Coring Magazine // Issue 2 by Coring Magazine

NOREX DRILLING VD 8000

Issue 2//

Topic of the issue //

2016

CORE ORIENTATION

ISSN 2367-847X www.coringmagazine.com

Explorat ion

21 Questions // Craig Scott — Field Operations Manager, Hy-Tech Drilling

Mineral Exploration // A driller and a geologist... by Erik C. Ronald, PG – Mining Geology HQ

Product review // VD 8000 drill rig by Atelier Val-d'Or

PDAC 2106 // The drilling point of view — Coring report

D ia mond

D r i l l i ng

Why buy drilling solutions from Fordia? Because our goal is to help drillers improve their performance.

fordia.com | T 1 800 768-7274 | info@fordia.com

/EDITORIAL

Welcome back! It took some time, but here it is – the second issue of Coring. Our small team learned a lot from the first issue and we hope this one will build on our start and continue to hold your interest. Core orientation, and digital core orientation especially, has become increasingly popular, which is why we’ve chosen it for our issue topic. There’s plenty to say about it, as you will see. During my tour of the PDAC expo, I asked all the main core orientation manufacturers if they would like to submit an article. Brett Davis came through, and our thanks go out to him. Someone once told me trade magazines didn’t publish long articles. But the simple fact is that technical matters require space, and you can’t simply remove parts in order to fit some preconceived idea of how long an article should be. That is why you will find a couple of longer articles in this issue. While I was reading Brett’s article, many tips and tricks started to come to me from my own experience, so I took a pen and started jotting them down. When I read them over, I found I had enough for a complete article. I hope you will find it useful. Talking about experience, our product review feature in this issue looks at a fantastic deep hole drill rig that is well known in Canada but not so famous internationally. The VD 8000 has a proven track record of capability, durability and safety. Many thanks to Atelier Val-d'Or for accepting my invitation and providing detailed information about their rig for the article. Last but not least, I would like to thank Craig Scott for accepting my invitation to be interviewed. I found getting in touch with his experience so motivating and exciting. So here it is. Enjoy!

GRIGOR TOPEV Founder / Managing Editor CORING MAGAZINE

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

Table of Contents /NEWS & EVENTS

3 The latest in the industry

/21 QUESTIONS

4 Exclusive Interview with Craig Scott, Field

Operations Manager, Hy-Tech Drilling /PRODUCT REVIEW

6 The Atelier Val-d'Or VD 8000 drill rig - A proven

solution for deep hole drilling /TOPIC: CORE ORIENTATION

Coring Magazine Issue 2 ISSN 2367-847X

12 Oriented drill core - What we have learnt and

where we are going, Brett Davis, Orefind

Coring Magazine is a quarterly international magazine focusing on exploration core drilling. The magazine aims to deliver fresh information, case studies, opinions, news and articles about drilling companies, products, projects and more.

18 Delegating responsibility to improve core

orientation results, Grigor Topev,

Coring Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s target audience is drilling contractors, exploration companies and mining company exploration departments, service companies, drilling suppliers and manufacturers and anyone involved in exploration core drilling.

BG Drilling Solutions /MINERAL EXPLORATION

22 A driller and a geologist walk into a bar...

Erik C. Ronald, Mining Geology HQ

Publisher Coring Media Managing Editor Grigor Topev

/REPORTAGE

Editor Bob Chappell

Drilling Correspondents Laurie Cyr â&#x20AC;&#x201C; USA/Mexico

24 PDAC 2016 - The drilling point of view,

A Coring report by Grigor Topev

Graphic Design Cog Graphics

/CATALOG

28 Drilling equipment and tools

30 Survey equipment (rental and sales)

30 Drilling services

Printed by Dedrax Printing House Address & contacts Coring Media Ltd. 119B D.Petkov Str., et.19, ap.153 Sofia 1309, Bulgaria Phone + 359 889 53 26 53 Email editorial@coringmagazine.com Website coringmagazine.com Coring Magazine #2

/NEWS & EVENTS

News & Events REFLEXHUB-IQ is recognised as “Most Innovative Collaborative Technology” REFLEX is pleased to announce that its cloud based data platform, REFLEXHUBIQ was judged the winner of not only the “Most Innovative Collaborative Technology” at the WAITTA INCITE awards on Friday night, but also the “Minister’s Award for Excellence in Innovation”. “REFLEXHUB-IQ is central to mining’s internet of things (IoT)”, said Dr Michelle Carey, Global Product Manager – REFLEX Geosciences. “It forms the information hub through which all our REFLEX solutions connect to provide a robust chain of

custody for exploration and mining data and an uninterrupted exchange of information between the project site and city based decision makers.” “The high level of operational visibility, control and transparency available through REFLEXHUB-IQ is being recognised by resource companies globally as they are forced to make changes to ensure both operational and cost efficiencies.”

Geotech Drilling celebrating 20 years of operational excellence Throughout 2016, Geotech is celebrating two decades of operational excellence in the drilling industry. Twenty years ago, the first hole in its company history was drilled for Geo North Engineering of Prince George. The hole was completed utilizing a truck-mounted Mobile B61 drill, purchased at auction in California and driven back to Prince George by founder Steve Vlchek. The rig arrived in Prince George with only hours for a quick clean-up and testing before heading to the project.

The driller on that occasion was Mr. Dave Vandel, who continues in his current role as a senior mechanic, passing his vast experience and expertise on to the next generation of drillers and drill mechanics at Geotech. Through its unrelenting pursuit of operational excellence and exemplary customer service, the company has grown from that single rig and four employees to what it is today.

Coring presents at Simexmin 2016 Coring magazine was represented at Simexmin in Ouro Preto, Brazil in midMay this year, thanks to the help of local company Trust Soluções Geológicas (BGDSTrust), a directional drilling and surveying service company, who kindly shared their booth with us.

Simexmin is the biggest mineral exploration event in Brazil, with lectures by leading local and international experts throughout. It’s a must-visit event for everyone connected with the exploration industry, not to mention its historical and beautiful host city Ouro Preto, which lends the event a very special atmosphere.

Other drilling-oriented companies presenting at the show were ServitecForaco, Geosol, Geotech Reserves Brazil, Major Drilling Brazil, Reflex and CoreCase. Faster. Deeper. Safer.

/21 QUESTIONS

Exclusive Interview with

questions

Craig Scott Grigor Topev: How did you get started in drilling?

Craig Scott Field Operations Manager, Hy-Tech Drilling Over the course of his drilling career, Craig Scott has worked in over 60 different countries. Prior to joining Hy-Tech Drilling in 2007, Craig had a 28-year career with Boart Longyear, where he gained significant experience in the diamond drilling industry, working his way up from driller’s helper to International Operations Manager. Craig has a vast knowledge of directional drilling, deep hole drilling and mud systems and he is currently Hy-Tech Drilling’s Field Operations Manager and a Director of HyTech Drilling’s international companies. He is a former director of the Canadian Diamond Drilling Association, and is currently a member of the Canadian Mining industry Human Resources council. 4

Craig Scott: I was searching for an adventurous career and moved out west from Ontario to British Columbia. My stepbrother was a driller’s helper for Connors, and I thought I might try that. Connors wouldn’t hire me but Boart Longyear did, and I found my adventurous career. Grigor: You have travelled a lot. Which place has left the strongest impression on you? What was the most dangerous place you have worked? Craig: Africa left the strongest impression on me; the Congo, 15 to 20 years ago, was probably one of the most dangerous places I have ever been. I also remember Chile during the Pinochet days and Russia shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Grigor: Few people know that you’re a stock car driver. How did that come about? Are you still racing? Craig: Racing has been a passion of mine for the last 18 years. I love the adrenalin rush. I’ve recently retired from racing but still love the sport, and I’m currently building a Factory Five Racing ‘33 Ford coupé. Grigor: Since its introduction, we haven’t seen much development in the wireline coring system. Why do you that think is? Craig: We talk about that a lot at Hy-Tech. Longyear came out with it years ago and it still works. As you say, there have been small improvements. I would like to see the focus put on decreasing descent times. There have been more changes in the rig itself, like phasing out the gear jammers and designing safer, stronger hydraulic rigs. Grigor: What’s the deepest NQ borehole you have been involved with? Craig: I have been involved in many deep holes in Sudbury and South Africa, but the one that really stands out for me was when I first started for Hy-Tech as a consultant in 2006. Hy-Tech was drilling at the Sullivan Deeps Mine in Kimberly, B.C.. They took NQ to 2696 m (8843 feet) with the TECH 5000. At that point I knew that the team at Hy-Tech knew

how to build a strong, small hydraulic drill with lots of torque that could outperform any other drill that I had been involved with. Grigor: In your opinion, what is the best survey tool from the driller’s point of view? Craig: We use Reflex and have had a good experience with them. They have been easy for our drillers to use. Grigor: Can you give the readership some tips for drilling in iron ore? Craig: Bring lots of bits and have a plan to lift heavy cuttings out of the hole. Grigor: Many drilling companies understand borehole cementation as follows: buy cement from the nearest hardware store, find somewhere to mix it and pour it down the hole. Do you agree with that approach? Craig: Absolutely not. We have very specific cementing procedures that we follow to get an effective cement job. It is critical, especially at a working or potential mine site. Grigor: We hear many drilling companies blaming the rock for their low productivity or failure. What do you think about that? Craig: There have been many challenging jobs over the course of my career. Really, it is about efficiently finding a drilling plan that works, whether that be the mud recipe, or the proper equipment or techniques. Matching the proper talent and experience to the job is critical. I guess that’s why it is nice to have a few dinosaurs like me around. Our tag line is: Zero Excuses. Grigor: Any advice for exploration managers on how to avoid speculations from drilling companies? Craig: I think every exploration manager or purchaser should make sure that each drilling company bids using the same parameters, and is being transparent on costs and productivity rates. In order to do an accurate cost analysis on every bid, the manager or purchaser needs to obtain a reliable estimate of productivity rates from the drilling company, as this will have a substantial effect on overall costs. Coring Magazine #2

Grigor: Many drilling companies seem unprepared for even the commonest drilling problems. Don’t you think clients should expect them to have tools like proper fishing taps, rod cutters, cement plugs and pumps – even a steel wedge? Craig: Personally, I couldn’t work for a drilling company that did not have the capacity to supply the tools and equipment to get the job done, no matter what the situation. Clients should be making themselves aware of what support system and infrastructure the drilling company is bringing to the table. Everything costs money, so the drilling company should be totally informed about what they are getting into before they bid. Changes to the scope after the contract is awarded are not popular unless the client understands it may be necessary to re-negotiate that portion of the contract. Grigor: Are there conditions where you would use plain water for drilling, and why? Craig: Sure – there are a lot of areas where you drill stick rock using water and grease for vibration. Grigor: What is your opinion about directional drilling in general? Its current status, pros and cons, its future and so on. Craig: A lot of directional drilling methods are very expensive for the client. I would like to see more competitive methods for keeping it as simple as possible, so that a good supervisor can learn to maintain and run directional drilling without the need for a technician to sit around camp. There are a few new things being worked on, but everyone has to start making money again before any serious R&D will be done. Grigor: What is your understanding and definition for good driller? Craig: These days, drillers have many more tools to help them be successful, but I still believe that a good driller can picture in his mind’s eye what is happening at the bit and in the hole. My guys have heard that a lot. Grigor: How did Hy-Tech fare at the (PDAC) Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada exhibition this year? Craig: It was good. We made some good contacts and there was a feeling of cautious optimism. Much different vibe from AMEBC’s Roundup the previous month. Grigor: I really like Hy-Tech’s zero excuses policy. How do you achieve that? Is this 99 percent borehole completion figure for real? Craig: We achieve it by having a great team and great resources to fall back on. There are a lot of years’ experience in this company. And yes, that 99 percent is a real number! None of us here at Hy-Tech wants to lose a hole. Faster. Deeper. Safer.

The client pays good money to get to target, and losing a hole impacts his budget and his whole project big time. That is why we focus on hole completion.

proper procedures and accurate results from the core orientation? The geologists, the contractor, the manufacturer or an assigned third party?

Grigor: We know the achievements are there, but any memorable failures? (I’m referring the one percent!)

Craig: Core orientation is very common these days. Most of our crews are very familiar with the Reflex system and can operate it with confidence. It is an added value for the client if the contractors can operate the system themselves. Crews do have to be trained and taught the importance of good results. It does slow the contractor down especially on deep holes when you can’t run a 6 meter core barrel. Clients need to be prepared to pay for this service.

Craig: How about two failed marriages? They were memorable! Seriously though, we all have failures in our lives and the key is to retain them and learn from your mistakes. We often dig deep in our memories to solve hole issues. Grigor: Drilling contractors are not famous for R&D. Is that true of Hy-tech? Craig: Hy-Tech has a small R&D department that is kept really busy! There is a cost to carry the department, but everyone here sees the value in R&D. We have created several innovations that have made our equipment safer, improved efficiencies and increased productivity, and we are working on some exciting stuff currently. Grigor: Is the Hy-Tech Tech 5000 drill for general sale? Craig: No, our equipment is not for sale. We feel that our rig gives us a competitive advantage. It has been copied but never duplicated. Grigor: This issue of Coring focuses on core orientation. In your opinion, who should take the responsibility for the

Grigor: How do you see the future of the diamond drilling industry? Craig: I think it will become more and more automated. We will have operators and not drillers. Operations managers will have more control from the office using telemetry. It will help to determine how to narrow the gap between a good and a poor driller. Grigor: As a professional, what you would like to see more of in a drilling magazine like Coring? Craig: I’m glad there is finally a publication that focuses on coring. Your first edition was well done and informative. I encourage you to continue finding interesting topics and people to fill the pages – you have a world-wide talent pool to draw on. 5

/PRODUCT REVIEW

The Atelier Val-dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Or VD8000 drill rig

A proven solution for deep hole surface drilling 6

Coring Magazine #2

With years of use behind them, Atelier Val-d’Or’s VD8000 and its smaller sibling the VD5000 have shown that they have what it takes to tackle the most demanding surface coring jobs in a safe and efficient manner. The VD8000 was designed primarily for work in cold climates, built inside a closed shack mounted on skids with the option of insulated walls and heated floors, but the shade afforded in hot climates has proved welcome in comparison with other surface rigs. It comes with AVD’s rod-handling system as standard, with a stacking capacity of more than 8,000 feet (2,500 metres*) of ‘N’ rods in a parallel folding modular rod rack. Users have a choice of a 10-foot (3 metre) or 11-foot (3.3 metre) feed frame with over 55,000 lbs (25,000 kg) pull back. The 3.3-metre frame allows for top drive drilling with full 3-metre casings. There is also the possibility of accommodating a user’s preference in diesel engines, with options including Cummins, John Deere and CAT among others. The VD8000 offers many features and options which make operations safer. •

The main hydraulic components can be accessed from the outside, keeping technicians away from moving parts.

•

An interlock guard system is available, completely separating the operators from moving parts, and cutting power to the drill head if a guard door is opened during drilling.

•

The drill mast’s extension and rod slide can be locked in place remotely from the drill floor, reducing the use of ladders.

•

A casing breaker and casing clamp are available, eliminating the needs for tools to break casing string joints.

AVD drills are fully hydraulic, but soon users of new or existing drills will have the option of switching the main functions to electro-hydraulic controls. This optional package will raise the efficiency and safety of drilling operations for a minimum investment, and in the case of existing drills can be implemented in a few hours. If necessary, the controls can be switched back to fully hydraulic in less than an hour. This modular package allows the operator to add ‘plug-and-play’ options. The basic module consists of two joysticks and a 7” display. The screen gives instant feedback on paramFaster. Deeper. Safer.

eters such as true spindle speed, feed and rotation pressure. The module also allows the saving of local sensor data every second to a USB flash drive. The Danfoss IP67-rated controller offers additional sophistications such as a synch function with automatic preloading for deep hole drilling, one-handed tripping operations and automatic wireline winch rewinding for safe overshot retrieval. It will also prevent costly operational mistakes through a combination of sensors and software rules. One optional add-on is the Danfoss Telematics, which uses a cell phone connection for remote data acquisition, real time diagnostics and intervention. A drill head position sensor is also available, allowing for feed rate measurement, automatic feed cylinder cushioning, and shift/day drilled meters feedback. This information is automatically added to the list of parameters recorded by USB drive or Telematics, the data acquisition system.

Automatic preloading for deep hole drilling When tripping rods, the load of the rod string on the chuck or the rod clamp makes them stretch and settle in their seats. It also puts a load on the feed cylinder (over 4,000 PSI on deep holes). In shallow holes, the effect is

negligible, but as operators drill deeper and deeper, the components will take a hit if the load is transferred too suddenly. For example, 2,000 metres on ‘N’ rods weigh roughly 15,000 kg with the chuck holding the string. If the rod clamp is closed on the rod string, the chuck then opened, all the weight of the rod string will suddenly transfer to the rod clamp, forcing it to stretch and settle in a fraction of a second. As a result, the chuck, drill head and feed cylinder will bounce back from the rapid load release. Experienced deep hole drillers will keep both chuck and rod clamp closed and slightly push or pull with the feed cylinder to preload the chuck and rod clamp, but this is not an exact science. With AVD’s controller and sensors installed, the system is aware if the chuck or rod clamp are open or closed, and the feed cylinder pressure with the chuck holding the rod string. It can then properly preload the chuck and rod clamp before allowing either of them to open. This feature automatically activates when the feed cylinder pressure goes beyond a pre-set value.

One-handed tripping operation The one-handed tripping feature, for example, takes some of the risk out of repetitive tasks like tripping rods up and down to change a drill bit. The operator needs to tell 7

the system if he is tripping in or out, then use one joystick to make the drill head go up or down. The system will take care of deciding if the chuck or the rod clamp should be opened and will also do the preload sequence if necessary. If equipped with the optional head position sensor, the system will also manage to keep the pulling stroke constant (3m or 10 ft.) to keep the rod joints at the same position along the tripping operations.

Automatic wireline winch rewinding With automatic wireline winch rewinding, the operator resets a winch counter on the system before manually sending the overshot down. The system counts the number of turns made by the winch drum when going down. When the operator is ready to rewind the winch, he activates the feature and the

system rewinds until a pre-set number of turns are left before reaching the surface. Rewinding then slows down and the unit beeps continuously before stopping completely. The operator can then finish rewinding manually and bring the core sample up to the surface.

Large-diameter drilling In an effort to satisfy the needs of specific exploration sectors, such as crossing a thick overburden layer with large casing, coal exploration, or the need for large samples in the search for diamonds, AVD will soon start field testing its new ‘S’ class line of products. Designed as a drop-in replacement for existing AVD ‘H’ or ‘P’ drill heads, chucks and rod clamps, the new ‘S’ components will let operators work ‘through the spindle’ with rods and tools up to 5-1/2 inches in diameter. To

safely handle the heavier pipes, a new universal rod handler able to take from ‘B’ to ‘S’ rods will also be made available. The VD8000 can be customized for a user’s specific needs. Customisations include an optional ground pick-up rod handler to grab rods from a sloop besides the drill, additional hydraulic outputs and controls to power an external mud system, wheels for open-pit operations and so on. *AVD does not give hole depth specifications or make claims because engineering certification relates to the weight the system can support, which does not easily translate into depth because of the many other factors involved – the inclination of the borehole, the type of rock being drilled, wedges or directional drilling used, presence of water in the hole, and so on. Anecdotally, the VD8000 has on many occasions drilled to 3,000-plus metres using thin-walled ‘N’ rods.

Atelier Val-d’Or is based in Québec, Canada. It has more than 30 years of experience in the design and manufacture of exploration drilling equipment for the mining industry. Clients include Major Drilling, Foraco and Norex Drilling. AVD has built over 200 drill rigs since entering the market in the mid 80s, and rigs have seen in service in Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Suriname, Colombia, Philippines, Ireland, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Azerbaijan. AVD is best known for its quality, deep-drilling rigs, its fast and reliable rod-handling systems and custom-made solutions. For more information, please visit www.ateliervd.qc.ca or facebook.com/ateliervd.

Coring Magazine #2

VD8000 Drill rig Skid mounted, enclosed shack, all hydraulic chuck drive core drill, specially designed for diamond core drilling up to the rated specifications

Drill Mast

Capacity to drill between 90° and 45°.

Diesel Engine

The most frequently used power units are John Deere 275HP JD6090 Tier3 or Cummins QSB6,7 Tier 3 with a normal operating speed up to 2,200 RPM (operating RPM can vary depending on pump configuration and option chosen).

Fuel Tank Capacity

160 litres (42 US gal.) + Fuel selector for the use of an auxiliary fuel tank

Pump Drive

FUNK triple pump drive (series 28000) with ratio 1.27:1 or 1:1

Rotation Head

AVD (Atelier Val D’Or inc.) type with chain drive head for hydraulic chuck (customer choice) ratio 12/24 on “H” size head, and 12/29 on “P” size head.

Transmission

FUNK 4 speeds transmission (Ratio 1st 6.63:1, 2nd 3.17:1, 3rd 1.72:1. 4th 1:1)

Head Table

Hydraulic cylinder is directly coupled to the rotation head carriage. The travel is 3m (10ft) or 3.3m (11ft). At 4,200PSI, push capacity is 12,628 kg (27,832 lbs) and pull capacity is 23,947 kg (52,778 lbs).

Pull Cylinder

Hydraulic cylinder with 15,715 kg (34,636 lbs) of maximum pull at 4,200PSI, 26ft water swivel displacement.

Water Pump

Standard BEAN 435 or PRATISSOLI KF40 (customer choice possible)

Rod Clamp

BOYLES style for “B” to “P” sizes.

Wireline Winch

Maximum capacity is 3,200m (10,498ft) for 3/16in wireline rope

Hydraulic

Full flow 25 micron Beta rated return oil filtration. Water/oil, air/oil hydraulically motorized (optional) and air/oil (optional, installed on the diesel engine) hydraulic coolers.

Hydraulic Tank Capacity

323 litres (85 US gal.)

Maximum Pull Capacity

39,662 kg (87,414 lbs) @ 4,200 PSI with feed and pull cylinder.

Overall Weight of Drill

Approx. 14 519 kg (32 000 lbs)

Rod Handler

With Rollers Hand Configuration and HSS(Bolted Fingers) Rod Rack Comb for N,H and P.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

Rod Rack Maximum Stacking Capacity: Rod Size

B (Ø2.19’’)*

N (Ø2.75’’)

H (Ø3.50’’)

P (Ø4.50’’)

Qty (9-meter sections)

308

309

195

120

meters

2,772

2,754

1,755

1,080

feet

9,094

9,035

5,757

3,543

Depth in:

Drill in working position (Mast Shown at 90°)

Standard features Hoses Carriages

Gortrac® hoses carriage for drill head hoses and rod handler hoses

Anti-Noise Wall

Noise damping wall between diesel engine and working area

Mast Dump

24in travel mast dump

Extension Locking

Allow mast extension locking from floor level for safety purpose

Water Swivel Slide

Removable from floor level for rod handler operation

Remote Pulleys Greasing Allow mast pulleys greasing from floor level LED Lightning

Low energy consumption lights

Feed Cyl. Burst Valve

Stops the falling of the head in case of hoses failure

Coring Magazine #2

Optional features Transport Wheels

Heavy-duty wheels for drill transportation on rocky terrain

Weatherproofing

Insulated walls and doors for heat conservation and noise reduction

Heated Floor

Heated floor and floor heating units for runner and rod handler operator

Hydraulic Heating Unit

Supplementary heating that recycles the heat of hydraulic system

RACOR Fuel Filter

Efficient filter added on engine fuel line

Cyclone Air Filter

Efficient air filter added on engine air Intake

AVD “P” Rod Clamp

Eliminates the need to remove jaws for oversized bits

Interlocking Guards

Isolates the drill mast and limits rotation at 50 RPM when guard is open

Casing Breaker

Hydraulic device to break casing joints

Casing Clamp

Clamp that holds casing below the rod clamp, eliminates the use of pipe wWrench

Casing Puller

Rod clamp mounted on a sliding base w/ hydraulic cylinders for additional pull power

Parallelogram Rod Comb Avoid removal of comb for transport or fingers configuration change Floor Pickup Rod Handler Pivoting rod handler. Can Handles rods stacked horizontally in a sloop

Optional electro-hydraulic drill features LCD Display

7” LCD display for parameters and feedback (pressures, water pump, wireline position, etc.)

Compact Work Console

Heated floor and floor heating units for runner and rod handler operator

Feedback Sensors

Drill head position, RPM and bit weight feedback on LCD display

Cameras

Shows the wireline on LCD display at activation of wireline function

Data Recording

Keeps history of machine parameters for supervision/troubleshooting

Chuck/Clamp Synchro

Automates the operation of chuck and rod clamp when rod pulling with automatic preload

Danfoss Telematics

Remote data acquisition, real time diagnostics and intervention on the machine

Head Position Sensor

Provides Feed Rate, drilled meters feedback, feed cylinder cushioning and steady length rod pulling

Drill in transport position Faster. Deeper. Safer.

/TOPIC: CORE ORIENTATION

What we have learnt and where we are going

Oriented drill core

Brett K. Davis BSc (Hons), PhD, MAIG, FSEG Orefind

Diamond drill core is paramount in hard-rock exploration and mining, providing invaluable information for prospect evaluation, mineral resource and reserve estimation and general geological understanding. With few exceptions, the mineral occurrences drilled have an architecture dictated by structural geology. Oriented diamond drill core is therefore critical to providing information on the structural controls and geometry of mineralisation, which in turn adds confidence to geological and reserve models.

Examples of the three forms of core orientation tool. A) Electronic device (Reflex), B) Downhole spear, C) Mechanical device (Ezy-Markâ&#x201E;˘). This article reviews the development of core orientation devices and their evolution into the methods currently employed. Lessons in the effectiveness of core orientation tools and protocols have been learned over time and shared globally within the exploration and mining community. Despite this, the success rate of core orientation is still gen12

erally poor, even when using sophisticated orientation technology. This article discusses these poor success rates and offers general comments on how the exploration and mining industry can mitigate against them. The article concludes with some thoughts on the future direction of oriented core and how applicable it will be.

Some points to consider in an oriented core program Given that there is a choice of whether or not to spatially orient the drill core, any decision to do so should not detract value from the project through unnecessary expense or loss of productivity. To this end, oriented Coring Magazine #2

diamond core should fulfil the following objectives (Davis, 2014). •

There should be no interruption of the drilling cycle and productivity in terms of metres drilled, speed of drilling, or extraction of the most coherent core possible, should not be compromised.

•

Various orientation tools are available; the choice of orientation method must be cost-effective (Figure 1).

•

Drillers and geologists should possess a full understanding of the desired objectives and meet them through regular and accurate orientations.

•

Core orientation methods may need changing due to ground conditions (and possibly driller experience), necessitating vigilance of the drill program by both driller and geologists. Back-up systems have to be in place if a particular method or orientation tool fails.

•

A permanent record of the method used needs to be kept, including performance of different methods and individual orientation tools.

•

If not sampled, oriented core should be available for future interrogation and half-core should preserve the orientation mark and line.

•

The program must be carefully monitored from the onset of drilling by both drillers and geologists. This will identify problems that could render the program useless if orientation protocols and equipment are only checked at the end of the drilling process.

Inherent in all of the above points is that the geologists and drillers all need to be familiar with the orientation process being employed, and that they all have some knowledge of identifying the causes of poor orientations. With the exception of the last point, the above list pertains to protocols operating at the drill rig. Only if all of these objectives are successfully fulfilled will we be able to move on to marking up the core and collecting structural data. Given the focus of Coring, this article will restrict discussion to the mechanics of core orientation at the rig.

A historical review Prior to computerization and the development of sophisticated electronic components, core orientation devices were restricted to the down-hole spear and to mechanical devices such as the Ezy-Mark™. More recently, the use of electronic oriFaster. Deeper. Safer.

2 N Poles to bedding

Poles to bedding are localised around this area on the stereo.

The drill hole operation is located in this area.

S N

Planes derived from maxima 1 and 2 (i.e. the maxima are poles to these planes). Plane 1 = 68→272 Plane 2 = 55→240

W Fold axis inferred from the intersection of the two principal bedding planes. Intersection = 50→210

Maxima derived from contouring Maxima 1 = 22→092 Maxima 2 = 35→060 2:B 1:B

1:B

2:B

Bedding orientation data from diamond core N=522

S Rapid analysis of oriented core data made possible via software. The concentration of data points into a circle around the drill hole orientation indicates that the core has been spinning and that orientation marks/data will be invalid. entation devices has seen a rapid spread throughout the industry. These devices are sealed units with very sensitive instrumentation, including accelerometers, which are marketed in a variety of forms by a number of companies worldwide. Regardless of marketing, they all effectively work on the principle of knowing where the ‘down’ gravity vector is. Computers are another ever-increasing contributor to the collection and interrogation of orientation data . Rapid digital processing of orientation data also makes for rapid identification of problems, but only if the personnel collecting and using the data are cognizant of the potential issues and how they will manifest in the data (Figure 2). Diligence and a certain length of experience in the industry are necessary in this regard. Mechanical and electronic devices have

been scrutinised in recent times, with the pros and cons discussed by people working regularly with the devices. Generally, the use of electronic core orientation devices is rapidly overtaking the use of mechanical devices. In recent times, caution has been suggested with respect to electronic devices, the main reason being that the electronic device is effectively taking an orientation of the core barrel, not the core, and transferring this to the final piece of core drilled. That is, orientations are placed on the core after completion of a drilling run, based on the reading at the time the drilling was completed. Consequently, the core in the barrel could have rotated an unknown amount during drilling, especially if intervals of broken ground are encountered. A mark will always be made on the bottom end of the core (i.e. the end of the last piece drilled) by the driller, which reflects the orientation 13

data is deemed absolutely necessary, then there is no recourse but to identify all the issues in the first program and then redrill the holes while keeping a very careful eye on all stages in the process. If structural orientation data is deemed of little value, one has to wonder why oriented core was drilled in the first place. Just to be clear on my own personal bias: I see no reason for not orienting any diamond drill hole. And, given that core orientation devices generally work best on inclined holes, there should be very good reasons for drilling vertical holes. One of the most maddening experiences a structural geologist can encounter is to be asked to undertake a structural geological review of all of the core from a project. All too often, management gets the structural geologist to look at the core after completion of the drilling program. By then it is commonly too late to confront and rectify any issues associated with core orientation. Or, at the very least, it is very difficult and time-consuming to tease out any possible quality data. Too often, the structural geologist is the messenger that gets shot when he or she identifies a problem that could have been managed if it had been identified early in the program.

Vandalism of an orientation mark by an untrained driller who has tried to emphasise the mark. This mark is unusable. of the barrel. Some devices now claim that core readings (i.e. orientations) can be taken without having to break a joint in the inner tube. In this case, the core is not visually assessed before the orientation mark is made. So, we will always get an orientation on the final piece of core, regardless of how much broken ground, gravel and rotated core are present in the core tube above it.

that almost all of them have problems with the initial orientation process, the mark-up process, or the data collection process. In many cases, the issues are a combination of all these factors, resulting in condemnation of all the data that has been collected. In the last year alone, the data from at least half of the programs I have visited has been declared useless.

The success rate

To say that this is a poor success rate is an understatement. Huge amounts of time and money have gone into these programs, commonly in tandem with significant logistical planning. To undertake a drilling program incorporating oriented core, only to find that the data taken at the end of the program is of no value, should be inexcusable. However, it is commonplace and it seems that people and companies simply move on to make the same mistakes again.

Success is dependent on all systems operating smoothly. A thorough review of orientation program effectiveness for any project needs to cover a number of factors, including an audit of core mark-up procedures (Was the orientation transferred correctly to the core? Did the core spin in the barrel?) and an assessment of orientation mark quality (Did the operator or tool place a nice discrete mark on the core?) and accuracy (Is the mark consistent with previous marks?). The review of the orientations must be combined with the interrogation of structural data obtained from the allegedly oriented core. Sometimes problems with the orientation marks and/or lines will not be immediately evident, whereas a plot of the data will very quickly identify issues. Sadly, my experience from many exploration and mining drilling programs globally is 14

So, where does the blame lie? Usually more than one element, including the driller, the geologist, the equipment and management, is to blame. Sometimes, just one of these factors has contributed to a valueless set of structural data and, in some cases, this can be rectified. However, when several of these factors have contributed to a meaningless set of data, there is no way back. The only solution is to critically assess how important it is to have good data for the project. If the

So, what is the solution? In an ideal world, the client will engage the structural geologist at the start of the drilling campaign to assess all aspects of the core orientation process. This is best done after one of the holes has been largely or totally completed, as teething problems will have been ironed out by the operators and there will have been an opportunity for the client to take some ownership in the early identification of any problems. Furthermore, any problems identified can be audited to see if they were one-off or if they form part of a pattern. In the latter case, this will not be evident until an appreciable amount of core is drilled, hence the reason for assessing the program after the first hole has been drilled. This does not mean, however, that both driller and geologist should take time out from constant scrutiny of the drilling orientation process. The repercussions of a drilling program that has consistently produced poor orientations are difficult to assess, as they impact everything from exploration, mine planning, planning of future holes, resource calculations and so on. The amount of trouble, potential litigation and speculation that could be avoided by a correct knowledge of the orientation process can be great. It is more cost-effective to get an expert in oriented core in for an early assessment than it is to get them in at the end where they might spend time and money concluding the data is useless and the holes need to be redrilled. Coring Magazine #2

Addressing problems at the rig Many of the points below have been discussed in the literature of the field but bear reiterating based on ongoing poor orientation issues. In general, it seems that the lessons are not being learned and the same mistakes are being made time and again, resulting in poor-quality orientation data. The most significant factor in terms of poor quality core orientation is that of driller and/ or geologist experience. The points below describe some of the potential problems, but this list is undoubtedly incomplete. Honouring the contract Generally, the capture of an orientation by the driller is factored into the contract, typically within the metre rate, and orientations are to be attempted with every core run. If this is not done, then the contract is not being adhered to. I personally witnessed an example in Ghana where the client was paying for orientations on every run, but the driller was taking them up to 60m apart i.e. one orientation instead of 10 when using a standard six metre barrel. The geologist was as guilty as the drillers, because he was not monitoring the program. Familiarity with the drilling method There is a litany of problems that can arise and not be recognised if the geologist or driller is unfamiliar with the orientation method. As one example, I worked on a gold project in Liberia where the oriented core was delivered by the drillers to the core shed with the orientation marks on the downhole facing ends of the core runs (because the drillers were using the Reflex™ tool). However, because the geologist had never been to the rig to familiarise himself with the drilling method, he assumed that the mark should be on the up-hole facing ends of the core runs, as would be the case if the drillers were using the Ezy-Mark™ or spear. Consequently, he started reversing every run in the trays. Luckily I noticed this and rectified the problem. One can imagine how economic intersections could be dislocated in a situation like this, potentially down-grading the economics of a project. Keep in mind, if all of the core intervals are reversed, good orientation marks will still line up and an error may not be recognised if auditing the core is done using only the data collected subsequent to marking the orientation line. ‘Vandalism’ of the orientation mark Some drillers think they are being helpful Faster. Deeper. Safer.

by emphasising the marks made by the orientation tool. This commonly obscures the mark, rendering it useless (Figure 3). Once again, this is an education issue. The mark by the tool should not be adjusted, because it is the quality of the tool mark is one of the factors that we interrogate to assess if the orientation is acceptable or not.

Inexperience or general apathy of the drillers If poor marks are consistently encountered with a particular drilling crew, the driller needs to be identified. If they are experienced then it is the responsibility of management and colleagues to educate the drillers in question, as poor results will reflect badly on the crew in general. If the driller couldn’t care less then he or she should not be part of the orientation procedure. A simple way to identify the person generating poor orientation marks is to have them put their initials on the core blocks adjacent to the orientation mark (Figure 4). This can also serve to make the apathetic drillers try a bit harder because they will have been identified. Issues with the orientation tool These can be identified by poor quality marks or consistent “ori fails”. If using electronic instruments, they may manifest as devices that consistently fail to display an orientation on the digital readout. If using mechanical devices such as EzyMark™, a failed orientation will display as misalignment of the balls. The core needs to be marked up by the geologist to assess the ongoing quality of marks. If they are failing, or rarely show alignment, the tool needs to be checked. This can be done by running two tools, or two different methods and comparing marks. The tools need to be identifiable, and the identity of the tool needs to be placed on the orientation block along with the driller’s signature. In the case of the large number of spear designs, the geologist needs to be able to assess these by sight as well as by the marks they produce. For example, is the pencil missing? Is the tool being forced away from the edge of the core, for example by a large amount of gaffer tape wrapped around it? Is the spear bent, and so on. Are driller-induced breaks being marked in a manner that does not create confusion The author has seen a cross drawn across the driller-induced breaks, such that a V is

Driller’s name on the core block at the point where the orientation mark was made. evident on both pieces of core, and with the points of the V indicating core alignment across the break when they touch. However, the V mark can be confused with downhole indicator arrows, and with the ticks on the orientation lines if the core is cut through the V (Figure 5). An unequivocal set of line markings needs to be accepted by the geologists so that confusion does not occur later, such as in orientation program audits or re-logging campaigns. Keeping up with the program The onus is on the geologist to assess the orientation marks and the quality of the lines derived from them, in tandem with the drilling program. There is no excuse for deciding to check the marks or test their alignment after a significant portion, or all, of the program has been completed. If this happens, it may transpire that all of the orientations done up to that point are unacceptable, thereby reducing the amount of useful information collected. As an example, I was asked to work with oriented core from a seven-hole program in an orogenic gold mine. At the end of the audit process, most of the holes had to be condemned in terms of useful orientation data (Figure 6). The is15

sues should have been identified early in the drilling program, not after it was completed. In this case, the client was not happy, even though the responsibility of monitoring the drilling and orientation process was theirs. As noted above, this list is by no means exhaustive. The reality is that almost every exploration or mining site will have people who can tell a story about poor orientation data resulting from poor procedures at the rig.

5 Diamond core with natural core breaks and a down-hole cut line or orientation line

Natural core break

Orientation mark on down-hole face (e.g. Reflex tool mark )

Orientation line

Cut core with preserved orientation tick marks

The future Just as good core orientations are critical for resolving the structural architecture of the rocks being drilled, so too is the audit process. The audit trail can be much easier to follow if failures with the orientation equipment can be identified at the rig, rather than relying on results from marking up the core and/or evaluating the quality of structural data taken from it. In this respect, electronic devices still have issues to address, as they are closed systems and we are reliant on the proper functioning of the electronics to give us a quality orientation. Orientations are taken after the interval has been drilled whereas mechanical devices, such as EzyMarkâ&#x201E;˘, take an orientation of the core stub that is still attached to the host rock prior to drilling that run. Some companies have suggested to the author that they will use a dual system in future, with a mechanical device to take orientations at the start of the run and an electronic device that will give an orientation after completion. In the near future, the mining and exploration industry is likely to see a decline in the size and number of drilling programs utilising oriented core. Acoustic and optical televiewers (ATVs and OTVs) are gaining wider acceptance and use as a result of rapid advances in both hardware for ac-

Diamond core with a driller-induced core break and no down-hole cut line or orientation line Driller-induced break indicated with 'X' across the break

Cut core with driller's mark preserved as a tick mark similar to orientation tick mark

An example of how a core break created by a driller could be mistaken for an orientation mark. quiring the data and software for manipulating and interrogating it. The large size of files is unlikely to be a problem for long, and once this issue is overcome, it will be commonplace to orient OTV/ATV images in 3D space for entire programs and to measure structures on-screen. In particular, this will facilitate the measurement of linear structures, something that has been notoriously difficult in the past. Furthermore, televiewers may compensate partly for holes where the core was not oriented correctly. One the other hand, running a televiewer program can be expensive. Regardless of the move towards OTVs and ATVs, oriented core will still have its place in the industry. For example, the nature of the structure identified in the ATV/OTV files will need to be validated in terms of orientation and character and answer questions such as whether we are looking at veins or fractures, and whether the mineralogy of similar-looking structures in the OTV image is different in the core.

Example of mismatch between orientation mark and orientation line. The use of two orientation lines is inexplicable. 16

Summary and final comments Diamond drill core orientation processes

and devices showed great increases in sophistication, particularly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. More recently, the mining and exploration industry has shown an overwhelming preference for electronic core orientation devices, with mechanical devices and the down-hole spear being progressively phased out, despite the inherent inability to audit the quality of the orientations from currently available electronic devices at the rig. Consequently, the critical factor in obtaining good quality orientation marks, and in identifying problems in the orientation process, is the experience and diligence of both the drillers and the geologists. The other equally important factor is careful auditing of core orientation marks, devices and processes from the start of a drilling program, not at the end when significant damage may have been done. With time, oriented core devices will likely see a decrease in popularity as the use of optical and acoustic televiewers use becomes more mainstream. Currently, however, the onus is on both geologists and drillers to supply good quality oriented core from which good quality structural data can be obtained. Coring Magazine #2

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Delegating responsibility to improve core orientation results by Grigor Topev, M.Sc., BG Drilling Solutions

Reading the detailed and helpful article by Brett Davis from Orefind in this issue reminds me how important to exploration and resource evaluation core orientation is, and at same time causes me to reflect that the latest developments in the process have not brought about much actual improvement. The main problem is that the core orientation process is considered a simple process, which is an underestimation. 18

The operational part of the process may be simple, but it leaves a great deal of room for error and complications, if certain requirements are not abided. A secondary problem is the imprecise ascribing of responsibility in the process. Tool manufacturers evade responsibility for results by handing it over to the operators. Contractors evade responsibility by saying that they have followed

the procedures given, and finally exploration managers evade responsibility by saying shortcomings are the responsibility of either the equipment and the operators to both. In an attempt to help improve the core orientation process, the author will list some definitions here , explain some procedural steps and offer some recommendations on how the process should be undertaken. Coring Magazine #2

Dip angle - 51.51

Dip is the angle closed between the borehole axis and the horizontal axis at current depth both axes laying on one and the same vertical plane (fig.1). In mining the dip angle is measured from 0 deg (horizontal) to -90 deg (vertical). Toolface or roll is the angle closed between the high side (fixed reference) of the drill string and the core orientation device reference mark (the current sensor position) in a plane perpendicular to the borehole axis, measured in a clockwise direction (fig.2). Toolface ranges from 0 to 360 degrees. Gravity, magnetic or gyro toolface are different ways to measure the toolface depending on the sensors used, but in general they all measure one and the same thing. It is recommended to use magnetic or gyro toolface when the dip of the borehole is less than 5 degrees from vertical.

The core orientation process Definitions Core orientation is the process by which the original position of the core in respect to the bedrock is determined. This position is measured using an orientation device which records the Dip angle and the Toolface of the innertube and respectively the core. Inside the modern digital core orientation devices is a survey instrument that uses gravity accelerometers to measure the Earth’s gravitational field in the x, y, and z planes and thus determine the dip and the toolface of its current position. It is the same as any other magnetic survey tool on the market, but without the magnetometers which determine the azimuth.

Here are few important explanations of core orientation using modern digital core orientation devices. Most of these devices work on the same principle, which is why the explanations given here are general. Note that the core orientation devices use gravity toolface. Drilling The method assumes that the last piece of core is still connected to the rock massif when the drilling run is concluded, and therefore in its original position. When the last piece of core has been drilled forces of different kinds have been applied on it and in some geological conditions that piece of core may disconnect from the rock massive while drilling and may rotate in respect to the bedrock. If that occurs, orientation will be still

applied, but it will be incorrect. Measuring and core break Drilling has stopped and after the measurment is taken the drill string is pulled up to break the core. If there is no clear core break indication while pulling the string, the core orientation cannot be considered 100% reliable and that run should be marked so the geologist will know that the orientation of that core run is under question. Breaking the core with drill string rotation Few people know that in hard rocks the core case will rest on the inside of the drill bit during core break. It is designed to do so to protect the innertube and the head assembly from excessive strain forces. A core case that is in contact with the drill bit can rotate together with it and it will spin around the core piece that is still connected to the bedrock, thus misaligning the the core with the orientation device. That is why breaking the core while rotating the rods is not recommended. Innertube retrieval After the record is made and we have all the proper core break indications, it is time to retrieve the innertube. In this moment we assume that the core orientation device and the core in the core case are still aligned. This alignment should be kept until the core orientation process is finished. There are few factors that can distort that alignment and they should always be kept in consideration. •

The last piece of core can rotate in the core case in a few rare cases. One example is when the core is so easy to break that the core lifter spring has not stuck in the core case and the core rotates inside the case during handling.

2 Toolface 50° gh i H

de si

k ar m ol o T

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

•

The core is broken above or at the very end of core lifter spring. That orientation should be put under question and marked accordingly.

•

The thread on the innertube (front or rear) has been over-tightened or loosened after the record is made.

•

A six-meter innertube can easily misalign the core and the device, since it has to be disconnected at the middle and then connected again before the orientation process is concluded. A mark at the middle thread should be put before braking the thread and the two pieces of this mark should be matched after re-connect it.

3 Start of core run

Placing the orientation mark When the innertube is retrieved and placed horizontally on the rack, the device controller (pda or other) is connected with the tool and downloads the measured toolface and inclination. The device itself may or may not display the values, but either way the program will know it. With the help of arrows, light signals or other means, it will indicate how the innertube should be rotated until the Inner tube takes the same position as on the bottom. For example, say the measurement on the bottom was recorded as Toolface of 50 degrees. On the surface the innertube will initially be in a random position, but the operator will rotate it until the device measures toolface of 50 degrees again. The innertube is now in correct position and it is time to mark the core. The core is marked and then retrieved from the innertube and with that, the on-site orientation process is concluded. In some cases, extending the mark through the whole length of the core run will be required on-site, but in many cases that is done in the core shack.

Suggestions Here are some general suggestions that I believe will help improve the orientation process and its results significantly. Understanding the concept and the process Make sure you are familiar with the specifics of the core orientation process and familiar with how the core orientation tool you are about to use works in detail. Training Make sure that you and/or your team get proper training. Manufacturer’s training is usually short and theoretical, so training should be done on-site under real conditions and should last for a minimum of a week. Refresher courses every two weeks in the beginning are advisable, as information 20

End of core run

tends to be forgotten. Dedicated team Hire a company or train your own technicians, so they can take the responsibility for core orientation. In my opinion, most surveying companies are suitable, since their operators have experience with survey tools, alignment, toolface and so on. A person should be present on site full time, or at least visit daily to check the process, and thus take responsibility for the proper execution of the core orientation process and the quality of the results. Marking of the core I find the method of marking with two lines one for the TF measurement and one for the high/low side - the best for core orientation. That way you can always restore the original position of the core by the TF mark in cases of troubleshooting. You can also check if the reference (high/low side) is properly placed that way. Unfortunately, double marking is not possible with some of the latest tools. On-site verification Extend the orientation line through the entire core length right after the orientation is concluded. Take the core piece from the beginning of the current orientation and check if it matches with the last piece of core from the previous run that is also marked. If the orientation marks are well-aligned between the two pieces, you have a positive orientation. If the orientation mark of these two pieces mismatch by more than the accepted, one or both of the orientations are wrong. (fig. 3) In

that case drill your next run and do the orientation of it. Put the last three runs on flat ground, join them properly and compare the orientation marks. If only the middle one differs, as expected, then that is the wrong one and the line from the correct runs should be extended to this one. If all three orientation marks mismatch, then the orientation process should be suspended until the problem is located and resolved. (This verification test can be applied to all types of orientation methods, from spears to the most modern ones). That is the only way to check the reliability of the orientation on site. What alignment error is acceptable will depend on the company policy, but in my opinion error of +/-5deg is acceptable. I would recommend executing this check as a regular part of the orientation process from the beginning of the borehole, as it will identify incorrect orientations straight away and will avoid losing big sections of wrongly oriented core, often discovered in the core shack, where it’s often too late to fix it. It is obvious that core orientation is getting more and more involved into the daily drilling routines of the diamond drilling industry and it tends to become an inevitable part of it. Experts should be addressing the problems more often so that manufacturers can improve the technology and end-users can require and expect more in terms of quality of the results. Only that way can the core orientation process can reach the quality levels required – and it hasn’t reached them yet. Coring Magazine #2

Comparison Chart Core orientation devices

Ez OriTM

Ez MarkTM

Spear

Boart Longyear Reflex

Reflex

various

digital

mechanical

rental & sale

rental

sale

Hole Size

B to P, LTK60, WL66, WL76

B to P, LTK60

B to P, LTK 60, Metric W/L

B to P, LTK60

B to P, LTK 48, LTK60

all

Operational dip angle

0˚ — ±88˚

0˚ — ±85̊˚

0˚ — ±88˚

0˚ — ±85̊˚

Orientation occurrence

after drilled

before drilled

Drill process delay

DeviCoreTM

TruCoreTM

Manufacturer

Devico

Instrument type

digital

Type of service

Auditing

no / yes

Dip measurement

Act IIITM

yes

no / yes

yes

no / yes

Toolface display

yes

yes5

Direct download6

yes

N/A

Communication

wireless

visual

Device battery capacity 45 days

3 months

6 - 12 months

N/A

PDA battery capacity

3 days/charge

1 week/charge

6 months

N/A

Housing, pressure resistance7

4350 PSI

6000 PSI

20 000 PSI

Core barrel extension

400 mm

340mm8

380 mm

300 mm

N/A

Ability to provide physical confirmation for the orientation. New version with auditing system is under development. 3 TruCore new version with dip measurment is under development 4 Ability to display the actual TF position, measured in degrees. 5 Visual, but can be measured manually. 6 The ability to download the data without disconnecting the device from the innertube and head assembly. 7 Conversion to depth: 1000m equals about 1420 psi. 8 Boart Longyear also offers full length outer tubes to eliminate the extensions completely. 2

Contributing an article, case study or news item to Coring magazine is free and everyone is welcome to participate. Contact us at editorial@coringmagazine.com

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

/MINERAL EXPLORATION

A driller and a geologist walk into a bar… ing, messy when broken, but don’t try to get a meaningful conversation out of them.

Erik C. Ronald, PG Mining Geology HQ

The title may sound like the start of a bad joke, but this article aims to delve deeper into the relationship between geologists and drillers in the exploration and mining industries. These two professions are central and are at times glorified, with the heroic notion of a steely-eyed geologist intently focused on a small, glistening rock chip while the brawny, tanned driller pulls steel rods somewhere on a remote mountain top. Unfortunately, reality is more like two old men bickering over invoices or complaining about clogged cyclones. Whether we want to believe it or not, these two professions, as different as their backgrounds or personal interests may be, are kindred spirits who have much to gain and learn from one another if they simply take the time to talk and listen.

Stereotypes From a geologist’s perspective, drillers are often viewed as a necessary evil. Geologists need rocks to investigate the subsurface and the best way to achieve that is by drilling. Enter the driller, an individual who cares little for anything other than the next paycheck, “making hole”, and returning to town for a drink or ten at night. They’re more than a bit rough around the edges, perhaps missing fingers with colorful stories behind each, and eardrums destroyed from 20 years without hearing protection. Their vernacular tends to be mostly four-letter words interspersed with grunts. Many geologists view drillers as most people view their home dishwasher: useful when work22

From a driller’s perspective, geologists are often viewed as a necessary evil. Here is an overpaid, know-it-all, four-eyed oddball who gets their kicks licking rocks all day. They’re never happy, they get stuck on mundane details and make a complete fuss about something as trivial as forgetting a hardhat, mud on the ground (yes, where else would you like it sir?), or, God forbid, broken core bits – as if somehow the core magically comes out of the ground in lengths that perfect fit those little boxes you gave us. They show up, ask what depth we’re at, nod, load some samples on the back of their truck, then drive off to their cozy little shed or office to drink coffee or sit in the air-conditioning licking more rocks. We can spend a great deal of time and much amusement coming up with other stereotypes and I’m sure most of us have more than one entertaining anecdote. At the end of the day, it’s best to laugh off the stereotypes and realize we’re both important pieces of the same puzzle and equally critical for success. In fact, I believe we need to talk to each other more about our specialties while learning from our individual expertise

Commonalities Other than the obvious fondness for whiskey and beer, geologists and drillers tend to have a great deal else in common. Most are hard-working, independent individuals who love working outside and don’t fit into the button-down corporate world of the 8-to5 crowd. Both professions feel at home in the bush, enjoy the unconventional lifestyle and are always seeking discovery or a bit of adventure. Another common trait is poor communication skills, which contributes to tensions and misunderstandings. Few geologists will spend time getting to know driller crews, let alone walk them through the project goals, why the drill hole is where it is, and what has been found so far. Likewise, drillers don’t always go out of their way to ask what the drill target is, what minerals or rock types are being sought or why the particular drilling method is being utilized. In my experience as a geologist, many drillers relish the fact they could be on a discov-

ery hole. The good ones are keen students of the mining game, especially the veteran drillers who have seen a few boom-andbust cycles. The really switched-on drillers are always happy to talk about their experiences, what they found when drilling the competition’s ground next door, or just some good old-fashioned stories about mines, projects or previous successful campaigns. This is a topic that drillers and geologists can easily start to bond and get on to the real conversation. When we break it down into simple terms, both geologists and drillers are essentially there for the same reason: discovery. We wouldn’t be in this game if we weren’t a bit unconventional, individualistic, even a little rogue. We should celebrate our common goals, but it starts with recognizing and respecting each other’s expertise and how that adds value to a project. The best geologists are the ones who ask a lot of questions about drilling and the best drillers are the ones who are curious about geology.

Collaborating for exploration success From my own experiences, projects have benefited greatly whenever I engaged the drilling company early in a program and brought a drill planning specialist into planning discussions. Perhaps I learned from my time in the oil patch, where each hole costs millions of dollars and the planning isn’t done on the back of a cocktail napkin as in mining. It’s important to bring together experts from various disciplines to discuss project goals, options, methods, recovery, techniques, problematic zones, alternatives with deep directional holes and other concerns. Drillers know their job, and their job is drilling. Their expertise should always be utilized to maximize drilling effectiveness, find efficiencies, and ultimately save costs. It’s naive for geologists to simply draw a line on their cross-section or drag their mouse in their software of choice and think their plan is done. The majority of drilling problems are due to poor ground conditions, with many drilling contracts stating that the contracting company is liable for this downtime. The geologist should provide valuable information to Coring Magazine #2

the driller during the planning stage to assist with identifying potential ground problems before they’re encountered, even if there is limited data for an area. Discussing areas of hard and soft rock, water table levels, the presence of clay or other sticky material or formations which are highly fractured or vuggy can save a drilling program if anticipated prior to drilling. Squeezing the most value out of each hole should be the number one priority and this can only be done by working collaboratively with drilling companies. A driller’s log with notes on rate of penetration, torque, hole conditions and other parameters can be useful to the geologist in understanding physical rock properties, as well as informing future drilling programs. Maximizing data from each drill hole is required in today’s market, where project budgets are tight and the appetite for wildcat drilling is low.

Safety and the environment Drilling can be a dangerous job if the crew are not working as a team or safety culture is poor. Everyone wants to go home in the same condition they arrived at work in which helps establish a common culture when addressing safety and the environment. Unfortunately, there are still some in the industry who view safety as a time-con-

suming task that can be disregarded when the company man is not looking. Whether geologist or driller, these individuals should be dismissed from any project immediately. A positive attitude toward a safe work site and zero impact to the environment should be established from day one of a project. This can only be accomplished if everyone on the project holds these same values and works together. Some see a geologist around heavy equipment as a fish out of water. I have to admit, when I first “sat a rig” it was an intimidating business. The amount of activity, people, moving parts and commotion was a lot to take in at first, especially for deep reverse circulation drilling. All geologists, especially the green ones, need to spend time with the drill crew to ensure they don’t become a hazard themselves. By getting inducted to the drill site, understanding hazards, no-go areas, and simply asking a lot of questions, geologists can contribute to safe work practices and learn a great deal about the art of drilling. Working together and looking after one another is the duty of care we should all accept at our work sites. The drilling crew is constrained by the drill pad provided by the geologist. Whether on the side of a mountain, in a creek bed or in the middle of a jungle, site improvements and safety considerations can improve the

work area, minimize hazards, and often even boost driller morale. A sound base either through platform, pad grading, gravel, or metal grates (even concrete pads underground) can greatly reduce the slip, trip and fall hazard. Good house-keeping and spending extra time and resources to ensure a pad is suitable in size and condition will greatly improve working conditions. Minor cost considerations for safety improvements can be easily justified by reduced lost-time due to injury, and ultimately increase drilling effectiveness and utilization.

Conclusions In summary, geologists and drillers can learn a great deal from one another if they are willing to ask, listen, and work together while respecting each other’s areas of expertise. Realizing we’re both players in the same game and that we can’t accomplish much without each other is a good place to start. So I encourage every driller and geologist out there to spend a few minutes explaining what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and find some common ground. If a driller and a geologist walk into a bar with a willingness to teach and listen to each other, they’ll both soon realize the benefits of working together for project success.

What makes Coring such a powerful marketing tool? Coring magazine is distributed to the whole exploration diamond drilling industry, regardless of magazine subscriptions. In an instant, your product, service or company will be presented to the EDD industry worldwide!

To make advertising in Coring even more attractive, we have established an advertising tariff which is very budget-friendly compared to other publications. Participating with an article will attract a discount of 30 to 50 percent on advertising tariffs.

For those who don’t have an advertising budget as such, there is a listings section at the end of the magazine where you can place a company name and contact details in a section corresponding to your main activity.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

/REPORTAGE

PDAC 2016: A Coring report by Grigor Topev

The drilling point of view The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada is the biggest exploration drilling show in the world, and though thoroughly international, it has a strong Canadian flavour. I have visited few mining exhibitions before, but this was my first PDAC expo. My purpose in visiting this year was two-fold: to present Coring magazine to more people, and, as coowner and general manager of BG Drilling Solutions, to meet clients.

I arrive at the show two hours after opening because of an early morning meeting, so things are well under way. The Toronto exhibition centre seems able to accommodate a large number of people and is conveniently connected with the hotel next door. It’s divided into two trade shows (north and south) and an investors’ exchange. Companies showcase exploration industry services and products at the trade shows, while the investors exchange is the place for mining and exploration companies to present their projects and discoveries. Three main types of drilling exhibitors come to the show. First are the drilling contractors, second the drilling equipment manufacturers - drill rigs, diamond products, core barrels and so on - and third, companies presenting surveying tools, geophysics or directional drilling services.

Day One I enter Trade Show South and come upon the huge, shiny Boart Longyear's stand- by far the best-looking drilling stand at the exhibition, in my opinion (photo 1). I take a look at their products and stand around a bit, hoping to talk to someone about the their core orientation device and their new drill rig control panel, but as I’m not getting anyone’s attention, I decide to head on and come back later. I take a look at the Orbit Garant's stand – a Canadian drilling contractor – and come next to China Drilling Geological Equipment. They have their bits on the shelf and catalogues of their range of drilling tools. I try to start a technical conversation in order to understand what’s good about their bits, but without much success. The guys manning the stand speak English logically enough,

Coring Magazine #2

but I soon realise the language barrier is still there. I get a feeling they lose interest in me when they find out I’m from a magazine. Well, after all, people from magazines don’t buy bits, do they? I may regret saying that but I have to be honest with our Asian friends. Sending a couple of bits oversees with sales people with no drilling experience will not work well. It might be a winning strategy for other types of products, but not drilling. Get some knowledgeable drilling people with fluent English to present the products and, if they’re any good, the chances for sales will be markedly higher. I do get a decent-length chat at the Hy-Tech stand (photo 2), however - discussing things with Craig Scott who features in this issue of Coring. Craig and Harvey Tremblay (HyTech’s founder and chairman) explain how they have managed to guide their drilling services and drilling equipment to such a high level – something that I don’t need any convincing of, having already experienced it

working with them some years back. Down the aisle are Major Drilling, who don’t I believe need much introduction. I chat with Ashley Martin (General Manager, Canadian operations) regarding a borehole they are drilling for Vale, with I3DDS and BG Driling participation. A little further on is Reflex with a stand full of gadgets (photo 3). I meet Kelvin Brown, who kindly spends some time showing me their latest products, though their stand is full of curious visitors. The full range of core orientation tools, gyros, Ez series, the Ez Gama and many more is on show. Right next to them, naturally, are the AMC people with their solid removal system and all the good mud recipes. Next along is the Fordia stand, full of people looking through their full range of diamond products. (Photo is available on the digital version of this article on our web site) I think the adjacent Reflex and Fordia stands managed to draw the biggest crowd at the show.

Stand 311 is DET CRC territory. The Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre was established in 2010 under the Australian government’s CRC program. With serious cash and in-kind funding, the DET CRC is the world’s best-supported independent research initiative in mineral exploration, and I was looking forward to a good discussion. I try to start a conversation with the people there about what they’re working on, especially the latest impregnated bit tests such great claims are being made of, but the only answer I get is that all such information is confidential at this stage. I wasn’t expecting that kind of answer and, disappointed, I move on. Strolling on, I come upon Devico (photo 4), where I meet some ex-colleagues for a long catch-up chat. Their attractive stand has their DeviDrill directional coring tool and Devicore core orientation device for you to check over, plus a range of survey tools. IDS (International Drilling Services) is also there presenting their directional drilling

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

services, and also Icefield Tools with their range of survey tools, including their gyro. There’s a Pajarai stand with surveying technology, and Precision Alignment Equipment (Australia), whose rig aligner caught my interest, as did the Camteq’s magnetic multishot, Di-Corp’s and Jexplore’s wide range of drilling tools. On the same aisle, I get to take a close look at the portable, lightweight diamond rig from Duralite Drills (photo 5). Further down is Cabo Drilling presenting their drilling services alongside SFS Teksomak, a Turkish drill rig manufacturer. I was pleasantly surprised, in fact, by the size of the Turkish presence. Alongside drilling contractors Spektra Jeotek and Pozitif Sodanaj, there were the drill rig manufacturers Teksomak, Son Mac and DBC Makina, this last producing both diamond products and drill rigs. Unfortunately, there were no actual drill rigs present, perhaps understandably taking the distance into consideration. Atlas Copco next, where the Diamec Smart 6 drill rig that Coring featured in its first issue is on display. Diamond bits and core barrel components such as head assemblies and overshots fill out their stand. Further on is Sandvik, with bits and core barrel components, but more focused on their 26

hammers. More to see is the multipurpose drill rig from VersaDrill of Canada and the EF 100 drill rig by Discovery Drill. The EF 100 impresses me with over 3000m at N-size depth capacity and many innovative features (photo 7). Other rig manufactures presenting at the South show are Dando, Acker Drill Co, Multipower of Canada and Ingentrol from Chile but none of them, sadly, with an actual drill rig to look at. Further down is Foraco International, where I get into a nice discussion with Tim Bremner, Foraco Canda's CEO, regarding one of their deep drilling projects in Canada which has BG Driling and I3DDS participation. Tim introduces me to their international managers, a few of whom I already know, and accepts a few copies of Coring magazine for their stand. Booth 1328, and Diamantina Christensen from Chile are presenting their drill bits and other drilling products. They have recently launched a new NG series of bits, which lay claim to long life and great performance, and General Manager Guillermo Weston explains their advantages. In fact, he’s preaching to the choir, since I personally witnessed a test run of one of these new bits in Brazil in March of this year and was impressed with

the results. (Photo is available on the digital version of this article on our web site) Technidrill from France is another diamond product manufacturer presenting, and MBI with their full range of drilling products. Further on is the Swick mining stand (a drilling contractor) presenting their drilling services.

Day Two The next day I hit the North trade show (photo 6). It’s a bit smaller but you can see it from a height, which makes for a dynamic impression. It takes me five tries to catch Axis mining’s Paul Wilkie unoccupied – he certainly has the industry’s attention. Paul is good enough to show me their north-seeking Champ gyro, Champ OSA overshot running gear and other Champ products (photo 8). Further on is Levanto Oy from Finland and their drill bits with rounded segments. Strolling further, I have an interesting if not very pleasant encounter at the Diamond products's stand, where, after introducing myself, I’m tackled directly with the question “Are you trying to sell me something?” With nothing really to add, I move on. I stop next at the Canadian Atelier Val-d’Or stand - one of my favourite companies - and Coring Magazine #2

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discuss the possibility of presenting their VD8000 drill rig in our next edition. Their engineer Jean-Francois Julien explains the options the drill rig currently offers and the new features they are working on. Drill bit manufacturers Dynamic of Canada and DBC Makina from Turkey are presenting in the North Trade Show, so I take a closer look at their bits before stopping to chat to Dag Billger and Duncan McLeod from Intertial Sensing, who talked me through their range of survey tools and gyros. I’m impressed by how compact their Slim Gyro is - literally finger-slim (photo 9). I also catch up with the Geotech people and introduce myself to Team Drilling CEO Bob Fleming, also current president of the Canadian Diamond Drilling Association. Another Canadian drilling contractor showing is Forage G4 Drilling, with TIME Ltd drilling supplier and manufacturer also representing

the home team. For the away side in the North show are Chinese diamond products company Geotec Wuxi and Korean heavy duty machinery manufacturer Everdigm launching their own drill rig series, but with neither of these manufacturers can I get any kind of technical conversation going. Better luck at Drillco, an interesting company and new to me, where I met Sylvain Brisson and Gord McLaren. They show me their modular drill rig which, among its many other interesting advantages, is easily convertible between underground, surface or heli-portable.

Day Three Not having had a chance to get around the Investors Exchange on the first two days, I

book my visit for Day Three, and there find all the mining and mineral exploration comanies with their stands. Core boxes too, finally, in the section called the Core Shack. With about 500 companies presenting in the Investors Exchange this year, I have to admit that I find this section of the show the least interesting. I should also admit I’m a bit distracted by my own travel arrangements, needing to catch a domestic flight in order to visit our project in Sudbury, which I belatedly realise is at midday not in the afternoon as I had thought. Frantic phone calls to my travel agent buys me two more hours to give the Investors Exchange a fair crack of the whip and get a good number of new contacts for the magazine. I discover on reaching the airport that my flight’s been cancelled anyway – but that’s a story for another issue.

Coring Magazine #2

/CATALOG

Drilling equipment & tools Drill Rigs and Accessories ACKER DRILL Phone 570-586-2061 Fax 570-586-2659 sales@ackerdrill.com www.ackerdrill.com

ATELIER VAL-D’OR Phone 1 (819) 824-3676 Fax 1 (819) 824-2891 ateliervd@ateliervd.qc.ca www.ateliervd.qc.ca ATLAS COPCO EXPLORATION PRODUCTS Phone +46 (0) 223 46109 Fax +46 (0) 733 054343 assya.vezenkova@se.atlascopco.com www.atlascopco.com AUSDRILL Phone +61 8 9311 5666 Fax +61 8 9311 5667 info@ausdrill.com.au www.ausdrill.com.au BARKOM Phone +90 312 385 60 50 Fax +90 312 385 35 75 info@barkomltd.com www.barkomltd.com BOART LONGYEAR Phone +1 801 972 6430 Fax +1 801 977 3374 www.boartlongyear.com DESCO Phone 82-62-9524564 Fax 82-62-9531593 desco@desc-inc.com www.desco-inc.com

DISCOVERY DRILL MANUFACTURER Phone 1-506-542-9708 Fax 1-506-542-9709 info@discoverydrills.com www.discoverydrills.com DRILLCO MINING AND EXPLORATION Phone 705-476-3629 Mobile 705-622-2829 S.Brisson@drillcomining.ca www.drillcomining.ca DURALITE DRIAMOND DRILLS Phone 709 263-7221 Fax 709 263-7231 duralitedrills@nf.sympatico.ca www.duralitediamonddrills.com/ EVERDIGM Phone 82-2-801-0800 Fax 82-2-801-0799 info@everdigm.com www.everdigm.com FORDIA Phone +514 336 9211 Fax +514 745 4125 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com FORSUN ULTRA-HARD MATERIAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Phone +86 731 84254020 Fax +86 731 84252208 info@forsuntools.com www.forsun-tools.com 30

HANJIN D&B Phone 82-62-953 4510 Fax 82-62-953-4520 mail@hanjindnb.com www.hanjindnb.com

ASAHI DIAMOND Phone 61-2-9997-7033 Fax 61-2-9997-8313 sales@asahi-diamond.com.au www.asahi-diamond.com.au/

HOLE PRODUCTS Phone +909 939 2581 Fax +909 891 0434 klewellyn@holeproducts.com www.holeproducts.com

BOART LONGYEAR Phone +1 801 972 6430 Fax +1 801 977 3374 www.boartlongyear.com

HYDRACORE DRILLS Phone 604-940-4937 Fax 604-940-4919 info@hydracore.com www.hydracore.com KOKEN BORING MACHINE Phone 81-3-6907-7515 Fax 81-3-6907-7525 id-eigyo@koken-boring.co.jp www.koken-boring.co.jp/e/ MAXIDRILL INC Phone 450-763-0212 Fax 514-221-2356 info@maxidrill.com www.maxidrill.com MULTI-POWER PRODUCTS Phone 250-860-6969 Fax 250-860-3340 sales@multipowerproducts.com ODYSSEY DRILL RIGS Phone 705-476-4222 Fax 705-476-6820 www.odrnb.com SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone 1-905 632 4940 Fax 1-905 632 2172 info@sandvik.com www.mining.sandvik.com SINOCOREDRILL Phone +86 510 82723272 Fax +86 510 82752846 sales@sinocoredrill.com www.sinocoredrill.co SON-MAK MAKINA Phone 90-224-482-44 40-41 Fax 90-224-482-44-39 info@son-mak.com.tr www.son-mak.com.tr USINAGEM MARCOTTE Phone 1-819-824-3977 maudet@umvd.ca www.umvd.ca VERSA DRILL Phone 1-819-874-4404 rouilliers@versadrillcanada.com www.versadrillcanada.com XDR Phone 61-(0)-7-3381-5363 Fax 61-(0)-7-3381-5365 michael@xdr.com.au www.xdr.com.au

Diamond products ACHREBIT Phone +55 11 4044-8420 Fax +55 11 4044-5255 contato@achrebit.com.br www.achrebit.com.br

CARBON DRILLING PRODUCTS Phone +1 (289) 291-3861 sales@carbondrill.com www.carbondrill.com DIASET Phone 1-800-663-5004 Fax 604-940-9534 bits@diaset.com www.diaset.com DI-CORP Phone 775-424-3045 info@di-corp.com www.di-corp.com

DIAMANTINA CHRISTENSEN Perú: +5116186777 Chile: +56226207803 sales@diamantinachristensen.com www.diamantinachristensen.com DIMATEC Phone 1-866-202-5875 Fax 1-204-832-4268 info@dimatec.com www.dimatec.com DRILLING HQ Phone +1 (208) 690 3111 Info@DrillingHQ.com www.drillinghq.com DYNAMIK Phone 1-877-867-8398 Fax 819-762-2325 info@equipementdynamik.com www.drilling.dynamik.com

FORDIA Phone 514-336-9211 Toll-free 1-800-768-7274 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com FORSUN ULTRA-HARD MATERIAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Phone +86 731 84254020 Fax +86 731 84252208 info@forsuntools.com www.forsun-tools.com HARGRAND DRILLING TOOLS Phone 86-010-61599828 Fax 86-010-61599828 whp@baoqizt.com www.hargrand.com HAYDEN DIAMOND BIT INDUSTRIES Phone 604-271-6941 Fax 604-271-6944 sales@haydenbit.com www.haydenbit.com HOFFMAN DIAMOND PRODUCTS Phone 800-444-4180 Fax 814-938-7625 sales@hoffmandiamond.com www.hoffmandiamond.com Coring Magazine #2

HOLE PRODUCTS Phone +909 939 2581 Fax +909 891 0434 klewellyn@holeproducts.com www.holeproducts.com HUD MINING SUPPLIES Phone 27 (0) 11-974-1500 info@hud.co.za www.hud.co.za ICEMS Phone +(16) 3367 3126 Fax +(16) 3361 5073 icems@icems.com.br www.icems.com.br JUFERMA Phone 34-91 498 93 07 Fax 34-91 498 93 06 diamondjuferma@juferma.com www.juferma.com LEVANTO DIAMOND SOLUTIONS Phone 358-9-511-470 Fax 358-9-5114-7470 info@levanto.fi www.levanto.fi MBI DRILLING PRODUCTS Phone +1 819 762 9645 Fax +1 819 762 2845 Dmisiano@mbidrillingproducts.com www.mbidrillingproducts.com/en/

PILOT DIAMOND TOOLS Phone 1-705-497-3715 Fax 1-705-497-3714 sales@pilotdiamondtools.ca www.pilotdiamondtools.ca SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone +1 905 632 4940 Fax +1 905 632 2172 info@sandvik.com www.mining.sandvik.com SINOCOREDRILL Phone +86 510 82723272 Fax +86 510 82752846 sales@sinocoredrill.com www.sinocoredrill.co TECSO Phone +34 91 870 15 47 Fax +34 91 871 41 69 comercial@tecso-sa.com www.tecso.es WUXI GEOTEC GEOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT CO LTD. Phone 86-510 8855 2380 Fax 86-510 8855 2380 sale@nanfangdiamond.com www.geotec.com.cn

Core barrel systems ATLAS COPCO EXPLORATION PRODUCTS Phone +46 (0) 223 46109 Fax +46 (0) 733 054343 assya.vezenkova@se.atlascopco.com www.atlascopco.co

AUSDRILL Phone 61-8 9311 5666 Fax 61-8 9311 5667 info@ausdrill.com.au www.ausdrill.com.au/

DIAMANTINA CHRISTENSEN Perú: +5116186777 Chile: +56226207803 sales@diamantinachristensen.com www.diamantinachristensen.com DI-CORP Phone 775-424-3045 info@di-corp.com www.di-corp.com DRILLING HQ Phone +1 (208) 690 3111 Info@DrillingHQ.com www.drillinghq.com FORDIA Phone 514-336-9211 Toll-free 1-800-768-7274 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com FORSUN ULTRA-HARD MATERIAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Phone +86 731 84254020 Fax +86 731 84252208 info@forsuntools.com www.forsun-tools.com HARGRAND DRILLING TOOLS Phone 86-010-61599828 Fax 86-010-61599828 whp@baoqizt.com www.hargrand.com HOLE PRODUCTS Phone +909 939 2581 Fax +909 891 0434 klewellyn@holeproducts.com www.holeproducts.com ICEMS Phone +(16) 3367 3126 Fax +(16) 3361 5073 icems@icems.com.br www.icems.com.br JUFERMA Phone 34-91 498 93 07 Fax 34-91 498 93 06 diamondjuferma@juferma.com www.juferma.com K. MAIKAI CO., LTD. Phone +81 3 3490 8433 Fax +81 3 3490 8622 www.kmaikai.co.jp

MBI DRILLING PRODUCTS Phone 1-819 762-9645 Fax 1-819 762-2845 Dmisiano@mbidrillingproducts.com www.mbidrillingproducts.com/en/ SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone +1 905 632 4940 Fax +1 905 632 2172 info@sandvik.com www.mining.sandvik.com SINOCOREDRILL Phone +86 510 82723272 Fax +86 510 82752846 sales@sinocoredrill.com www.sinocoredrill.com

BARKOM Phone +90 312 385 60 50 Fax +90 312 385 35 75 info@barkomltd.com www.barkomltd.com

TECSO Phone +34 91 870 15 47 Fax +34 91 871 41 69 comercial@tecso-sa.com www.tecso.es

BOART LONGYEAR Phone +1 801 972 6430 Fax +1 801 977 3374 www.boartlongyear.com

TERRA TEAM OY Phone 358-9-849-4030 info@terra-team.fi www.terra-team.fi/en/

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

TIME Phone 705-647-8138 Fax 705-647-9800 info@timeltd.ca www.timeltd.ca WUXI GEOTEC GEOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT CO LTD. Phone +(11) 5669 3200 diamantados@tectools.com.br www.tectools.com.br

Drill rods & Casings AFKOS INDUSTRIES Phone (61 8) 9345 4333 Fax (61 8) 9345 4167 afkos@q-net.net.au www.afkos.com.au ATLAS COPCO EXPLORATION PRODUCTS Phone +46 (0) 223 46109 Fax +46 (0) 733 054343 assya.vezenkova@se.atlascopco.com www.atlascopco.com AUSDRILL Phone +61 8 9311 5666 Fax +61 8 9311 5667 info@ausdrill.com.au www.ausdrill.com.au BARKOM Phone +90 312 385 60 50 Fax +90 312 385 35 75 info@barkomltd.com www.barkomltd.com BOART LONGYEAR Phone +1 801 972 6430 Fax +1 801 977 3374 www.boartlongyear.com DIAMANTINA CHRISTENSEN Perú: +5116186777 Chile: +56226207803 sales@diamantinachristensen.com www.diamantinachristensen.com FORDIA Phone +514 336 9211 Toll-free 1-800-768-7274 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com ICEMS Phone +(16) 3367 3126 Fax +(16) 3361 5073 icems@icems.com.br www.icems.com.br SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone +1 905 632 4940 Fax +1 905 632 2172 info@sandvik.com www.mining.sandvik.com

Wedges FORDIA Phone +514 336 9211 Toll-free 1-800-768-7274 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com REFLEX Phone +61 8 9445 4040 Fax +61 8 9445 4020 reflex@imdexlimited.com www.reflexnow.com SONDA PARTS Phone 55 – (31) 3391 3810 Fax 55 – (31) 3391 3810 comercial@sondaparts.com.br www.sondaparts.com.br/

TIME Phone 705-647-8138 Fax 705-647-9800 info@timeltd.ca www.timeltd.ca 31

Survey equipment /rental and sale/ Survey Tools AXIS MINING TECHNOLOGY Phone 61-8-9317-6911 info@axisminetech.com www.axisminetech.com DEVICO Phone 47 72 87 01 01 Fax 47 72 87 01 11 info@devico.com www.devico.com

ICEFIELD TOOLS Phone 1-(867)-633-4264 Fax 1-(867)-633-4217 info@icefieldtools.com www.icefieldtools.com

Core Orientation

INERTIAL SENSING Phone +46 70 898 04 55 duncan.mcleod@inertialsensing.com http://www.inertialsensing.com

DEVICO Phone 47 72 87 01 01 Fax 47 72 87 01 11 info@devico.com www.devico.com

REFLEX INSTRUMENTS Phone 61 8 9445 4020 Fax 61 8 9445 4040 www.reflexnow.com

REFLEX Phone 1-705-235-2169 Fax 1-705-235-2165 reflex@imdexlimited.com www.reflexnow.com

BOART LONGYEAR Phone +1 801 972 6430 Fax +1 801 977 3374 Web:www.boartlongyear.com

Drilling services Diamond drilling contractors* FORACO Operations: International Phone 33 (0) 4 96 15 13 60 Fax 33 (0) 4 96 15 13 61 info@foraco.com www.foraco.com GĂ&#x153;NZEL DRILLING Operations: Namibia, West Africa Phone 264 81 122 8615 guenzel@guenzeldrilling.com www.guenzeldrilling.com HY-TECH DRILLING Operations:Canada, Spain, Portugal, Ireland

Phone 1-250-847-9301 info@Hy-TechDrilling.com www.hy-techdrilling.com

KATI OY Operations: Scandinavia Phone 358 207 430 660 Fax 358 207 430 661 info@oykatiab.com www.oykatiab.com

Directional drilling BG DRILLING SOLUTIONS Operations: Itnternational Phone 359 889 532 653 info@bg-drilling.com www.bg-drilling.com

Surveying services DOWNHOLE SURVEYS Operations: Australia Phone +61 (0) 8 9361 4745 Fax +61 (0) 8 9472 3481 sales@downhole.com.au www.downhole.com.au DIGITAL SURVEYING Operations:South Africa, Ghana Phone +27 18 788 6349 Fax +27 18 788 6348 sales@digitalsurveying.co.za www.downhole.com.au

GYRODATA SERVICES CANADA Operations: Canada Phone 1 705 494 0075 Fax 33 (0) 4 96 15 13 61 don.black@gyrodata.com www.gyrodata.com

DEVICO Operations: International Phone 47 72 87 01 01 Fax 47 72 87 01 11 info@devico.com www.devico.com

Catalogue terms: Regular inserts free of charge; colour background chargeable. All companies listed in this section are connected with but not necessarily limited to diamond drilling. To list your company or to make a change in your catalogue entry, contact us.

INTERNATIONAL DRILLING SERVICES Operations: International Phone 480-824-7100 IDSinfo@IDSdrill.com www.idsdrill.com

* Due to size limitations, the diamond drilling contractors section of this catalogue is limited to magazine contributors, partners or sponsored inserts. A comprehensive catalogue including all diamond drilling contractors will be available soon at www.coringmagazine.com

Coring Magazine #2