basic technology and logic than one of science.
Which method?
Core drilling produces cores of subsurface material and is the most commonly
used method of obtaining information about the presence of minerals or precious
metals, as well as rock formations.
This method gives the geologist the opportunity to analyze the sample by eye
as well as by more advanced methods. As the samples are placed in core boxes
piece-by-piece and carefully marked, it gives a full picture of the rock strata.
RC drilling by percussive air Down-The-Hole (DTH) hammer is a fast method

due to higher penetration rate compared with traditional core drilling and gives
a lower cost per meter. At shallow investigations it is used alone and at deeper
exploration as an economical way of pre-collaring in order to get down to where
the mineralization is located.
Once there, it can be decided whether to continue with RC drilling to extract

chips for evaluation, or to switch to diamond core drilling to extract cores. In this
way, RC drilling becomes the perfect complement to conventional core drilling.
In addition to pre-collaring, RC drilling is typically used to drill several shallow
holes with high efficiency before deciding where to put the core drilling holes.

Chips or cores? It’s about striking the right balance
Selecting which method to use for sampling work depends Hydraulic drill rigs were launched in the early 1970s and
on the actual conditions, surface or underground, depths of progressively improved. In 1997, Atlas Copco introduced
the holes, rock conditions, and the preference of the geolo- computers into their control system, and now, the current
gist. But it also depends on the confidence that he or she Diamec Smart rigs represent the latest generation of Epiroc
places in the quality of the samples. underground core drilling rigs with computerized control
systems. These incorporate the latest hydraulic, electronic
Modern core drilling rigs carry out fast and efficient core and CAN bus technologies into a modern compact design,
sampling of different diameters to very large depth, and and include automation features that provide flexibility and
RC drilling has become so advanced that more and more added customer value.
geologists believe that chips are perfectly sufficient as a
means of determining mineralization. For surface mineral exploration and mineral grade identifi-
cation the relatively low cost and rapid reverse circulation
Hence, surface exploration drilling offers a choice between method has gained popularity, while underground core
chips, core or a combination. Underground RC is possible drilling is still the predominant method. One reason for
technically, but is still only used to a very small extent com- this is the need for smaller and lighter equipment suited
pared to core drilling and is still undergoing trials due to to transportation and set-up in confined areas, coupled
challenges in underground environments. with the ability to drill deeper holes in all directions. For
surface exploration drilling, the core drilling rigs have been
Early birds developed to higher efficiency and safety, independent of
As early as 1887, Atlas Copco, now Epiroc, developed a type of method used, pulling rod with a main hoist or with
rig that could recover cores at depths of 125 meters. the rotation unit.
Confidence in these samples among geologists was very
high in that they were able to evaluate a piece of solid rock. The first RC rigs were water well drilling rigs equipped with
Time was not necessarily of any great importance, and con- a sampling system. Today, there are special RC drilling sys-
sequently neither was cost. Manpower was inexpensive and tems, rigs, RC air hammers, DTH equipment, high-pressure
readily available. compressors and sampling systems. Together, these offer

efficient and safe drilling to increased depths, obtaining

high quality samples. Epiroc RC rigs are controlled by tested
and proven computer technology to help drillers to achieve
optimal performance.
Time is money
For all exploration drilling, the sample is the most important
result. Time is money, with the cost of exploration paid up
front, followed by a period of non-profitable waiting while
the results are analyzed. For core drilling, depending upon
depth, the actual drilling time is estimated to be a third of
the total time to extract a full core barrel because of the
pumping in, pulling out, and adding and removing rods. RC
drilling offers continuous drilling with a higher penetration
rate. Percussive drilling is always faster than rotary drilling
but has practical restrictions on hole depth and dimension,
which is normally no smaller than 125 mm.
RC drilling can offer three times the productivity of core

drilling, with most RC holes being drilled to depths of 50–
200 m (although depths of 500–600 m are possible in good
conditions). Drilling conditions, rock formation and the dril-
ler’s ability are all decisive. Cost comparisons between the
two methods should be based on the same factors as
productivity.
The cost factor

Costs are mainly related to the time factor, except that
investment in RC rigs and equipment is higher compared
to core drilling. For shallow exploration applications, time
and costs are in favour of RC drilling. The figures are easy
to evaluate and vary depending on the location, and on the
local drilling conditions and working environment.
For deeper exploration applications, where shallow subsoil

water and difficult terrain often pose challenges, core drill-
ing is still the only practical alternative.
Technical developments in drilling tools and rig technology

have resulted in lower drilling costs. Due to substantially
longer diamond core bit life, less down time and reduced
number of personnel are experienced.
A matter of confidence
The third variable in the equation is the confidence factor.
Investors, as well as geologists, expect contractors to deliv-
er high quality information about the geological formation.
Investors want the highest possible return on their invest-
ments in the shortest possible time. For example, whenever
a gold nugget has been found, others may take over to
conduct the drilling and blasting operations. As these are
not the same people, the reliability of information plays a
critical role.
Geologists choose their drilling method carefully. If there

is no need for continuous information about the geological
formation on the way down to a specified depth, there is no
need for samples. It is just a matter of minimizing the drilling A rotary splitter with sample bags.

Chips or cores?
time. If the goal is just to obtain a preliminary indication ity and rock mass are of the highest importance as this will
of possible content, then the geologist is not relying on any help to determine excavation parameters and the required
mineralized structure or geometry. With an evaluation rock support in order to maintain safety.
giving positive results, a programme of core drilling is the
logical way to continue, in order to bring the project to a Tradition and the environmental impact play a large role.
resource/reserve status. RC rigs are heavy, and are assembled on trucks or track
carriers. This fact tends to favour core drilling rigs, which are
If the mineralized structure is identified, but the geometry lighter and more adaptable in order to be flown into remote
and rate of content varies, RC drilling is used as an explora- and sensitive environments. In areas with extremely cold
tion drilling indicator for ensuring continued grade control. climates, and where permafrost is present, RC drilling may
The geologist wants dry and representative samples in have its limitations. Antifreeze rock drill oil helps to keep
order to make optimal evaluations. the hammer and bottom of the hole free from ice. Other,
purely practical, issues determine the choice of one or the
RC drilling below the groundwater table was previously other drilling method.
believed to undermine sample quality. Core drilling there-
fore remained the only viable method for these depths. An intelligent, balanced choice between the two methods is
Today, the availability of high-pressure compressors and the key to optimal results. The geologist plays an extremely
hammer tools makes it possible for RC drilling to reduce important role in finding this balance, as do manufacturers
costs, even for these depths. These days, professional con- to provide the right tools for the job.
tractors deliver dry sampling down to depths of 600 m. By
sealing off the bit from the rest of the hole, it can be kept
dry. In these cases, RC drilling is the preferred alternative in
regions where the method has been adopted. The control panel of an underground core drilling rig in the
Diamec Smart range.
It must be remembered that information from a core is cru-
cial in estimating the period of mineralized structures. The
core helps the geologist to calculate the cost of extracting
the mineral from the ore. Large volumes of rock have to be
excavated to obtain just a few grams of a valuable mineral. Read more about
exploration drilling
Cores also yield geotechnical data. Data about slope stabil-

The power
of Reverse
Circulation
drilling
The exploration method known as Reverse Circulation
drilling is now well established in open-pit mines
around the world.
Reverse Circulation drilling – the technique that transports drill cuttings to the
surface in one continuous flow – is now being routinely applied for initial explora-
tion, orebody development and in-pit grade control.
The popularity of this technique among exploration drillers has grown substan-
tially in recent years for three good reasons – speed, efficiency and higher quality
rock samples.
How RC works
The RC method is based on the application of dual wall drill rods. These are
comprised of an outer tube rod with a second tube inside. When the drill rods are
screwed together, the inner tubes overlap and are sealed with O-rings providing
a seamless conduit for conveying cuttings from the bit face to the surface.
In most cases, high-pressure air is used as the circulating medium. The air enters
the annulus between the rod and the inner tube via the air swivel. The swivel is
normally part of the drill string but is sometimes mounted on top of the rota-
tion head. The air travels down the annulus to the rock drilling tool, usually an
RC hammer, blade bit or tricone roller bit.
As in conventional open-pit drilling, the air powers the drilling tool and the
exhaust air carries the cuttings. The difference is that in RC drilling, the cuttings
are brought to the surface through the inner tubes.
Once through the rotation head, the air and cuttings that comprise the sample,
change direction at the discharge blast box and are transported through the
sample hose to the cyclone. The cyclone slows the sample, separates it from
the air and collects it.

The power of Reverse Circulation drilling
Reverse Circulation drilling in action using an Explorac drill rig.
Many advantages weight to the RC drill string (most of the RC drill rigs used
The advantages of the RC method are many, not least the today have a limitation in depth of 300–500 m). Secondly,
speed and efficiency with which it gets the job done com- RC drilling yields less information with regard to the geo-
pared to conventional drilling. Here are just a few examples. logical structure of the orebody, an important factor when
RC drilling gives: estimating the cost of extracting mineral from ore.
• Representative samples with high recovery rate
• Accurate samples in low-grade ores As a result, RC drilling and core drilling are often used in
• Continuous sampling from the hole bottom combination by mine operators, using RC for drilling shallow
• Uncontaminated samples holes and in-pit grade control, and core drilling for deeper
• Straighter holes in broken formations holes to identify future potential resources. Furthermore,
• Large bulk sampling capability many exploration contractors drill the first part of their hole
• Penetration of unconsolidated formations with cavities with RC, and then continue to the total depth with core drill-
without loss of circulation ing techniques.
In addition, the method provides for high productivity due The development of RC drilling is still ongoing and will no
to fast set-up and high penetration rate which together help doubt result in the method being applied to deeper holes
to reduce drilling costs. and more difficult formations. The method is here to stay
and with even better equipment in the future, compared
Mineral exploration with conventional core sampling, it will be hard to beat.
In mineral exploration, however, RC drilling has two draw-
backs compared to core drilling. Firstly, dual wall pipes add

RC equipment
Drill string Rotating parts
The RC drill string is similar to that of a conventional drill RC drill rods consist of an outer tube, the rod, and an inner
string except that all components have central inner tubes tube. The rods are externally flush and provide the strength
that carry most of the cuttings from the hole at high velocity for the assembly, and also the pin and box threads. RC drill
to the surface. rod threads have been developed to retain strength while
maintaining a large hole through the center for the inner
Drilling tools tube and airway.
There are generally only three types of Down-The-Hole
rock tools used in RC drilling: hammer, roller and blade. The The inner tube is installed into the rod through the box,
RC hammer is the most commonly used, drilling almost all or female end. It usually sits on a shoulder in the rod and
formations with few changes required. The most common is retained with a circlip. Each inner tube has a male and
hammers are in the 4–5 inch range as these meet the power, female end, one of which has O-ring seals. Once the rods
standard drill string and sample size requirements. are screwed together the inner tube ends overlap, and the
O-rings seal the tubes. The annulus between the rod and
The hammers work on the same principles as conventional inner tube carries the high-pressure air to the drilling tool,
hammers, but with a hardened, replaceable inner tube while the inner tube provides a smooth bore sealed tube
through the center. The inner tube extends into the top of to carry the cuttings to the surface. Most drill rods are 3 m
the drill bit. A conventional hammer exhausts the air through or 6 m long and run pin down because of the inner tube
the bit, whereas an RC hammer exhausts around the outside installation.
of the bit splines and around the head of the bit, forcing the
sample through the holes in the face of the bit and upward The most commonly used rod size is 4.5 in (11.43 cm), cou-
through the inner tubes. pled with a 5 in (12.7 cm) hammer and 5.25 (13.3 cm) to 5.75
(14.6 cm) in bit, but rods are also available from 3.5 (8.9 cm)
To help create a higher pressure zone above the bit face, in to 5.5 in (14 cm) to suit other rig or drilling requirements.
and to force the sample up the inner tubes, a sealing ring
is situated above the bit. This ring can be described as a The inner tubes are wearing, but easily replaceable, items.
shroud, sleeve or compensator ring and is mounted on the As with any drill string, there are various subs used for
drive sub, or bit chuck, and is usually replaceable. adapting, reducing, and stabilizing RC drill strings.
The RC hammer bit is similar to conventional hammer bits, The air swivel feeds air into the drill rod annulus, while still
but with two large ports in the face and a large bore through retaining an inner tube to allow sample flow. They can be
the center to accept the hammer inner tube. There are deep either in-line in the drill string immediately beneath the rota-
channels on the outside of the drill bit head to allow the tion head or mounted on top of the head as an integral part
exhaust air to flush the sample into the ports in the face. of the head.
An RC roller setup comprises a sub onto which a bit and The rotation head on an RC rig has a large bore through
skirt similar to a hammer shroud are screwed directly to the the spindle to allow for the replaceable sample inner tube.
drill string. The bit is normally a standard mill tooth tricone RC heads are usually built to provide high torque at moder-
roller bit, modified to allow a shroud to be fitted. ate speed, with at least 10 000 Nm and 100 rpm normal for
larger rigs.
The RC roller is only suited to softer formations, but can
be extremely fast and produces a very accurate sample Discharge system
and very little disturbance in the hole. It requires minimal The discharge system is the non-rotating part of the sample
air volume, and downhole costs are low, so it is a very eco- path that carries the sample from the rotation head to the
nomical method of drilling. sample cyclone. It normally consists of a mud swivel, blow-
down valve, blast box, discharge manifold and sample hose.
RC blade uses a sub and skirt setup similar to RC roller, The mud swivel, blowdown valve, manifold and blast box all
but with a drag blade as the cutting tool. Used in heavy mount rigidly to the top of the rotation head.
clay formations, which can be difficult or impossible with
hammer or roller, it can be very quick and produces an The mud swivel seals the rotating head shaft and inner tube
accurate sample. from the stationary parts of the discharge system. The seals

Reverse Circulation drilling: the method of choice
The fastest way to

quality samples
Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling represents a fast
and economical way to retrieve the high-quality
mineral grade samples needed to efficiently plan
mining and quarrying operations.
Cuttings pass through

a swivel and continue to
A representative the cyclone, together with
sample is collected excess compressed air.
through the splitter box.
Air (marked red) passes to

the hammer between the
inner and outer pipe. Cuttings
(marked blue) are collected
through the inner pipe.
The drilling bit is powered

by compressed air. Excess
air pushes cuttings upwards
through the inner pipe.
in the mud swivel are critical as they need to contain the dust at the cyclone. The sample hose is a heavy materials
pressurized sample. handling hose specially manufactured for RC drilling. The
hose transports the sample from the discharge manifold
Most RC rigs now have a blowdown valve fitted to the to the sample cyclone and is long enough to allow for the
discharge system. This is usually a hydraulic or air driven movement of the rotation head up and down the mast.
valve that closes off the sample inner tube and redirects the
downhole air flow down through the sample inner tubes. Sampling
This function is used to clear blockages in the bit ports or The majority of RC drilling is done to obtain mineral samples
the inner tubes, and to force all air up the outside of the drill for analysis, so correct sampling equipment and practices
hole, hence cleaning the hole. are necessary when undertaking this type of drilling. There
are two main components to the sampling system: the
It is done without having to depressurize and unscrew the cyclone and the splitter. The cyclone serves to reduce the
drill string to add a sub, so is a very useful tool in difficult speed of the sample stream, and to separate the sample
drilling conditions. from the air, allowing it to be collected.
The blowdown is mounted on top of the mud swivel. The It is important to have an efficient cyclone to keep as much
sample stream can be travelling at up to 250 m/sec and of the sample as possible, and also to avoid sample con-
needs to be redirected towards the cyclone. The blast box tamination. A good cyclone will typically collect more than
usually turns the sample flow about 90 degrees to meet 99% of the sample, with the remaining dust and air going to
the sample hose. This direction change also reduces the a dust collector or into the atmosphere.
energy of the sample considerably, but in doing so, incurs
very high wear. Most systems have easily replaceable wear RC hammer
components in this area. With a conventional DTH hammer, there is a risk of contami-
nation as the sample is transported between the hammer
Standard roller bit and drag bit casing and the hole wall to the collector sub. The first true
The discharge manifold extends sideways from the blast RC hammer was developed with sample collection at the
box. It helps slow the sample to reduce sample hose wear face of the drill bit and removal of the cuttings through
and also holds the hose clear of the drill rig as the head the center of the hammer to the dual wall drill pipe. This
travels up and down. technique provides a true sample from the bit face with
minimum risk of contamination.
There is often provision to inject small amounts of water
into the manifold to mix with dry sample and reduce the
Read more about Reverse

Circulation drilling

Introducing the RC
“Superhammer”
The reverse circulation drilling concept has been
further enhanced with the development of the RC45
hammer. Dubbed “Superhammer”, the RC45 is unri-
valled for obtaining accurate and uncontaminated
rock samples at high speed and low cost.
Epiroc, a pioneer of the RC drilling concept, has continued to push the boundaries
of the technology, continuously producing equipment that makes the exploration
driller’s job easier and more efficient.
The first major development came in 2008 with the launch of the RC50 hammer
along with three new RC drill rig configurations, then named: Explorac 220RC,
Explorac R50, ROC D65 and RD10.
Today, the hammer range has been extended with the introduction of the RC45,
a super high frequency hammer that is smaller, lighter and faster than any com-
parable hammer on the market. This 120 mm (4.5 inch) hammer is 40% shorter
than the nearest competitor and more than 30% lighter than most hammers doing
the same job. This means that one operator can easily handle the hammer by
him- or herself.
The hammer works with an extremely high impact frequency – up to 52 Hz at

30 bar. This is possible thanks to a unique air chamber design. Much smaller air
chambers build up pressure faster and make the piston strike at a much faster
rate.
The marginally lower impact force is more than compensated for by the much
higher impact frequency. Tests show excellent penetration rates in all types of
rock – also in difficult rock formations.
Like the RC50, the RC45 features the unique tube retention system from Epiroc.
This design allows fast and easy service, and tubes are quickly replaced without
disassembling the hammer. This means less time servicing the hammer, and
more time producing samples.

Introducing the RC “superhammer”
Next level hammer: The RC45 hammer increases power output and penetration rates.
All Epiroc hammers feature high stroke frequency, simple As a one-stop shop for reverse circulation, Epiroc ensures
design and few parts. These features give RC drillers the optimum system performance and maximum drilling pro-
following benefits: ductivity whether in Greenfield exploration or in-pit grade
control.
• High productivity
• High recovery rate Epiroc produces the entire RC drill string including ham-
• Quick and easy service mers, bits and pipes. Mounted on a choice of Explorac 235,
• Low fuel consumption Explorac 100, SmartROC D65, RD10 rigs and DM45 rigs, the
• Lower cost per meter drilled system is the most productive of its kind available.
This means high quality sampling at a lower overall cost Hammers specially designed for reverse circulation
per meter as well as a reduced environmental footprint. Our reverse circulation hammers are designed for both
The latter is due to energy savings in transportation as the deep-hole exploration drilling and in-pit grade control
hammer is comprised of fewer materials, plus the fact that applications. Whether exploring potential sites or work-
the hammer is highly energy efficient thanks to its MRX air ing an existing mine, exploration drillers are assured of
cycle, which is an innovative air cycle patented by Epiroc high performance, exceptional reliability and dependable
used in DTH hammers. support.
Complete solutions supplier RC50

As a pioneer in the design and manufacturing of Down-The- A Quantum Leap cycle is incorporated into the RC50
Hole equipment and sampling systems, Epiroc is a leading hammer, creating a balanced hammer with world class
provider of reliable and cost-effective RC solutions. We performance and reliability. The RC50’s high power enables
provide a complete product solution, including reverse cir- it to perform well in hard rock formations. The Quantum
culation drill rigs, compressors, boosters, reverse circulation Leap air cycle maximizes efficiency and develops greater
hammers and a full range of dual wall drill pipes. power for large or small compressor capacities. The air

Introducing the RC “superhammer”
cycle utilizes a special poppet valve to drive air pressure

to accelerate the piston to higher energy levels. Longevity
and reliability are due to a larger piston-struck end, a heat-
treated collection tube and the use of the Quantum Leap
valve cycle.
RC42
The RC42 is suitable for any shallow exploration/grade
control drilling application. It is designed for drilling from
soft through to hard competent rock formations and works
on low to high air pressure. Drill bit range: 118–133 mm
(4.625"–5.25").
RC52
The RC52 hammer is designed for any deep exploration
control drilling application in hard rock formations. It pro-
vides the highest possible resistance to back pressures of
water in the hole. Retrieval system bits and sleeves are
standard. Drill bit range: 136–152 mm (5.375"–4 to 6").
RC45
The RC45 has a much smaller chamber that builds up pres-
sure quicker, causing the piston to strike at a much faster
rate. The result is marginally lower impact energy, but this
is more than compensated for by a much higher strike fre-
quency, an increase of 30% at 30 bar compared to the RC50.
This leads to a greater increase in power output and a size-
able improvement in penetration rate.
Tricone roller cone bits are recommended for difficult rock

formations. These provide:
• Unique design of skirt shields with fluid ports delivers

fluid flow right at the roller cones and formation
• Large open center for efficient reverse circulation
• Internal flow control valves retain fluid in the outer pipe
• The skirt shields between the roller cones are not
welded to the roller cone legs so roller cone bit life is
not compromised
RC configurator
Deciding which solution to choose is simple and easy, using
the Epiroc online RC configurator tool. With a little input,
the configurator provides a complete drill string proposal,
selected from the entire equipment range. This makes it a
perfect ‘search engine’, either for creating a comprehensive
selection of drill string equipment or for simply looking for
a part number.
We strongly recommend users to change the entire string

from top sub/saver sub to bit sub/digout and to use the
same manufacturer. Products from different manufacturers
must never be used together as this may cause extensive
wear or early breakages.
Read more about reverse

circulation drilling tools

Putting more
core in the box
Exploration drillers are tasked by customers to
recover quality core samples at the fastest possible
rate. Here’s a look at the principles and tools that help
them maximize efficiency.
Recovered core samples are used to extract vital information where chips or
other data gathering techniques do not provide an elevated level of confidence
required to make decisions, be they related to mineralization or ground mechan-
ics. The quality of samples is of paramount importance and is influenced by the
personnel, capital and support equipment, diamond products, tools and acces-
sories used in any given ground conditions.
Core drilling is typically carried out either by drilling contractors working on

assignment or directly by mining companies, consulting companies or govern-
mental bodies who have their own drilling departments. Whoever is undertaking
the work, they all face the same challenge: putting enough “core in the box” during
each exploration drilling shift.
Understanding the basics

Core can be generally defined as a volumetric cylinder of material, created by
the advancement of a rotating hollow centered diamond drill bit through an in-situ
formation, and subsequently removed. Core recovery is a quantifiable measure-
ment defined as the total linear amount of physical core sample extracted over
the total linear advance in a borehole, expressed as a percentage.
Recovery is often measured against a section of advance, typically in the target

zone and/or for the entire borehole, where:
CR (%) = Length of core X 100
Length of advance
The core being created is encapsulated within, and subsequently extracted, by a

retrievable sampling device called a core barrel. The core barrel is a mechanically
designed device consisting of many interconnected engineered components.
It is connected to a consumable core drilling bit, typically made with synthetic
diamonds, which is the core cutting tool.
As the drill bit penetrates through the material, it creates a core in its wake, enter-
ing the core barrel until its recipient tube is full, or the core’s entry is impeded, at
which time the sample recipient tube is removed, emptied of its core, replaced
and drilling resumed.

Putting more core in the box
Drilling diameters
A drilling application comprises the borehole starting point,
or collar, the target and the path in between. Boreholes
ranging from 48 mm to 146 mm diameter, and depths of
3 m to 3 000 m share the following: diamond core drilling
Drill rod
rig; flushing circuit; drill rod string; core barrel and diamond
tools.
Selecting which diameter to drill for a given application

Flushing circulating
depends on a variety of factors, most of which are not
economic drivers and are beyond the scope of this basic
overview, but capital and tools must be adequately sized
and suited for each other and the objective to yield efficient
recovery. As a general rule: the larger the core diameter, the
better the core recovery.
Choosing the right ITH tools

Casing tube In-The-Hole (ITH) tools represent only a small component
Casing shoe of total project costs, but they are hugely significant to
Drill rod
the outcome and overall success of any drilling project.
Understanding the end user’s goals and application influ-
ences how efficient coring and commercial solutions are
developed and implemented. Core drilling rigs come in
Conventional many shapes and sizes. The rig, properly anchored at the
borehole collar, primarily needs to transmit rotation, thrust
and pullback forces. The smoother the transmission of
Wireline
rotational force, the better the core recovery.
Key principles
Fluid flushing: Fluid is primarily required to cool and flush
Drill rod Drill rod the cuttings from the advancing diamond core bit and
evacuate them from the borehole. The flushing medium
can be clear water, or include additives or muds to condi-
tion borehole integrity and complete the circuit. The fluid
flushing circuit can vary significantly, but typically consists
of one or more pumps, the fluid media itself, the drill string,
the available borehole annular area and the peripheral
accessories for controlling delivery, treatment and handling.
When ground conditions deteriorate, a rule of thumb is to
focus on the flushing circuit to improve core recovery.
Core barrel
Drill rods: Drill rods play an important role in efficient
core recovery. Their tool joints are leak proof, permitting
Core barrel
the flushing medium to efficiently travel over great dis-
tances within the string to discharge through the face of
Reaming shell
the bit under remotely controlled volumes and pressures.
Connected to the drill rig, a straight rod string combined
Core sample Reaming shell with smooth rotation and borehole conditioning will turn
Bit
vibration free in the hole while transmitting the feed pres-
Core sample
Bit
sure to the cutting tool. Proper care and handling of rods and
a vibration free rotation are key to improved core recovery.
Core barrel: The core barrel is most critical to efficient core

recovery. As a mechanically engineered device consisting
of dozens of inexpensive, individually interconnected and
interdependent components, predictive and preventative
maintenance is the easiest way to maximize recovery. The
Figure 1: A typical core drilling application. core barrel is sandwiched between the drill rods and the

Putting more core in the box
diamond bit (see Fig 1). Whether conventional or wireline, Double tube Triple tube
the design will typically be configured as a double tube
system consisting of an outer tube and inner tube. Triple Flushing
tube systems using a split inner tube are common in broken medium
ground. While the outer tube rotates with the drill rod, the
Reaming shell
inner tube is meant to remain stationary during advance-
Inner tube
ment though the in-situ material. To improve core recovery,
drillers need to ensure that components are serviced and
bearings regularly greased.
Split tube
Core lifter: The drilling fluid circuit operates within the
available annular area provided. More specifically, after
travelling through the drill rods, the fluid enters the core
barrel. There it is channeled between the inner and outer
tubes, exiting via the throat of the diamond bit, and back Stop ring
out between the outer tube and borehole wall to the collar Core lifter
(see Fig 2).
At the bit end of the inner tube, core lifter case adjustment
and core lifter selection are essential to the process. The
Core lifter case
core lifter case needs to be placed close enough to the
Minimal
throat of the bit to allow for efficient core breakage, but its clearance
adjustment gap should not create an undesirable increase Gap clearance

in fluid pressure and/or sample washing from the drilling
fluid. By design, the tapered core lifter slides along the
inside of the core lifter case, wedging and securing itself Bit
onto the core during core recovery and breaking. When

tackling difficult ground conditions drillers should choose Sample
an optional fluted core lifter.
Solid ground Broken ground
Core breaking: During core breaking, the drill string is
raised slowly. The spring-loaded inner tube assembly, by Figure 2: The bit and ground interface.
virtue of the core being firmly wedged by the lifter, remains
stationary until the bit throat adjustment gap is closed. At
this point, the core lifter case nests into the bit, transferring blows and mishandling to the inner tube in order to maxi-
the substantial lifting force from the inner tube to the drill mize core recovery.
string until the core breaks away.
The role of diamond tools
Generally, the adjustment gap should never exceed the The diamond tools are the business end of the string, and
available compression spring travel to improve core recov- the bit, in particular, is a metallurgical marvel. The bit cuts
ery. In broken or friable ground, the flushing medium’s path- through the material that makes its way into the core barrel.
way can wash away some of the sample before it makes its
way into the inner tube with consequential effect on mea- Crown profile, flushing, and gauge design characteristics
surable recovery. In these poorer ground conditions the core react differently with changes to rotation, thrust and flush-
barrel can be configured to accept a third ‘split’ inner tube. ing parameters. To improve core recovery, drillers should
The split tube is located within the regular inner tube and favor bit designs that offer improved inner diameter protec-
uses core lifter cases and diamond bits designed to direct tion and that minimize back-pressure and sample washing.
the drilling fluid though the bit blank instead of through
the bit throat, preventing sample washing (see Fig 2). As The fundamentals for diamond core drilling have not great-
a general rule: choose the largest triple tube system pos- ly changed since 1887, when Per Anton Craelius started in
sible in bad ground to improve core recovery. the business. We still push, turn, cool, flush, cut and col-
lect. However, advances by Epiroc in tooling and equipment
A core sample will enter the inner tube until the tube is have continuously improved the efficiency of core recovery
filled, or the sample is impeded, or "blocked", from enter- practices.
ing the tube, usually because of a fracture in the sample.
When this happens, continuing to advance the drill string
Read more about
will likely result in grinding and degradation of the desired
core drilling rigs
core sample. Drillers should avoid deformations, damaging

Choosing
the right bit…
and how to
get it right
Drill bit manufacturers often claim that choosing
the right core bit is the most important decision an
exploration driller can make. It’s no exaggeration.
Here’s why.
Whether the exploration driller is working above or below ground, the type of drill
bit being used will have a profound impact on the results. In both cases, the bit
type plays a central role in the degree of success and level of productivity that
can be expected in any exploration project.
However, choosing the most suitable bit for the job is no easy task, even for
the most experienced drillers, mainly because of the large number of variables.
The prevailing ground conditions on site, the type of equipment being used, the
expected depth of the holes to be drilled and the driller’s expertise are just a few
of the variables that must be considered.
However, it is important to point out that once these parameters have all been
established and factored into the equation, it may still not be enough to find the
right bit at the first attempt.
Defining the conditions

The first thing to establish is the nature of the ground conditions at the drill site,
and in particular the hardness of the rock. Hardness is measured according to the
Mohs scale (see illustration next page) which is based on a chart of the relative
hardness of various minerals. The scale is from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest
and 10 being the hardest.
Drill matrices are designed to perform within this 1–10 range, enabling a bit that is
capable of tackling the specified hardness of the ground to be easily identified.
Special tools are available for measuring rock hardness, but the simplest and
most reliable way is to perform a scratch test using an etcher kit.

Choosing the right bit… and how to get it right
An etcher kit includes a set of picks with double-ended

points of varying hardness, stored in a case. The points on
Mohs
the tools have all been identified according to the Mohs
hardness scale, ranging from 2 to 9. A driller scratches
the rock with the tools starting with the hardest, (9) and
hardness scale descending. The driller continues scratching with each until
the tool is no longer able to scratch the rock. For example,
if the driller is not able to scratch the rock with the number
7 tool but was able to scratch the rock with an 8, then rock
Diamond hardness is between 7 and 8.
If an etcher kit or similar is not available, the hardness can

be determined by scratching the rock using a pocket knife
or a metal saw, although these results are not as precise.
Corundum (The average hardness of a pocket knife is around 6.0–6.5
on the Mohs scale, and for a metal saw, 6.5–7.0).
Abrasiveness is another ground condition that presents

challenges for all drillers and must be identified. Abrasive
Topaze rock is more difficult to drill through and causes drill bits to
wear prematurely.
Abrasiveness is present if there is any kind of silica in the

rock. The geologist will usually inform the drillers if there
is silica in the ground. Additionally, if the rock formation is
fractured, it is more likely to be abrasive. Other clues include
the type of grains in the rock formation. Large, loose grains
in the rock signify that the rock is abrasive. If the grains are
Quartz
fine and tight, the rock is likely to be less abrasive.
It is also important to determine whether the rock is com-

petent – i.e. capable of withstanding drilling without caving
– or if it is fissured and fractured. For example, a bit with a
deep, lateral discharge waterway configuration is ideal for
fractured rock as it allows better water flow to the bit with
less risk of eroding the core.
Microcline
Similarly, the variability of the ground is another key factor.
The ground may be soft for the first 100 meters and then
becomes harder or fractured later on, requiring bits that
are specially designed to tackle these varying conditions.
Apatite
The role of the rig
The type of drill rig being used, and its working capacity,
are additional factors to consider when choosing core drill-
Fluorite
ing bits. Most new rigs are hydraulically powered with a
hydraulic motor to make the drill chuck rotate. On an older,
gear rig model (such as the Boyles 37 and 57) the engine
Calcite is diesel. The engine is gear driven and a lot of torque can
be generated. In this case, a standard bit is the best choice.
The thin walled bit cuts an equal sized hole and retrieves a
Gypsum larger size core. It also has a reduced kerf so the amount of
rock actually being cut is less which reduces the stress on
the engine. On the other hand, a high powered, hydraulic
Talc rig capable of much higher rotation speeds but with less
torque, requires a turbo, pie-shaped bit configuration. For
lower powered, underground drill rigs, a thin-walled, turbo
pie-shaped configuration is recommended.

The depth at which drilling takes place is equally important

as this is used to determine the impregnation depth of the
crown. “Impregnation depth” refers to the height of the Shape of waterways overview
matrix layer on a core bit crown that is impregnated with
diamonds. The standard for most bits is a 12 mm impregna-
tion depth. Generally, bits with a higher impregnation depth
are recommended for deeper drill holes, such as core bits Standard
with a Vulcan configuration (16 mm or 26 mm). This is a well-known con-
figuration that has been
offered for a long time. It
Expertise and local knowledge has been popular since
The expertise of the drilling crew and their knowledge of diamond impregnated
the local area also have an impact on the choice of bit. If core bits were introduced
and can be used on most
the crew is familiar with the conditions, it is still advisable impregnated core bits.
to study previous drilling projects in the area and to check
that the speed or rotation of the drill rod corresponds with
the diameter of the bit being used. On the other hand, if
the crew is unfamiliar with the conditions, for example, if
an area is being drilled for the first time, it is advisable to
avoid using a premium bit and choose a bit suited for a wide
range of ground hardness, i.e., 3–8 on the Mohs scale. This
will avoid having to replace a bit before it wears out or if Pie-shaped
ground conditions change during drilling. The pie-shaped is designed
with wedged waterways
and is often the preferred
Time to choose choice when drilling in
When all the key parameters above are known and carefully abrasive conditions.
factored into the equation, the right bit configuration can be
selected, usually with the aid of a manufacturer’s bit chart
(see example on p. 66). It is worth noting here that more
than one matrix may fit the bit range the driller is looking for.
The configurations include the size of the bit, the number,

shape and width of the waterways and various discharge
options. Depending on the manufacturer, other options may
also be on offer, such as enhanced crown heights and inner Turbo Pie Shaped (TPS)
and outer diameter reinforcements. For example, if drilling The turbo version of the
with a Diamec Smart 6 in quartz with a hardness of 7.5–8 on pie-shaped configuration
provides good ejection of
the Mohs scale and with a bore hole depth of 180 meters,
fluids and rock cuttings.
the bit to choose would be a Hero 11 abrasive bit.
Nonetheless, even with the most comprehensive informa-

tion and the widest possible range of options, it may still
be tricky to find the perfect bit first time round. Therefore,
it is crucial to analyze the performance of the selected bit
to make sure it meets the requirements. For instance, if the
penetration rate proves to be too low, it may be necessary
to select a higher number, softer matrix. If the bit life proves Cyclone
to be too short, a lower number, harder matrix may be a The cyclone can increase
better choice. drilling fluid ejection and is
a good choice of configura-
tion for broken ground, clay
The diamond drilling expert and shale ground condi-
Hobic, Excore, Craelius, Viking, T Xtreme, Hero and Shark, tions.
are the most widely used diamond drill bits in the world
and set the standard for the mineral exploration industry. In
recent years, the operating range of each Epiroc diamond
bit has been substantially expanded, enabling contractors
to minimize the number of bits needed on site to cover a
range of ground conditions. The expansion also simplifies
bit selection.

Very Extremely Higher diamond

Matrix Soft Medium Hard
Hard Hard Impregnation height
selection chart
Calcite
Sandstone
Dolomite
Hematite
Diorite
Granite
Gneiss
Quartz
Jasperite
Quartzite 16 20 26
Talc Shale Basalt Silicified Rock Taconite mm mm mm
SHRED
Viking FERRO
AZURE
KUBY
LAVA
Unsurpassed T XTREME 4-6

Flexibility
For ground T XTREME 6-9
Variability
T XTREME 9-11
T XTREME 11-14
EXCORE 6-8
EXCORE 8-9
Excore EXCORE 9
EXCORE 10
HEROTM 3
HEROTM 5
HEROTM 7
HEROTM 9
Unmatched HEROTM 11
Penetration to
Lifespan ratio HEROTM 13
HEROTM ABRASIVE 5
HEROTM ABRASIVE 7
HEROTM ABRASIVE 9
HEROTM ABRASIVE 11
HOBIC 7AC
CRAELIUS KS(S++)
Classic choices
For Proven HOBIC 7ACF
results
SHARK 8A
HOBIC 11AC
Faster ROCK STAR 9

Penetration
for optimal ROCK STAR 10
Performance
Mohs hardness scale

3 4 5 6 7 8
In 2018, Epiroc acquired Fordia, a market leading manufacturer

of drilling tools for exploration equipment.

Our range offers a variety of matrix compositions whereby For surface drilling, core barrels are available in standard
each matrix, or matrix family, offers characteristics that can double tube designs which can be easily converted to triple
be easily matched to the driller’s specifications with regard tube configurations in broken ground. Thin wall core bar-
to ground conditions and drilling equipment. rels, used when ground conditions and drill rig are appropri-
ate, offer the end user an opportunity to increase sample
In addition, the range offer new matrices and optimized size within a nominal borehole size.
crown profiles giving exceptional penetration rates as well
as longer bit life in the toughest of drilling conditions. This For underground drilling, core barrels are available in two
enables contractors to drill faster and deeper than ever wireline versions: double tube and double tube-thin wall.
before without changing bits. These are used for flat hole and up-hole applications where
gravity does not permit unassisted movement of the inner
The HERO series of bits, on the other hand, offers a versa- wireline components.
tile solution for frequently changing and tough ground
conditions.
The T Xtreme series offers extensive flexibility for diffe-

rent ground conditions.
The EXCORE series offers exceptional flexibility, especially

within medium- to-extremely hard formations. These bits
are available in different profiles – ECF (Extended Channel
Flush/Pie Shape) for competent to broken abrasive forma-
tions and patented JET and Torpedo V (Turbo Pie Shape)
profiles for fast cutting in competent formations.
For maximum bit life, both JET and Torpedo V are available
in higher crown designs called JET26 and Vulcan respec-
tively. Face Discharge and SAND Discharge (Deep Lateral
Discharge) are for extremely broken rock formations and
triple tube applications.
Total equipment supplier

Besides bits, Epiroc offers a full range of drill rods and core
barrels for both surface and underground exploration, as
well as an extensive range of environmentally friendly drill-
ing fluids and lubricants.
Drill rods: We offer a full range of In-The-Hole drill rods and

core barrels that are constantly upgraded to meet market
demands.
Wireline drill rods are manufactured from high quality,

cold drawn seamless tubes, which provide superior yield
and ultimate strength. Conventional drill rods are available
in mid-weight steel and/or aluminium. Rod threads for
mineral exploration applications are typically T, R or O for
wireline, with WJ type threads used with conventional style
core barrels.
Core barrels: Conventional core barrels produce a larger

core diameter compared to the equivalent wireline nominal
size. Their rugged construction and design features ensure
optimization of productivity in soft to medium hard forma- The Legends series comprises classic choices for proven drilling
tions, allowing them to be used in all orientations and are results. Each matrix within this series has demonstrated strong
typically used in shorter boreholes. performance over the years at many worksites around the world.

Drilling fluid
additives – a
major contributor
to productivity
The use of additives in drilling fluid, particularly in
diamond drilling, can have a major influence on over-
all performance. Here’s why.
In mineral exploration, the use of drilling fluid additives in diamond drilling can
have a significant impact on performance and costs.
Difficult ground conditions, such as abrasive or fragmented rock, flowing sands

and dry holes, are commonplace. Fortunately, a number of products are available
today that are specially designed to address these issues.
In the past, bentonite was often used, but bentonite can be abrasive, causing
premature wear on the equipment. It can also be challenging to store and handle
as it is packaged in bags that must be kept dry. Moreover, it is heavy and costly to
transport. Drilling fluid additives, on the other hand, come in plastic pails which
make them much easier to store and handle, and the concentrated nature of the
product means that less is needed to achieve the same result.
Nonabrasive
Another major advantage is that these additives are non-abrasive. They include
polymers and environmentally-safe lubricants designed to improve drilling per-
formance. Polymers can come in liquid or powder form, depending on which is
better suited for the operation. By implementing an “additives program”, whereby
additives are routinely added to drill water to create a high viscosity drilling mix-
ture, drillers are able to address many of the most common drilling problems.
For example, drilling fluid additives can:

• Raise the viscosity of the drilling fluid so that rock cuttings can be lifted,
carried and properly flushed out, keeping them from settling at the bottom
of the hole.
• Help to clean, protect and cool the drill bit as well as reduce in-hole torque.
The polymers in the additive lower the friction which cools the bit and
reduces the chances of the bit melting.
• Be excellent lubricants, reducing wear and tear on the equipment and
limiting the risk of drill rods becoming rusty.

Drilling fluid additives – a major contributor to productivity
Drilling fluid additives are lubricants used to reduce wear and tear on equipment and protect drill rods from rust.
Stronger holes, intact cores or shale inhibitors reduce excess water absorption, in-hole
When conditioning the borehole prior to drilling, drilling swelling and instability.
fluid additives can be used for coating the inside of the
hole wall. This provides additional strength and protection, The additives are particularly effective in fractured ground
reducing the risk of the wall collapsing as well as helping to conditions that can lead to poor water circulation. Additives
control water loss. Drilling fluid additives are a good option are used to minimize water loss through cracks or holes in
for dealing with non-stable ground conditions. They help the rock. Reduced water loss means less water needs to
to solidify sandy, gravelly or other abrasive conditions com- be pumped, saving time and money in areas where water
monly encountered. is scarce or where water sources are far from the drill site.
Not only do they prevent borehole walls from caving in, Filling the cracks
they also help with core retrieval. Keeping core samples When drilling operations are performed in highly fractured
intact during recovery is a common problem due to the or broken ground, there is a risk of hitting a void or a large
granular nature of the ground. This can produce crumbly fracture through which drill water can escape. This can
core samples that easily fall apart. Certain additives have cause damage to drilling equipment during drilling. No
a gel-like texture that can change the consistency of the water return greatly increases the drilling cycle time and
core, holding it together so that it can be retrieved intact. drillers will not receive any indication that the core is block-
ing. Additives can expand up to 50 times, effectively filling
Less squeeze, less water loss in the large cracks and fissures in the rock formation.
When drilling in clay or shale, the drilling water causes the
clay to expand and swell. This swelling can “squeeze” the With lower operational costs, less downtime and prolonged
drill rods, causing the equipment to get stuck in the hole equipment life, drilling fluid additives are a key contributor
and bring operations to a standstill. Additives known as clay to the drive for enhanced productivity.


Depth calculation
and why it matters
When exploration drillers fail to drill deep enough
with the chosen equipment the lost time quickly
creates mounting costs. That’s why calculating the
right depth capacity of drill rigs is essential using
dedicated tools.
Hole deviation is a critical risk factor in blasthole drilling as it affects rock frag-
mentation in the drill and blast cycle. However, exploration drillers are just as
concerned about drilling straight holes – but for different reasons.
Their task, unlike that of colleagues in production drilling, is to pinpoint and reach
potential ore deposits. Today more than ever, this can be an elusive target as the
exploration industry ventures deeper into the Earth’s crust to uncover mineralized
rock. In this context, depth capacity becomes an even more important issue than
straightness.
Will the chosen equipment be capable of drilling deep enough? What about
unforeseen drilling needs, can the equipment drill more meters if core results
suddenly indicate that this will be needed? These are the questions that explora-
tion planners need to consider before each project gets underway.
Whereas drill and blast operators typically drill holes that are shallower than
30-40 m, exploration drillers often drill holes that are several hundred meters
deep, or perhaps more. This means that drilling equipment is usually pushed to
the capacity limit.
Tackling the unknown

There is no lack of examples worldwide where the chosen drilling equipment
has failed to reach the desired exploration depth, and poor ground conditions is
far from the only reason.
In many cases, risks have not been assessed adequately which has caused
suboptimal decisions in the planning phase. But fortunately, there are ways of
avoiding such miscalculations.
In any exploration project, geologist will first determine how deep the contractors
will need to drill in order to extract samples and achieve the goal of determining
mineralization. It is then the job of the drillers to assess which type of equipment
they need based on equipment specifications and other aspects such as rock
formation, drilling experience and so forth.

Typically, these assessments do not take account of the The diagnostics tool for depth calculation developed by
details of the exploration job to the extent needed, particu- Epiroc helps exploration drillers make informed decisions.
larly when it comes to drilling parameters. There is always It incorporates all the key parameters related to the drilling
a high risk of encountering unforeseen problems related to assignment, including angle of drilling, weight on the bit
ground conditions and, therefore, project planners, mana- for desired penetration rate, available pull and feed force
gers and drillers need to be mindful of the many unknowns. in relation to drill string weight and reserve force to break
the core at the end of the run.
While some assumptions tend to be too optimistic, others
may appear conservative. However, in our experience This allows contractors to compare the depth capacity for
it is better to base equipment specifications on 100% different drill rigs in relation to any given project site with
theoretical figures using a thorough calculation plus cus- assumed drilling conditions. The approach saves time and
tomer feedback. Customers should then adopt a margin money for contractors and helps to maximize the chances
for drilling capacity that addresses all aspects including of successfully probing potential deposits. The need to
anticipated rock formations. This margin should support carefully calculate depth capacity has grown in tandem
the plan to mitigate risks and surprises that tend to arise at with the global trend of mining at greater depths and helps
exploration sites. to eliminate guesswork in the planning phase.
Eliminating guesswork Drilling according to plan

Depth capacity is usually the first thing that contractors Preparedness is key in exploration and making the right
evaluate. Their second consideration is the size of the equipment choices can make or break any project. What-
equipment and where it can be placed. Based on feedback ever the drilling challenges may be, our goal is to provide
from customers, Epiroc has refined its way of calculating competitive, sustainable and profitable drilling solutions to
theoretical depth capacity and created a dedicated tool customers through innovation and close collaboration at
for core drilling rigs. every step.


All the data
you need
The Exploration Manager tool puts vital data at the
driller’s fingertips and gives exploration planners and
mine owners key insights into smart ways of optimizing
the equipment fleet.
Whether on earth or in space, man’s thirst for knowledge is the driving force
behind all forms of exploration. In the mining industry, information is a commodity
that can be as valuable as the Earth's hidden resources.
This information comes in the form of core samples taken from deep in the
ground by exploration drillers for analysis. But there’s a different type of informa-
tion provider that enables drillers to analyze their own performance and which
gives fleet management crews, service organizations and finance managers key
insights into exploration activities.
Exploration Manager from Epiroc is a drilling and operational analyzing tool for PC
that puts all of the vital operational information at the driller’s fingertips, giving a
comprehensive overview of the effectiveness and efficiency of their equipment.
This information also benefits all teams involved in operational planning.
Whatever model of Epiroc Diamec Smart core drilling rigs are used, either as
single units or in multiple rig fleets, Exploration Manager helps them to perform
at the best of their ability and improve utilization.
This is done through the constant gathering and analysis of drilling data and
the generation of status reports. As a result, drill supervisors, fleet managers
and owner are able to take any necessary corrective measures in good time.
Operational data is presented in a user-friendly “Fleet View” interface where the
performance of single rigs or multiple drill rigs can be easily compared.
How data is captured

The data files generated by the Diamec Smart rigs cover everything from drill-
ing parameters to operational data as well as all warning and error notifications
logged by the Rig Control System (RCS). The data is collected and logged and
then imported to the Exploration Manager tool and displayed on a PC. Importing
data to Exploration Manager is easy and quick. The data will be imported under a
project name for future traceability which could be a mine or a section of a mine,
for example “North Block”, making it easy to find for later analysis.

All the facts and nothing but…
Import to Exploration Manager.
Drilling perfomance Total performance: multi-rig view

The performance data is collected by the Measure While Exploration Manager gives users a comprehensive statisti-
Drilling (MWD) function – a standard feature on all Diamec cal overview of both operational data and drilled meters
Smart rigs – which focuses exclusively on drilling para- for multiple rigs in a fleet. Total meters drilled and hours
meters recorded over time such as penetration rates, spent on any given activity can be displayed according to
weight on bit (WOB), rotation speed and flushing. Imported selected time periods.
MWD data is presented under Projects menu in Exploration
Manager, where drilling parameters for each hole drilled By comparing multiple drill rigs, “best performers” can be
can be viewed. identified for further analysis so that their success can be
emulated in the entire fleet. In addition, the multi-rig view
The data can be shown in relation to hole depth, giving enables users to determine the total number of hours spent
users insight into how drilling parameters have changed in non-productive activities while also providing statistics
over the course of each hole, while also displaying average for payable activities such as waiting time for rig move, lack
figures, which makes it easy to discount small fluctuations. of water and so on.
Operational data: single-rig view All the menus in Exploration Manager provide an option for
Drilling, rod handling and other key activities such as main- exporting reports to a PDF format file if required.
tenance, breakdown and repositioning, are all presented
under Fleet view. This data gives users a complete overview Smart rig management
of how each rig in the fleet is performing, for example by This quick and easy access to vital information provided by
visualizing time spent on each activity and the level of auto- Exploration Manager is a major step towards modern rig
mation versus manual operation. management. Not only does it provide reliable analyses that
can be used to highlight areas of improvement, it enables
For example, one benefit is to compare estimated perfor- the right action to be taken in good time resulting in lower
mance with real performance across a range of hole depths operational costs and higher productivity.
and to determine if Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are
met. This makes it easy to identify areas where productivity
and utilization can be improved and how to tackle chal-
lenges. Corrective measures can be taken that include,
for example, further training to mitigate human errors and
Read more about
preparation of necessary tools and measures for reoccur-
Exploration Manager
ring challenges such as fault zones.

All the facts and nothing but…
Statistics
Production data
for multiple rigs
Fleet
Production data
for single rig
Projects
Overview
Projects
Detailed view

Keep the rig and
business running
Every business decision is based on the return on
investment, regardless of whether the customer is
purchasing a single machine or a whole fleet of drill
rigs.
The challenge is to maximize the return on investment in every decision made,

day after day. Epiroc always recommends what is best for individual customers,
based on years of experience striving to gain the most economic and efficient
performance on thousands of rigs in the full range of environments, worldwide.
Consistently we have found that rigs with Epiroc service contracts yield the high-
est return on investment, both in daily running costs and in residual value. For
Epiroc equipment, there is simply no better service than that performed by a
trained Epiroc service technician.
Increased revenue
There are two ways of increasing revenue on an exploration drill rig. Firstly, if
reliability is maximized, the opportunities to put core in the box are increased.
The cost of lead time and breakdowns should always be taken into the reliability
calculation.
Secondly, if service costs increase due to the age of the rig, profitability is
decreased. The service cost is normally related to the age of the rig. For a new
rig, the service costs are generally lower than for a comparable 10 year old rig,
not only due to lifetime of components but also because operators tend to take
better care of new equipment. The capital cost of a new rig is money well spent
if the cost of service decreases dramatically compared with its predecessor.
The most important part of the balance is to keep the total costs low. Monitoring
service and maintenance in a more professional way, using a service program
adjusted to the specific equipment, will result in lower costs. Of course, major
factors in the equation are the level of training of the operator, overall care of the
equipment, and the owner’s attitude to maintenance.
CARE program
A well adjusted service and preventive maintenance program will ensure that
your equipment is looked after in the best possible way. The CARE program has
been developed to match the high reliability expectation of our customers. The
program doesn’t ensure a certain percentage of rig reliability, but the setup of
the program will secure its maintenance and productivity.

Keep the rig and business running
Calculation example
Finanacial
Purchasing price* 3 000 000
Depreciation time (number of years) 5
Residual value 300 000
Interest 5%
Insurance tax cost/year 35 000
Reliability
Total workdays/year 220
Number of shifts (number/workday) 2
Length of shifts (h) 8
Standstill due to misc reasons** (days) 20
Mechanical availabilty*** 85%
Effective operation hours 2 400
*Total price including drill, power unit and Trido pump.

** Change of location, set-up time, lack of electricity, fuel, water or ITH.
***Standstill due to breaksdowns or service. All costs in the tables are specified in SEK.
Outdata without CARE program Outdata with CARE program
Profit per meter core Cost per meter core Profit per meter core Cost per meter core
Fixed costs Meter Fixed costs Meter
Depreciation 75.00 Depreciation 66.18
Interest 20.83 Interest 18.38
Insurance/tax 4.86 Insurance/tax 4.29
Operating cost Operating cost
Energy 60.00 Energy 60.00
Water 25.00 Water 25.00
Labour 162.50 Labour 162.50
Bits 65.00 Bits 65.00
ITH 124.40 ITH 110.37
Spare parts 43.33 Spare parts 43.33
PM/service 39.00 PM/service 41.00
Unplanned service 79.08 Unplanned service 63.26
Total cost 699.00 Total cost 659.31
Meters per year 7 200.00 Meters per year 8 160.00
Income meter core 780.00 Income meter core 780.00

Keep the rig and business running
CARE is the common name throughout Epiroc, for tangible. failures on many parts. A complete and current service
and simple service product for our capital equipment. It book also secures the resale value of the equipment, in
consists of three main pillars, but can be extended with much the same way as for private cars.
more pillars depending on customer or product.
When using our CARE program you will benefit from correct
The three main pillars are: scheduled services in which service and genuine spare parts. Timely delivery of the correct
we visit the machine every 250 or 500 hours and change parts ensures quality and reliability.
filters and oils; inspection protocols whereby we carry out
inspections according to a standard list; and extended war- Protecting the investment
ranty where we offer extended warranty up to 5 000 hours, Keeping the rig running is not only about having high reli-
or three years, on selected parts. ability and quality assured production. Epiroc will also
protect your investment, with less downtime thanks to the
The extended warranty is for products up to one year old, better performance of genuine spare parts and the profes-
or 1 000 hours. Of course, the CARE program can be used sional services of trained engineers and technicians. Epiroc
for older rigs, but without the extended warranty option. will reduce your Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), protecting
your investment and your overall business.
Other pillars in a CARE program can be: Remote moni-
toring system on surface drill rigs, software upgrades and
application knowledge to optimize drilling with our service
technician evaluating the overall drilling operation.
Read more about

During the CARE program, Epiroc will visit the rig at the re-
CARE agreements
commended intervals, increasing the mean time between

Parts and
services – the
key to high
availability for
exploration
drillers
No piece of exploration equipment, however well-
designed and intelligent, can consistently perform to
the best of its ability without genuine parts and regular
servicing. That’s why Epiroc parts and services are
made available to exploration drillers worldwide.
The fact is, today’s smart exploration companies rarely buy a drill rig. They buy a
function, or more accurately, a service that will result in consistent, high productivity
at the lowest total cost and with maximum flexibility.
In response to this trend, the Epiroc engineers select the best combination of
parts and services, tailor-made for every individual task. The package generally
consists of hardware, software and, not least, ready access to original parts and
services irrespective of where their customers may be at work.
For the last 150 years, we have built up the Epiroc global sales and service net-
work which now serves customers in all corners of the world. This means that
wherever exploration drillers are at work, they can count on the full support of
Epiroc in a mutual effort to keep productivity up and costs down.

Parts and services – the key to high availability for exploration drillers
Epiroc has a global service organization and worldwide network for parts distribution.
Replacement parts and kits The system collects important data from individual drill rigs
The importance of using original parts and regular servic- as well as entire fleets, providing detailed and instant over-
ing can never be overstated. Without these elements, no views of drilling performance, fuel consumption, wear and
mechanical equipment, however advanced and skillfully tear, service needs and much more. It is available for most
built, can be expected to perform well in difficult environ- surface exploration drill rigs.
ments, year after year. But there are many other aspects
to a complete support package that may sometimes be Midlife services: Flexibility is a key building block of the
overlooked. Epiroc parts and services strategy. That's why Midlife ser-
vices is offered in three different categories filled with options
Genuine replacement parts are engineered to ensure to increase productivity – Midlife Basic, Midlife Plus and
proper, safe and easy maintenance in compliance with Midlife Tech+. Customers can choose standard parts re-
Epiroc quality standards. Kits are sophisticated combina- placement or an advanced upgrade which lays the founda-
tions of genuine parts designed to streamline maintenance tion for automation.
operations. Below are some of the key elements of the
Epiroc portfolio, including core components of Epiroc drill The ability to provide first class support to exploration
rigs and related systems, replacement units, spare parts, drillers on worksites all over the world has become just
maintenance and rebuild kits and service tools. as important as delivering first class equipment. To meet
this demand, Epiroc has a global service organization and
Service agreements and audits: In cooperation with worldwide network for parts distribution. In the years ahead,
customers, Epiroc has developed different exploration Epiroc aims to continue developing technology-driven
solutions aimed at enhancing operations, improved perfor- services that further reinforce productivity and safety in
mance and productivity and giving equipment owners and exploration drilling.
managers peace of mind. These include site visit agree-
ments, audits and on-site agreements with technicians Additional service: Products offered to exploration drill-
stationed at customer worksites. ers include upgrade kits to enable equipment in operation
to obtain the same safety and efficiency improvements.
RigScan: RigScan is an audit service that gives a real-time These are off-the-shelf, bolt-on kits that can be ordered
update of the running conditions and performance of the and installed and include: Remote control installations,
equipment. Following Epiroc standards, RigScan brings Powerpack and Control system upgrades.
together Epiroc expertise, cutting edge technology and
proprietary data to provide accurate, on-site analysis of
the equipment.
Read more about

Telematics: Certiq is a telematics solution that gathers,
Parts and services
compares and communicates vital equipment information.

88 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Case stories
Case
stories
91 Future. Safe
92 Dynamic start for Diamec Smart 6 in Turkey
94 A triumph for safety at the Kristineberg mine
96 Optimizing processes
99 The Klipspringer of Black Mountain
Laframboise Drilling searches for minerals
102
with the Prism Directional Wedge
For more case stories, plaese visit epiroc.com
Epiroc Exploration drilling – Case stories 89

Future. Safe.
There is usually a point in time that you can look back on and say – that was when
everything changed. For safety in exploration drilling, that point in time is now and
one company is leading the change in South Africa.
On a large open field in a mining area outside of Mokopane
in South Africa, stands the future of exploration drilling. It
is in the shape of the surface core drilling rig, Christensen
140 and its Rod Handling System (RHS). For a long time,
exploration drilling contractors have been flying under the
radar when it comes to safety. That is about to change and
Zaaiman Exploration Drilling is one of the companies that
have recognized this. It is their Christensen 140 with Rod
Handling System that we find outside of Mokopane. They
have several rigs in operation here but this particular rig is
of special interest.
The Christensen 140 at this specific location is drilling with

the aim of finding platinum in the ground below. With an
N-size drill bit and set in an angle of 60° it will drill down were two reasons as to why we purchased the Christensen
to 1 300 m before it is relocated to another drill site. It will 140 and the RHS. Safety and new technology. That is what
take approximately one month to reach the desired depth. Epiroc brings to the table and that is what we looked for.”
The drilling angle is one factor in the success of the Rod With an ear to the ground, Rudi predicts that the big mining
Handling System. Although the number one benefit of using houses will soon come up with tougher safety requirements
the Rod Handling System is increased operator safety, there for the contractors they hire. With the Rod Handling System,
are a few other perks as well. One of those is that tripping Zaaiman Exploration Drilling is ready for this.
in and tripping out rods is faster, especially when drilling in
an angle.Site manager Jacques Stoltz explains: He continues: “We can show the mining houses that we
have a modern solution for increased safety. By working
“When drilling 90° vertical, the weight of the rod is not a with the Rod Handling System we position ourselves as a
big problem since it’s ‘hanging’ in the wire. But as soon as company that puts safety first. We really want to play a role
you start to drill in an angle, the weight of the rod means in bringing this technology into the future.”
more physical labor for the drilling team. This will, over time,
increase operator fatigue.” An integral part of introducing new technology to the
market is to have close cooperation with the ones using it
He continues: “We also see that tripping in- and out rods on a daily basis. One important part for Epiroc, when de-
is slightly faster with the Rod Handling System. But the veloping new products, is the input from customers.
biggest gain, apart from increased safety is definitely the Developing the Rod Handling System together with
decreased operator fatigue we see over time.” Zaaiman Exploration Drilling is no exception.
The drilling team and management on site in Mokopane Site manager Jacques Stoltz: “Overall, both the Christensen
gives a clear testimony – the Christensen 140 surface core 140 and the Rod Handling System are very good products.
drilling rigs are very good machines. The attention to details We are in a quite long testing phase and we gain new
in manufacturing and the robustness of the rig’s components insights every day. We only had one critical issue, it was
results in a high quality end product. When you combine wdith the cooling system. But Epiroc service is great. Local
the Christensen 140 with the Rod Handling System you get Epiroc product support came the very next day. Not only
a surface core drilling rig that is ready for the future. did he fix the problem, he also trained our on-site mechanic
on how to deal with similar issues.”
Rudi Zaaiman who is the managing director for Zaaiman
Exploration Drilling explains the company’s ambition: “As a Rudi Zaaiman concludes: “I can definitely say that safety
modern exploration drilling contractor we try to be on a dif- seems to be the future for exploration drilling. Epiroc drives
ferent level and safety is one of our main focus areas. There the change and we are right there with them.”.

Dynamic start for
Diamec Smart 6
in Turkey
Smart mining technology is successively being implemented in Turkish mines
with Epiroc equipment helping to lead the transition.
The Tüprag Efemçukuru gold mine in Turkey has become As Geology Superintendent Mustafa Özkayhan says: “The
the first in the country to introduce smart exploration drill- Diamec Smart 6 matches our vision to become a model
ing underground. This mine, widely considered to be a mine. That means perfect in all processes from exploration
frontrunner in new technology and data-driven mining has to production.”
recently introduced a Diamec Smart 6 drill rig from Epiroc
to improve the efficiency of its underground exploration Özkayhan adds: “When we started using the Diamec PHC 6
operations. The rig joins three of its predecessors that rigs back in 2012, we were not ready for ‘smart’ technology,
have been on site since 2012-2013, but the latest version but now we are so advanced that the decision to invest in
takes the mine’s grade control assignment to a new level. the Diamec Smart 6 was a natural choice.”

“When we started using the Diamec PHC 6 rigs back in and other breaks. In this way, he estimates that nine more
2012, we were not ready for ‘smart’ technology, but now we meters can be drilled each day.
are so advanced that the decision to invest in the Diamec
Smart 6 was a natural choice.” says Mustafa Özkayhan. Furthermore, the rig is able to continuously monitor the
drilling performance and display the data on a touchscreen
Mining and wine mounted on the control panel. This makes it easy for the
Located in the Menderes mountains, south of the city of drilling foreman to make instant decisions during drilling
Izmir, Tüprag Efemçukuru is one of two mines in the Tüprag and yet allows all drilling parameters to be analyzed in more
Metal Madencilik group. Efemçukuru has been operating depth afterwards via the Exploration Manager tool.
since 2011. The remained ore reserve is 3.6 million tons and
a production 500 000 tons per year. Notably, the site is All drilling and operational data is recorded by the rig con-
in the middle of an area famous for its grapes and wine trol system and can be exported to Exploration Manager
production. As a result, mining is carried out under strict using a USB flash drive, for review on a computer. This
supervision and has to comply with all local agricultural and grade control analysis enables Özkayhan’s team to identify
environmental laws. further areas where performance can be improved.
Geology Superintendent Mustafa Özkayhan explains that In addition, as all of the drilling parameters can be pro-
the Diamec Smart 6 is successfully being used for grade gramed, the operator can stay away from the immediate
control analyses to provide information for the mine’s short drilling area and supervise the operation from a safe dis-
term production plans, approximately one and a half years tance. But smart mining was not the only reason for pur-
ahead of production. Özkayhan says the smart technology chasing the new Diamec Smart 6. The close cooperation
provided by the Diamec Smart 6 will enable the mine to offered by Epiroc in terms of service and maintenance and
save costs and increase both the production and efficiency operator training were all contributing factors.
of the operation.
Continues Özkayhan: “We place a lot of importance on ser-
" The Diamec Smart 6 is enabling us to

achieve a safer, more efficient and
vice in order to get the optimal performance from the rig.
Epiroc did a good job providing training for the operators
low-cost production.
"
Mustafa Özkayhan
during the start-up phase as well training for maintenance
personnel,” adding that the operators’ previous experience
of using Diamec equipment proved to be an important
Geology Superintendent advantage.
Tüprag
He concludes: “The Diamec Smart 6 is enabling us to achieve
Nine more meters per day, a safer, more efficient and low-cost production.”
As an example, he cites the rig’s auto-drilling function
which enables it to drill autonomously during shift changes Epiroc operated under the trademark "Atlas Copco" prior to January 1, 2018.
Mustafa Özkayhan, Geology Superintendent at Tüprag. The Diamec Smart 6 core drilling rig.

A triumph for safety at
the Kristineberg mine
Diamec Smart 6 transforms working environment in northern Sweden: When
operators at the Kristineberg mine were exposed to poor ergonomy and risks
of trap injuries, mine operator Boliden and Epiroc joined forces to revolutionize
diamond drilling practices.
“Previously, diamond drilling workers retired on medical underground. Larsson, who has spent most of his profes-
grounds at the age of 50 due to neck and shoulder injuries. sional life addressing safety issues, explains that diamond
They worked in awkward positions which was not good. drilling was was one of the most difficult and hazardous
Now things are much better.” activities at the Kristineberg mine.
These are the words of Ingemar Larsson, Sales Engineer “Boliden aims to be at the forefront in technology and they
at Epiroc, who has been leading a joint mission together are not afraid to try new approaches, especially when it
with the mining company Boliden to improve ergonomy comes to improving the working environment for its person-
and safety at the Kristineberg mine in Västerbotten County, nel,” he explains.
Sweden.
A key aspect of Larsson’s assignment was to help Boliden’s
Following the introduction of the underground core drill- personnel get acquainted with new practices during trial
ing rig Diamec Smart 6, the companies have forged strong periods of a fleet of Diamec Smart 6 core drilling rigs, which
links when it comes to improving the working environment immediately paved the way for a safer workplace.

New safety record Joel Larsson, Works Manager for diamond drilling at the
Since the introduction of Diamec Smart 6 for production Kristineberg mine, emphasizes the gamechanging role of
drilling at Kristineberg, worksite incidents involving serious the innovative rod handling system on Diamec 6. He began
injuries have more or less been eradicated. as a drill operator in 2017, but now works mainly above
ground to manage a team of 12 diamond drillers.
“The Diamec Smart 6 is the most important drill rig in the
mine and helps Boliden to optimise extraction, grind dead “In the future, we may have a machine which you can in
rock and avoid wrong angles. But it’s the safety features that principle monitor from an operating unit which the staff can
have had the greatest impact,” Larsson adds. service whenever necessary. Then one person can keep
two or three machines running simultaneously and keep an
One of its major strengths is the automated rod handling eye on them from the control panel”, he says.
system which means that operators can avoid heavy lifting
and thereby improve ergonomy at the mine. The Diamec Toward a self-sustaining future
Smart 6 is also equipped with protective barriers that pre- Diamond drilling is still a relatively a smnall part of the overall
vent contact with rotating parts. business which, as Ingemar Larsson explains, is the reason
why the working environment for these activities were not
Driving excellence in diamond drilling given more attention. But those days are definitely over.
The collaboration between Boliden and Epiroc goes as far
back as to the year 2000 when the Diamec Smart 6 was “Everyone working at the mine needs a good working
still a protoype. While Boliden previously focused on driving environment no matter how few people are involed in each
ore, diamond drilling is now the primary focus as person- activity. We have made significant progress and have great
nel at Kristineberg have ramped up test drilling to uncover hopes for the future.”
more ore in the rock to secure future operations.
“It will be a very different working environment from when
The product development around this core drilling rig has the drill rig operator had a big diesel engine right next to his
set a new standard says Ingemar Larsson. “This is the most ears”, Ingemar Larsson concludes.
important machine you have in the mine,” he enthuses.
Quick facts: Diamec Smart 6 About the Kristineberg mine

The Diamec Smart 6 is a core drilling rig for underground The Kristineberg mine is situated at Kristineberg in the
work. It is equipped with an advanced rig control system Lycksele municipality of Västerbotten and is oned and
which allows automatic drilling from a safe distance. The operated by Boliden. The Sankta Anna underground church
operator can simply enter and monitor the drilling param- is located here.
eters on the touchscreen on the remote control panel.
The mine contains zinc mix, copper pyrites, lead sul-phide,
The Diamec Smart 6 can be equipped with a rod handling gold and silver. The ore from the mine is transported by
system which assists the operator and eliminates many road to Boliden’s concentrating plant in Boliden. When
hazardous aspects of drilling. The rig positioning system the ore has been concentrated, it is transported to the
means that it can drill in all directions. Rönnskärs plant in Skellefteåhamn.

Optimizing processes
The drilling for sampling department at South32’s Cerro Matoso mine in
Colombia identified an opportunity to improve its drilling process. The
company introduced the Explorac 100 rig – and results have left the
experts more than satisfied.
At the Cerro Matoso mine in northern Colombia, tempera- “For this reason, we control productivity by measuring the
tures can rise to 35 degrees Celsius. Rock slopes show meters per hour drilled and the quality of the samples
shades ranging from greys to intense brown, which is extracted with a rigorous QA/QC program,” says Drilling
evidence of the nickel content. Cerro Matoso, operated by Supervisor Otoniel Vergara.
global resources company South32, has been active for
over 36 years and is one of the world’s largest ferronickel The Drilling Process must be optimized to guarantee the
mines. There is also a production plant producing fer- required number of sampled areas in accordance with the
ronickel through a metallurgical process and the product mining plan.
is exported mainly to Asia.
When drilling for sampling, it is key to guarantee the safety

of the operation, the quality of the samples, the productivity
" The drilling performance for fiscal
year 2017 prompted us to look for
alternatives, including new drilling
of the process and the cost of management. technologies.
" Otoniel Vergara

The Explorac 100 performs DTH (down the hole) sampling drilling with compressed air, enabling more reliable samples and more
meters to be drilled. With this rig, South32 is drilling 16 meters per hour at the Cerro Matoso mine compared to 8 meters with the
previous rig and method.
The mine used to perform sampling drilling by the wet without the need to get closer to the pipes,” says de la
reverse circulation (RC) method, using a tricone bit system Barrera.
and water, at a rate of around 8 meters per hour in the pit
area. This allowed South32 to obtain wet samples, but with For the operator, the small size of the machine and the pos-
a restriction on the capacity of realizable meters. After sibility of drilling on slopes provide a remarkable advantage.
evaluating the alternatives, the company opted for Epiroc’s This is largely due to the characteristics of the terrain.
Explorac 100 drilling rig. The rig’s RC method with a DTH
(down the hole) hammer, performed with compressed air, On June 30, 2018, at the end of their fiscal year and with
was the best way to continue obtaining reliable samples the support of the Explorac 100, Cerro Matoso achieved
and accomplish the required meters. Other advantages its drill plan for sampling. As a result, delivery of a second
include inclined drilling, maintenance facilities, cost reduc- Explorac 100 is already on its way and Cerro Matoso hopes
tion, better operational safety and access to narrow areas. to transform its drilling fleet for sampling into more versatile
and efficient rigs.
“With the Explorac 100 we are drilling 16 meters per hour,
with production peaks of up to 20 meters per hour,” Vergara “The Explorac 100 has been the great new discovery
says. He also highlights the amount of sample recovered for South32 at Cerro Matoso. These machines, although
from the hole, with levels reaching up to 95 percent – in small in appearance, are big on efficiency and that’s why
contrast to the previous levels of 86 percent. they’re such an integral part of our daily work,” says Otoniel
Vergara.
Nevertheless, for everyone at Cerro Matoso, the most
important aspect is safety. The remote control units and
technology of the Explorac 100 allow the operators to
control the machine from a distance and minimize physi-
cal interaction with drilling tools. This is what Fernán de la
Barrera, Explorac 100 Operator, values the most.
“This rig is easier to operate. Using the same remote control, Otoniel Vergara
you can control all the functionalities. The rods are fitted Drilling Supervisor
through an automated arm that I guide from the control Cerro Matoso mine

The
Klipspringer
of Black
Mountain
In western South Africa, in the Northern
Cape Province, lies Aggeneys, a small
mining town that was established back
in 1976 on a farm with the same name.
The geology in this region is one of
the most diverse in the whole of South
Africa and also boasts some of the
highest concentrations of base-metals
in the country. Mainly zinc, copper and
lead is being mined here, but there is
also silver in the ground.
Hall Core Drilling is an exploration drilling contractor that

have active operations in several countries on the African
continent. The company was founded in 2000 and started
out with just one drill rig. Today, they have 36 drill rigs in
operation and employs approximately 250 people. In
Aggeneys, their focus is on the Black Mountain and the
search for base-metals.
When climbing the hills of Black Mountain the resemblance

of another planet is striking. Apart from a few mountain
areas, the surroundings are vast and flat. The ground is dry
and reddish. Depending on the time of year and the amount
of rainfall, it is almost completely barren. If you are lucky,
you might catch a glimpse of the Klipspringer, an ante-
lope living in this harsh location. Evolution has made the
Klipspringer an excellent mountain climber, a trait it shares
with the surface exploration drill rigs that are being put to
good use here.

The site is made up of mountains with valleys connecting “The Durahead rotation unit has a lot of benefits. The main
them. On this specific job site there are two drill rigs in oper- thing is that it doesn’t have a chain. It has only a high and a
ation. One in the valley and one high up on the mountain low gear which makes life easier for drillers. The fact that
side. The one in the valley is an older model of the surface it has an effective seal that prevents water and mud from
core drilling rig, Boyles C6C, from Epiroc. This rig typically entering the gear box is a real reliability booster. Also, this
drills 200 m deep holes in a few days and is then moved rotation unit is very easy to service, thanks to the seven
to a new location in the valley. The hole depth and the dis- grease fittings and the position of the lube oil filters.” says
tance between holes are all up to the geologist responsible Marie.
for the site, who analyzes the core samples retrieved by
the four-man drilling crew. The team itself is like a well- Mpho Kobane is the corewriter in the mountain side crew
oiled machine, working together in sync. Watching the two working with the Boyles C6C. Like his fellow crew members
assistants, the corewriter and the operator performing their in the valley, he is part of a group of dedicated drillers. Apart
respective tasks brings your mind to a well-choreographed from making sure that the drill rig is doing what it is meant
ballet. to do, a corewriter also handles the core samples retrieved
from the ground below. Mpho places the samples in spe-
On the mountain side drill site we find a new Boyles C6C cially designed boxes and labels them to keep track of their
drill rig from Epiroc. This one has the new 2-gear Durahead progress and to make analysis easier for the geologist.
rotation unit installed as standard equipment from the fac-
tory in Sweden. This rig drills a little deeper, usually the “I have only good things to say about this rig. It allows us
holes are around 400 meters. “The rotation unit is the big to be very fast when tripping rods, making and breaking
thing.” says Grant Benson, Product Specialist at Epiroc. of rods is easy. Also, I really like the control panel and the
He continues “Maintenance is so easy on these machines displays. It shows us everything we need to know about
and here in South Africa we are experiencing a minimum the status of the rig. All in all, this rig is a pleasure to work
number of breakdowns. In a location like this, reliability is with.” says Mpho.
a key factor.”
So, what does the Boyles C6C have in common with the
Site supervisor Hennie Eybers adds: “These rigs are really Klipspringer, the mountain climbing antelope of South
up to standards. The new Durahead rotation unit is much Africa? Well, the inclination of the hill leading up to what is
better that what we have seen before and the whole rig is now the mountain side drill site, was measured to an aver-
stronger, better designed and with less problems. You really age of 27°. At its steepest section it was measured to 29°.
get a lot of bang for your bucks with this rig.” Thanks to its strong tramming performance, the Boyles C6C
made it up the hill on its own.
Marie Bergman is the Global Product Manager for the
Boyles range at Epiroc. She is very pleased with how the Just like the Klipspringer of Black Mountain.
new rotation unit performs on the rigs in this site.

Laframboise Drilling searches
for minerals with the Prism
Directional Wedge
In the world of mineral exploration, the purpose of diamond drilling is to get a
good core sample from the ground that will be used by geologists to determine
where mineral deposits lie and in what quantity.
Drill rods, core barrels and core bits are part of the standard deflect off a bore hole to make an additional intersection of
equipment used for diamond drilling. Each component has an ore body, or to intersect multiple targets at depth using
a specific purpose. In addition, other equipment and drill- a single parent or “Mother Hole”
ing products are always being developed and enhanced to
help improve drilling performance. Drilling wedges are one
example of this. Wedges have been used to correct both " There really is no other wedge that we
would consider for our needs.
"
minor and major bore hole deviations. They are also used
to drill around tools that have become stuck in the hole, Claude Laframboise,
such as drill rods and core barrels. Wedges are also used to President at Laframboise Drilling

In the case of Laframboise Drilling Inc., a wedge was used could be ready for drilling in the morning. By comparison, at
in this way to help find additional ore bodies. Laframboise 750 meters and using a standard by-pass wedge, it would
Drilling is a private drilling company located in northern take at least two consecutive shifts. “I really like this wedge.
Ontario, Canada. The company has been in business since It allowed us to wedge much more quickly,” said Claude
2007 and has 3 drill rigs. They had started a drilling contract Laframboise, President at Laframboise Drilling. “We were
in northern Ontario to explore for ore bodies. The drilling also really pleased with how easy it was to use,” he added.
team had found minerals in one ore body and now were Fordia’s technical representative had explained and demon-
searching for similar adjacent deposits. They had drilled strated proper installation of the first wedge. He supervised
a 60 degree mother hole straight down to six hundred as the Laframboise drillers performed the second instal-
meters. Knowing that the use of wedges would provide lation and after that, the drillers were able to install the
a minimum of 1.5 degrees of deviation, they planned to next two wedges by themselves without supervision. “The
deflect from the mother hole using four wedges. The installation demonstration was excellent. I really appreciate
strategy was to deviate in a different direction at each the engineering and the ideas behind the development of
point. Each of the four individual cuts would go to a depth this wedge. There really is no other wedge that we would
between six hundred and six hundred and fifty meters. This consider for our needs. The Prism Directional wedge saves
plan would allow them to explore the surrounding ground us a lot of time so our operations are more efficient and
at that depth without beginning a new hole from the sur- productive.”
face each time, thus avoiding several hundred meters of
unnecessary drilling. The Prism Directional wedge from Fordia powered by
Epiroc is a product that was developed to help improve drill-
Historically, the effective use of wedges takes a high degree ing productivity. The company’s goal is to improve drilling
of skill and many years of experience, but technology and performance – one drill site at a time.
driller experience have allowed manufacturers to improve
on existing options. Today, directing a bore hole does not
have to be so complicated.
Following advice from the local technical representative

from Fordia powered by Epiroc technical representative,
they decided to use a Prism Directional wedge. This wedge
allows the driller to lock the wedge securely at any point
in the bore hole, orient the wedge, and anchor the facet in
the desired direction – all in one trip. This is accomplished
by a unique 2-stage locking device. The first stage posi-
tively locks the wedge at desired depth, without the use of
cement or resins and the second locks in the direction or
azimuth of the wedge facet. It is not retrievable and remains
a permanent fixture in the hole. Fordia’s Prism Directional
wedge is available in sizes N and H. These wedges are split
in the middle, with a threaded connection just above the
wedge face. This makes it much easier to transport and
install in shorter sections.
Installation of the wedge is safe due to due to its key way

system that is built directly into the wedge facet, and the
wedge can be set at any depth in suitable ground with-
out prior hole preparation. More importantly, the Prism
Directional wedge helps drilling teams save a tremendous
amount of time by reducing the number of down the hole
trips while wedging.
The drilling team at Laframboise Drilling were most inter-

ested in the ability to reduce the number of in-hole trips.
In their experience with wedging, it took at least three trips
down the hole. Reducing this number would not only mean
a substantial amount of time saved, it would also be safer.
The team was not disappointed. The number of trips down
went from three to one, resulting in 60% savings in time.
Wedging was done during the night shift so the next shift

Product
specifications
106 Diamec
110 Christensen and Boyles
1 1 1 Boyles
112 Explorac
114 Exploration drill rigs – Max hole depth
104 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Specifications

Diamec – underground core drilling rig
Diamec Smart 8 – core drill rig
control unit only)

Max depth
capacity
(drill unit with

(N-size)
Feed stroke
Max torque
Control system
Feed pull/
push force
Power unit
Hole diameter
Weight
Weight
length
Vertical down
m ft Nm ft lbf kN lbf mm in kg lb kg lb
Epiroc
1 745 5 725 2 425 1 789 133 29 900 1 800 71 B, N, H Rig Control 3 500 7 720 1 760 3 880
System (RCS)
There are many different configurations and options available for Diamec rigs.
The data listed here varies depending on how the rig is configured.
Main benefits
• Safe and ergonomic which reduces operator fatigue and
minimises the number of hazardous operations
• An advanced Rig Control System increases productivity
and lowers operational costs
• Advanced data management makes it possible to analyse
data. This improves both drilling and operations whilst
lowering the TCO of each Diamec rig
Diamec Smart 6 Standard – core drill rig

Max depth
(drill unit with

capacity
B-H rotation
(1 800 feed)
Feed stroke
(with 110CC
(N-size)
Max torque
Control system
control unit
Feed pull/
push force
Power unit
Hole diameter
Weight
Weight
length
only)
unit)
Vertical down
A, B, Epiroc
715 2 346 1 634 1 205 65 14 600 1 800 71 Rig Control 1 850 4 080 1 150 2 315
N, H System (RCS)
The rig can also be configured with 80CC A-N rotation unit plus a short feed with 850 mm stroke length.
Main benefits
• Automated drilling increases productivity and lowers
operational costs
• Fast and safe positioning means less time wasted
between holes
• Advanced data management makes it possible to
analyse data. This improves both drilling and operations
whilst lowering the TCO of each Diamec rig
Diamec Smart 6 Deep hole – core drill rig

Max depth
(drill unit with

length (1800
capacity
B-H rotation
(with 160CC
Feed stroke
(1800 Deep
(N-size)
Max torque
Control system
control unit
Feed pull/
push force
Power unit
Hole diameter
Deep hole
hole feed)
Weight
Weight
feed)
only)
unit)
Vertical down
Epiroc
1 080 3 543 2 390 1 762 89 20 010 1 800 71 B, N, H Rig Control 1 975 4 355 1 150 2 315
System (RCS)
The rig can also be configured with 110CC B-H rotation unit.
Main benefits
• Automated drilling increases productivity and
lowers operational costs
• Fast and safe positioning means less time
wasted between holes
analyse data. This improves both drilling and
operations whilst lowering the TCO of each
Diamec rig

Diamec – underground core drilling rig
Diamec Smart 4 – core drill rig
Max depth
control unit only)

(with 60CC A-N
capacity
(N-size)
(drill unit with

rotation unit)
Feed stroke
Max torque
Control system
(1750 feed)
Feed pull/
push force
Power unit
Hole diameter
Weight
Weight
length
Vertical
down
Epiroc
515 1 690 744 549 52 11 742 1 750 68.9 A, B, N Rig Control 1 754 3 866 700 1 510
System (RCS)
The rig can also be configured with a short feed, 800 m stroke length.
Main benefits
• Automated drilling increases productivity and
between holes
analyse data. This improves both drilling and operations
whilst lowering the TCO of each Diamec rig
Diamec PHC 8 – core drill rig

Max depth
(drill unit with

rotation unit)
capacity
(with 160CC
Feed stroke
(N-size)
Max torque
Control system
control unit
Feed pull/
push force
Power unit
Hole diameter
Weight
Weight
length
only))
Vertical down
Pilot
1 745 5 725 2 425 1 789 133 29 900 1 800 71 B, N, H Hydraulic 3 600 7 936 1 760 3 880
Control
Main benefits
• Compact yet flexible, featuring a modular design
that can be tailored to fit your specific needs
• Built for productivity, Diamec rigs are safe and easy
to operate so you get the best outcome
• Trusted for reliability, a Diamec rig can be relied on
to retrieve superior core samples, time-after-time
Diamec PHC 6 Standard – core drill rig

(850 drill unit with
Max depth
Max torque (with
control unit only)

capacity
(N-size)
rotation unit)
(1 800 feed)
Feed stroke
Control system
Feed pull/
push force
110CC B-H
Hole diameter
Power uni
Weight
Weight
length
Vertical
down
Pilot
A, B,
715 2 346 1 634 1 205 65 14 600 1 800 71 Hydraulic 1 950 4 299 1 150 2 315
N, H
Control
Main benefits
• Built for productivity, Diamec rigs are safe and easy
to operate so you get the best outcome
Epiroc Exploration drilling – Specifications 107

Diamec — underground core drilling rig
Diamec PHC 6 Deep hole – core drill rig
Max depth
(1800 drill unit

length (1800
capacity
B-H rotation
(with 160CC
Feed stroke
(1800 Deep
with control
(N-size)
Max torque
Control system
Feed pull/
push force
Power unit
Hole diameter
Deep hole
hole feed)
unit only)
Weight
Weight
feed)
unit)
Vertical down
Pilot
1 080 3 543 2 390 1 762 89 20 010 1 800 71 B, N, H Hydraulic 2 125 4 664 1 150 2 315
Control
Main benefits
• Built for productivity, Diamec rigs are safe and
easy to operate so you get the best outcome
Diamec PHC 4 – core drill rig

(with 60CC A-N
Max depth
(drill unit with

rotation unit)
capacity
Feed stroke
(N-size)
Max torque
Control system
control unit
(1750 feed)
Feed pull/
push force
Power unit
Hole diameter
Weight
Weight
length
only)
Vertical down
Pilot
515 1 690 744 549 52 11 742 1 750 68.9 A, B, N Hydraulic 1 875 4 133 700 1 510
Control
The rig can also be configured with a short feed, 800 m stroke length.
Main benefits
• Built for productivity, Diamec rigs are safe and
easy to operate so you get the best outcome
• Trusted for reliability, a Diamec rig can be
relied on to retrieve superior core samples,
time-after-time
Diamec Smart 6M Standard – core drill rig

Max depth
Approximate
capacity
B-H rotation
(1 800 feed)
Feed stroke
(with 110CC
(N-size)
Max torque
Control system
Feed pull/
push force
Hole diameter
weight
length
unit)
Vertical down
m ft Nm ft lbf kN lbf mm in kg lb
Epiroc Rig Control
715 2 346 1 634 1 205 65 14 600 1 800 71 A, B, N, H 20 300 44 754
System (RCS)
Main benefits
• Highly mobile which increases productivity and
between holes
• Built-in versatility makes the Diamec Smart 6M
difficult to beat. It’s available with various feed lengths,
standard and deep hole feed cylinders and three
different rotation heads

Diamec — underground core drilling rig
Diamec Smart 6M Deep hole – core drill rig
Max depth
Approximate
capacity
B-H rotation
(with 160CC
Feed stroke
(1800 Deep
(N-size)
Max torque
Control system
Feed pull/
push force
Hole diameter
hole feed)
weight
length
unit)
Vertical down
m ft Nm ft lbf kN lbf mm in kg lb
Epiroc Rig
1 080 3 543 2 390 1 762 89 20 010 1 800 71 B, N, H Control System 20 300 44 754
(RCS)
Main benefits
• Highly mobile which increases productivity and
between holes
• Built-in versatility makes the Diamec Smart 6M
difficult to beat. It’s available with various feed
lengths, standard and deep hole feed cylinders
and three different rotation heads
Diamec Rod Handling System
Rod length
handler as
Feed type
coverage
coverage
Rigs with
Rod size
Control
System
Weight
option
rod
Diamec Smart 6 Integrated with Rig

1800 std 1.5 and A, B, N and
Diamec Smart 6M Control System 650 kg
1800 Deep Hole 3 m rods H WL rods
Diamec Smart 8 (RCS)
Main benefits
• Capable of handling inner tube and rods
• Improves safety by reducing operator fatigue and
the risk of injuries
• Improves productivity by increasing the consistency
of rod handling
Diamec 232 – core drill rig

Max depth
control unit only)

Feed pull force
capacity
(drill unit with

Feed stroke
Max torque
Control system
Power unit
Hole diameter
Weight
Weight
length
Vertical
down
Direct
220 722 250 184 15 3 372 850 33.5 A Hydraulic 254 560 230 507
Control
Main benefits
• Compact and lightweight making the Diamec 232
easy to transport
• Mechanized rod making and breaking plus fast feed
assistance for increased speed and efficiency
• Direct Hydraulic Control system is easy and
simple to maintain

Christensen and Boyles — surface core drilling rig
Christensen CT20 – core drill rig
Hole length
nunit, max
Rod pull length

capacity
Rotatio-
capacity, feed
Diesel engine
(N size)
torque
Drill rod size
Feed travel
Main hoist
Weight
Pull
ft
m ft Nm
lbf
Standard Cummins:
Single line
Crawler: Tier 3:
capacity: 178 kN 9.14 m
24 000 kg 224 kW
2 694 8 839 (40 000 lbs). (30 ft)
200 kN 3.5 m (52 911 lbs) (300 hp)
8 150 6 011 B, N, H, P Line speed at min with
(45 000 lbs) (11.5 ft) Platform: Tier 4F:
Deep displacement: telescopic
18 000 kg 231 kW
72 m/min mast
(40 000 lbs) (310 hp) at
3 073 10 082 (232 ft/min)
2 100 rpm
There are many different configurations and options available for Boyles rigs. The data listed here varies
depending on rig configuration. *These figures serve as theoretical guidelines only. Epiroc cannot guarantee
these capacities will be reached in all working conditions due to varying factors such as the conditions of the
ground and differences in operation.
Main benefits
• Safety is ensured thanks to safety guards around hot or moving parts
• Powerful drilling thanks to a large drilling depth capacity and feed system
• High efficiency thanks to a sturdy mast capable of handling 6 meter core barrels
Christensen 140 – core drill rig

Hole length
Rod pull length

nunit, max
capacity, feed
Diesel engine
capacity
Drill rod size

Rotatio-
Feed travel
(N size)
torque
Main hoist
Weight
Pull
m ft Nm ft lbf
Single line
Standard Cummins:
capacity, bare
drum: 80 kN Crawler: Tier 3:
1 211 3 973 (18 000 lbs). 13 000 kg 153 kW
138 kN
Line speed, bare 3.5 m 6 m (28 660 lbs) (205 hp)
7 600 5 605 B, N, H, P (31 020
drum: 44 m/min (11.5 ft) (20 ft) Trailer: Tier 4F:
Deep (148 ft/min) lbs)
11 000 kg 160 kW
Cable size: 29 m (24 251 lbs) (215 hp) at
1 381 4 531 (89 ft) x 16 mm
1 800 rpm
(0.63”)
There are many different configurations and options available for Christensen rigs. The data listed here varies
Main benefits
• Safety on-site thanks to compliance with the latest EN 16228 safety standards
• High productivity through a new two gear rotation unit which allows increased
time between overhaul with minimal maintenance
• High efficiency thanks to a sturdy mast capable of handling 6 meter core barrels
Boyles C8C – core drill rig

hole length
nunit, max
Standard-
Rod pull length

capacity
Rotatio-
Diesel engine
(N size)
torque
Drill rod size
Feed travel
Main hoist
Feed pull
capacity
Weight
ft
m ft Nm
lbf
Single line
Standard
capacity, bare
Cummins
drum: 133 kN
2 013 6 604 Tier 3:
(29 900 lbs). 156 kN 3.5 m 6.09 m 13 500 kg
7 270 5 362 B, N, H, P 179 kW
Line speed, (35 000 lbs) (11.5 ft) (20 ft) (29 760 lbs)
Deep (240 hp) at
bare drum:
2 000 rpm
40 m/min
2 296 7 533
(131 ft/min)
Main benefits
• Drill deep holes as this rig has the ideal mix of power, compactness and easy
of use to meet your demands
• Robust design which allows the rig to operate in the harshest of environments
• Safe design which minimizes the risk of personal injury during operation

Boyles — surface core drilling rig
Boyles C6/C6C – core drill rig
hole length
nunit, max
Standard-
Rod pull length

capacity
Rotatio-
Diesel engine
(N size)
torque
Drill rod size
Feed travel
Main hoist
Feed pull
capacity
Weight
ft
m ft Nm
lbf
Standard Single line

C6: Cummins
capacity, bare
7 000 kg Tier 3 and
1 211 3 973 drum: 80 kN
138 kN 3.5 m 6.09 m (15 432 lbs) Tier 4:
6 550 4 831 B, N, H, P (18 000 lbs).
(31 020 lbs) (11.5 ft) (20 ft) C6C: 153 kW
Deep Line speed, bare
9 000 kg (205 hp) at
drum: 44 m/min
1 381 4 531 (19 842 lbs) 1 800 rpm
(148 ft/min)
Main benefits
• Versatile and optimized for medium-depth drilling, this rig makes it possible
for you to take on any exploration job
Boyles C6T – core drill rig

hole length
nunit, max
Standard-
Rod pull length

capacity
Rotatio-
Diesel engine
(N size)
torque
Drill rod size
Feed travel
Main hoist
Feed pull
capacity
Weight
ft
m ft Nm
lbf
Cummins
Single line
Tier 1:
capacity, bare 138 kN 3.5 m 6.09 m 16 000 kg
1 000 3 280 6 550 4 831 B, N, H, P 170 kW
drum: 85 kN (31 020 lbs) (11.5 ft) (20 ft) (7 257 lbs)
(230 hp) at
(19 108 lbs)
2 000 rpm
Main benefits
• Versatility as the rig is optimized for medium-depth drilling — with the
Boyles C6T you can take on any exploration job
• Robust design which enables the rig to operate in harsh environments.
The Boyles C6T is a machine which can be depended on to work shift-after-shift
without downtime
Boyles C5/C5C – core drill rig

Hole length
nunit, max
Rod pull length

capacity
Rotatio-
Diesel engine
(N size)
torque
Drill rod size
Feed travel
Main hoist
Feed pull
capacity
Weight
ft
m ft Nm
lbf
Standard Single line

C5:
capacity, bare Cummins
5 700 kg
1 044 3 425 drum: 69 kN Tier 3:
107 kN 2m 6.09 m (12 566 lbs)
5 850 4 315 B, N, H, P (15 500 lbs). 119 kW
(24 055 lbs) (6.6 ft) (20 ft) C5C:
Deep Line speed, bare (159 hp) at
8 100 kg
drum: 39.7 m/min 2 200 rpm
1 191 3 907 (17 857 lbs)
(130 ft/min)
depending on rig configuration.*These figures serve as theoretical guidelines only. Epiroc cannot guarantee
Main benefits
• Small and compact, this rig provides the torque and ROM necessary for
BO-PO size coring, making it the most powerful rig in its class

Explorac — Reverse Circulation (RC) drill rig
Explorac 235 – reverse circulation drill rig
Weight (crawler
max rpm, serial
Pullback force
without tubes)
parallel mode
Rotation unit,
Survey winch
Main spindle
Foam/water
max torque,
compressor
pump max
Line oiler -
adjustable
water flow
Rod size/
On-board
capacity
Cyclone
Engine
hole ø
mode
HECL
Pull 1st layer
CAT C-18 = 8.8 kN
14 000 Nm
Tier 3 4.5” 35 500 (1 978 lbf)
at 240 bar 0.72 to 30 l/min
220 kN 522 kW (114.3 35 bar 850 l/s kg Speed on 1st
2.8 l/h
(10 325 ft 101 (510 psi) (7.9 gal/
(49 458 lbf) (700 bhp) mm)
lbf at max (30 cfm) (0.2-0.74 (78 264
min)
layer =
gal/h)
at 1 800- rods lbs) 86 m/min
3 481 psi)
2 100 rpm (94 yards/
min)
There are many different configurations and options available for Explorac rigs.
Main benefits
• Fully radio remote-controlled providing safe and easy operation
• 35 bar on-board compressor for high productivity
• Flexible pipe-handling system for safety and efficiency
Explorac 100 – reverse circulation drill rig
Recovery winch
lubrication tank
max rpm, serial
Pullback force
parallel mode
Rotation unit,
Main spindle
Foam/water
max torque,
compressor
pump max
water flow
Rod size/
Line oiler
capacity
hammer
External
Splitter
Weight
Engine
hole ø
mode Pull 1st

Cummins QSB
4 or 4.5” layer =
4.5 turbo-
(101.6 or Riffle, 20kN
charged and
100 kN charge air 114.3 mm) 35 bar cone or 30 l/min (4 496 lbf)
7 475 Nm 12 l 14 400 kg
(22 481 rods. 5-6.5” 74 (510 psi) oscillator (7.9 gal/ Speed on
lbf) cooled. 5 513 lbs (3.2 gal) (31 747 lbs)
(127- max /rotation min) 1st layer =
82 kW
165 mm) type 40 m/min
(110 bhp) at
hole ø (44 yards/
2 200 rpm
min)
There are many different configurations and options available for Explorac rigs.
Main benefits
• Fast and economical reverse circulation drill rig
• High quality, uncontaminated mineral samples
• High production rates compared with traditional core drilling

Maximum hole depth: Core drilling rigs
On this fold-out you will find an overview of the surface-
and underground core drilling rigs in our portfolio. It show
the maximum hole depth for the different diameter sizes;
A, B, N, H and P. Please note that these are guidelines and
subject to change. Exceptions to the specified hole depths
may occur in the field.
Epiroc core drilling rigs – Maximum hole depth
Diamec Smart 4 and Diamec PHC 4 (1 125 m, 3 691 ft)
A Diamec Smart 6/6M and Diamec PHC 6, standard

Diamec 232 (220 m, 722 ft)
(1 445 m, 4 741 ft)
Diamec Smart 4 and Diamec PHC 4 (815 m, 2 674 ft)

Diamec Smart 6/6M and Diamec PHC 6, deep hole (1 530 m, 5 020 ft)
Diamec Smart 6/6M and Diamec PHC 6, standard (1 065 m, 3 494 ft)
Diamec Smart 8 and Diamec PHC 8
B Christensen CT20
Christensen 140 (1 536 m, 5 039 ft)
Boyles C8
Boyles C6 (1 536 m, 5 039 ft)
Boyles C5 (1 325 m, 4 347 ft)
Diamec Smart 4 and Diamec PHC 4 (515 m, 1 690 ft)

Diamec Smart 6/6M and Diamec PHC 6, deep hole (1 080 m, 3 543 ft)
Diamec Smart 6/6M and Diamec PHC 6, standard (715 m, 2 346 ft)
Hole size
N Christensen CT20
Christensen 140 (1 211 m, 3 973 ft)
Boyles C8
Boyles C6 (1 211 m, 3 973 ft)
Boyles C5 (1 044 m, 3 425 ft)
Diamec Smart 6/6M and Diamec PHC 6, deep hole (580 m, 1 903 ft)
Diamec Smart 6/6M and Diamec PHC 6, standard (335 m, 1 099 ft)
Christensen CT20 (1 788 m, 5 866 f
H Christensen 140 (804 m, 2 638 ft)
Boyles C8 (1 336 m, 4 383 ft)
Boyles C6 (804 m, 2 638 ft)
Boyles C5 (693 m, 2 274 ft)
Christensen CT20 (1 092 m, 3 583 ft)

Christensen 140 (491 m, 1 611 ft)
P Boyles C8
Boyles C6 (491 m, 1 611 ft)
(816 m, 2 677 ft)
Boyles C5 423 m, 1 388 ft)
328' 984' 1 640' 2 297' 2 953' 3 609' 4 265' 4 921' 5 577'

100 m 300 m 500 m 700 m 900 m 1 100 m 1 300 m 1 500 m 1 700 m
Hole
Diamec
Boyles
Christensen
(2 390 m, 7 842 ft)

(3 417 m, 11 210 ft)
(2 553 m, 8 376 ft)
(2 694 m, 8 839 ft)
(2 013 m, 6 604 ft)
ft)
6 234' 6 890' 7 546' 8 202' 8 858' 9 514' 10 171' 10 827' 11 483'

m 1 900 m 2 100 m 2 300m 2 500 m 2 700 m 2 900 m 3 100 m 3 300 m 3 500 m
depth

Produced by
Epiroc Rock Drills AB, SE–701 91 Örebro, Sweden. Tel: +46 10 755 00 00
Editorial board
Publisher: Anna Dahlman Herrgård, anna.dahlman.herrgard@epiroc.com
Editor and project manager: Fredrik Ternström, fredrik.ternstrom@epiroc.com
Layout and production: Rafaella Turander (ahrt informationsdesign), turander@ahrt.se
Communications consultant: Julian Greenwood, julian@bonavista.se
Contributors
Marie Bergman, Lennart Johansson, Ebrahim Nikafroozi, Veselin Donchev, Stefan Adbring, Malin Wahlén,
Julie Massé, Dani Knezevic, Annie Lévesque, Benjamin Boyer, Karin Cox, Ola Kinnander
Digital copies of all Epiroc reference editions can be ordered online at www.podshop.se/epiroc
Reproduction of individual articles only by agreement with the publisher.
Printed by: Prinfo Welins, Örebro 2021

Paper: Cover: MultiArt Silk 250 g. Inlay: MultiArt Silk 150 g
Legal notice
© Copyright 2021, Epiroc Rock Drills AB, Örebro, Sweden. Product names in this publication are trademarks of Epiroc. Any unauthorized use
or copying of the contents or any part thereof is prohibited.Illustrations and photos may show equipment with optional extras. No warranty
is made regarding specifications or otherwise. Specifications and equipment are subject to change without notice. Consult your local Epiroc
representative for specific information. Printed matter no. 9868 0308 93
Safety first
Epiroc is committed to complying with or exceeding all global and local rules and regulations on personal safety. However, some photographs
in this reference book may show circumstances that are beyond our control. All users of Epiroc equipment are urged to think of safety first and
always use proper ear, eye, head and other protection as required to minimize the risk of personal injury.
Epiroc is a leading global productivity partner for the mining and infrastructure industries. With ground-breaking technology, Epiroc develops
and produces innovative, safe and sustainable drill rigs, rock excavation and construction equipment and tools. The company also provides
world-class service and solutions for automation and interoperability. Epiroc is based in Stockholm, Sweden, had revenues of BSEK 41 in
2019 and has about 14 000 passionate employees supporting and collaborating with customers in more than 150 countries.
Learn more at www.epirocgroup.com.
Epiroc’s Surface division develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of rock drilling equipment for use in surface mining, exploration,
construction, quarries, as well as water well and oil and gas applications worldwide. The division has production in Sweden, the United States,
China, India and Japan. Please see www.epiroc.com for product offerings.
Epiroc operated under the trademark "Atlas Copco" prior to January 1, 2018.
United in performance.
Inspired by innovation.
Performance unites us, innovation inspires us, and
commitment drives us to keep moving forward.
Count on Epiroc to deliver the solutions you need to
succeed today and the technology to lead tomorrow.
Printed matter no. 9868 0308 93
epiroc.com

Reference Book: Exploration Drilling 2021

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Reference Book: Exploration Drilling 2021

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Reference book

Exploration drilling 2021

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Preface 3

Epiroc has made a big leap forward in terms of innovation, both

Diamec Smart 6M is our most recent product, it is an underground

The exploration industry is entering a new chapter with rising

José Manuel Sanchez

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 7

The early years

8 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 11

commodities that required for international industrialization Focus on automation

Diamond core drilling

12 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically

While exploration has never been as challenging as it is today, advances in tech-

In addition, automated functions play a critical role when it comes to living up to

Behind the scenes

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 15

includes avoiding long exposure to freezing or extremely

Smarter exploration is a journey and we help customers

Drilling in extreme environments

16 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 17

Minerals and geology

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 19

Typical characteristics are: Fracture is the surface characteristic produced by breaking

20 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically

1. Volcanic rocks – fine-grained mine-

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 21

22 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically

Table of main igneous rock types

Some sedimetary rock types

Typical metamorphic rocks

Anortosite Granitic gneiss

Quartzite Marble Limestone

Gabbro Argillaceous, shale clay

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 23

Prospecting and exploration

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 25

6. Mine closure and rehabilitation

7. Monitoring and evaluation

Source: Minerals Council of Australia, 2014.

26 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 29

High value Exploration risk

4-5 years 1-2 years 2-3 years 2 years 1 years

Activity • Market strategy • Trenching • Global resource • Engineering • Financing • Startup

Source: Pierre Lassonde/Visual Capitalist.

30 Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically

Understanding the terminology

Experts use geological sampling and testing methods to classify a

Additional sampling may allow the amount, quality, density, shape,

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 31

Drilling is at the heart of all global development. Whether it is used in quarrying to

Subsequently, budgets increased dramatically year-over-year, reaching an all-

Epiroc Exploration drilling – Talking technically 33

Global exploration budget down but remains above 2015-2017 levels

24 Annual indexed metals price 4

Global non ferrous exploration budget

Annual indexed metals price

Data as of Jan. 15, 2020. Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Top 20 country budget changes Year-Over-Year (YOY) in 2019

-200 -150 -100 -50 -0 50 100 150 200 250