Diamond Core
Diamond core drilling is the primary method for complex, deeper mining and exploration, or where structural information advantages from intact core samples are required.
Diamond core drill bits are hollow and impregnated with industrial-grade diamond crown in order to cut a cylindrical core through solid rock. As the drill bit penetrates the rock, a core is extracted in a solid cylinder and is winched to the surface through the centre of the drill rod in complete sections. It is this rock sample that can be analysed for mineral content, while also showing the structures of the cored interval.
Diamond core drilling is used at all stages of mine life, and is predominantly the drilling method for underground exploration and ore grade identification.
DDH1 Limited’s diamond core offering
DDH1 Limited are specialists in all diamond core drilling, including directional drilling that allows for controlled deviations in the direction, angle and path of drilling activity. Directional drilling helps to overcome environmental challenges such as reaching a target located under an impassable geological feature which would otherwise be inaccessible with vertical surface drilling methods.
In addition to directional drilling, DDH1 Limited also has the technical ability and fleet capability to conduct multiple intersectional directional drilling which typically involves the drilling of a main “parent” hole (up to 2,000 metres in depth) followed by multiple “branch” holes which come off the “parent” hole (to depths of up to 3,000 metres). This increases the accuracy of the geological information gathered to facilitate development or expansion of mine production. Drilling several branch holes from a main hole also significantly reduces the length of a drilling program, leading to savings in both time and costs.