Coring Magazine Issue 20

Drillers’ Trusted Publication

coringmagazine.com

The Value of Experience

In Focus: DDH1 Australia’s Largest Drilling Contractor

Top Mineral Exploration Drilling Contractors Statistics for 2021

Resource Geology: Geostatistics, Rock Licking and Psychology

p. 12

p. 20

p. 44

20 07/22

ISSN 2367-847X

In this issue

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Table Contents /21 QUESTIONS 6

Exclusive interview: Darren Thomson, Founder at Thomson Tech

/IN FOCUS 12

DDH1 Australia’s largest mineral exploration drilling contractor

by Sy Van Dyk, CEO and Murray Pollock, Co-Founder and Non Executive Director at DDH1 Limited

/PRODUCT REVIEW 24

Necessity, perseverance, and achievement in the revolutionary WOJO wrench

by Robert (Terry) Wojick, Creator of the WOJO Wrench

28

TactEx Industries X-10 surface diamond drill by James Patterson, Co-Founder, TactEx Industries

/SURVEY TOOLS 32

Smart mining vs. quality control Relationship between the deviation of boreholes and investment in mining projects by Orlando Ramirez, Founder & CEO, Stockholm Precision Tools AB – Sweden (SPT)

/EXPLORATION & MINING GEOLOGY

/DIAMOND DRILLING METERS STATISTICS 20

Top mineral exploration drilling contractors for 2021

by Coring Magazine’s team

/CASE STUDY 22

Drilling in Kazakhstan

by Doskhan Zhumakhanov, Project Manager at Aurora Minerals Group LLP

37

Q&A from the experts In conversation with Dr Addepalli Kasiviswanadham, Associate General Manager at Vedanta Exploration Global Company

44

Resource Geology: Threading the needle between geostatistics, rock licking and human psychology by Lucy Potter, Founder & CEO at Etana Mining Mentors

48

Getting it right: Putting the structural geology of mineral deposits in context

by Dr Brett Davis, Section Editor at Coring Magazine & Principal Structural Geologist at Olinda Gold Structural Geology Consulting

/EXPLORATION DRILLING CATALOG 54

Drilling services

56

Drilling equipment & accessories

61

Survey equipment

62

Miscellaneous

/AUTHORS

Authors in this issue Darren Thomson Founder at Thomson Tech

Robert (Terry) Wojick Creator of the WOJO Wrench

Lucy Potter Founder & CEO at Etana Mining Mentors

Orlando Ramirez Founder & CEO, Stockholm Precision Tools AB – Sweden (SPT)

Dr Brett Davis Section Editor at Coring Magazine & Principal Structural Geologist at Olinda Gold Structural Geology Consulting

Sy Van Dyk, CEO and Murray Pollock, Co-Founder and Non Executive Director at DDH1 Limited

Doskhan Zhumakhanov Project Manager at Aurora Minerals Group LLP

CORING MAGAZINE July 2022 Cover photo DDH1 Limited

Dr Addepalli Kasiviswanadham Associate General Manager at Vedanta Exploration Global Company

Publisher Coring Media Editor in Chief Grigor Topev Executive Officer & Editor

Issue 20 ISSN 2367-847X Not for resale. Subscribe: www.coringmagazine.com/subscribe

Martina Samarova Editor Maksim M. Mayer Section Editor – Exploration & Mining Geology

Contact Us Coring Media Ltd. 119B D. Petkov Str., Sofia 1309, Bulgaria Phone +359 87 811 5710 Email editorial@coringmagazine.com Website coringmagazine.com

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Dr Brett Davis Digital Marketing Manager Elena Dorfman Graphic Design Cog Graphics

Coring Magazine is an international quarterly title covering the exploration core drilling industry. Published in print and digital formats, Coring has a rapidly growing readership that includes diamond drilling contractors, drilling manufacturers and suppliers, service companies, mineral exploration companies and departments, geologists, and many others involved in exploration core drilling.

Launched in late 2015, Coring aims to provide a fresh perspective on the sector by sourcing authentic, informed and quality commentary direct from those working in the field. With regular interviews, insightful company profiles, detailed product reviews, field-practice tips and illustrated case studies of the world’s most unique diamond drilling and mineral exploration projects, Coring provides a platform for learning about the industry’s exciting developments.

Coring Magazine #20

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/21 QUESTIONS

Exclusive interview with

DARREN THOMSON

questions

Founder at Thomson Tech

Darren Thomson was born in Australia and after a stint at a butcher’s shop during his teenage years, he found himself in Boart Longyear in 1988. He began his career as an offsider and rose through the ranks becoming driller, supervisor and eventually manager.

Necessity forced Darren to learn more about drilling fluid additives and as his knowledge grew, so did his passion. Striving to learn the best information and share it with his colleagues, he began constructing drilling visual aids. This eventually led to the creation of Thomson Tech in 2019.

Thomson Tech’s original mission was to be the most successful, creative, and ground-breaking underground drilling consultancy and drill bit designer in Australia.

To approach each client with fresh eyes and to develop customized, unique strategies for the best outcome.

Darren found that this was far from a good statement and is currently rethinking it based on new findings and requirements. According to him, it was only in the last few months that we’d witnessed the biggest impact to the industry and Thomson Tech. The COVID-19 travel restrictions and risk reduction management strategies and behaviors have made a visible impact to the way drilling crews are learning (or not learning) the new required skills within the industry. Darren and Thomson Tech acknowledge this, and they are working hard to help repair the void.

Nowadays, Darren is travelling across Australia, consulting on multiple hard rock drilling projects.

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Grigor Topev: Tell us about your early years and how exactly did you find your way into the drilling industry?

Darren Thomson: I started working at an early age, as I had enough of school. I was walking down the street on the way home from school, when a lady ran out of the butcher shop and asked if I wanted a job. This wonderful lady wasn’t a person that you’d say no to, and so, I started the following Monday. I loved this job and what I didn’t know was that my first lesson, the art of sharpening a knife, would be such an important part of my life journey.

Around four or five years later, I had finished my apprenticeship and I was working seven days a week and doing everything from the buying and collection of livestock to the sales over the counter and everything in-between.

All for the bargain price of AUD 97 (around USD 70 today) per week.

From memory, it was a weekend back in 1988 that a few friends had convinced me to head over to Adelaide for a couple of open-air concerts. The two bands that were playing were Pink Floyd and AC/DC. Now, I’m not saying that the laser light show at Pink Floyd wasn’t awesome, but without all the smoke it may have been less impressive, that’s for sure.

It all seemed to roll into one, as AC/DC was on the following night. Sometime during the insanely brilliant, High Voltage Rocking Roll & Hell’s Bells, we watched the outer fence of Globe Derby Park (Horse Racing Circuit) begin

Coring Magazine #20

to sway back and forth like massive waves on the ocean.

A few moments later what seemed like a dam wall busting and a mountain of water flowing toward us, thousands of people and their eskys (cooler box) flowed into the park. The band stopped playing and we all thought it was over.

Around ten minutes passed and then, the front man welcomed everyone by screaming out ‘f—k yeah’, and they played on, and to this day I personally believe that they have never gone to a level like that again. As the newly introduced beers flowed from the new arrivals that had just swamped in, the guy that was standing next to me handed me a beer. It turned out he was a driller on a break. He was working for a company called Longyear. I did know the name and a little bit about them as two of my mates were working with them.

I honestly cannot remember too much of the conversation or the whole weekend. Seven days later Steve Perks, Longyear’s Operation Manager drove over to my small country town and told me to be back in Adelaide ASAP. In what seemed like only days, I heard, ‘Welcome to Longyear, you’re off to Tennant Creek for two months on a G&K 850 rig’. The first two weeks were the hardest thing I have ever done, and probably, there wasn’t a day where I didn’t think, ‘screw this’. Two weeks in I received my first payslip, and couldn’t believe my luck, I had made over AUD 100 (for just one day, although this was a Sunday. The last four weeks I couldn’t get enough, and the love affair begun.

GT: You worked at Boart Longyear in the early 90s. What was it like to operate for a leading diamond drilling contractor at the time? What’s the most interesting story from your years spent on drill sites?

DT: Starting as an offsider on the multipurpose rig, for the first two swings we drilled reverse circulation (RC). I can recall the first trip in with HWT casing like it was yesterday. I think I was on the bloody chain tongs for six hours straight, that thread was ridiculous.

The years before and a few after Longyear became Boart Longyear seem to stick in my memory as the golden years. I’m not sure if it’s the lifelong friendships or the amazing amount of drilling knowledge that was working with you.

I say working with you, as the way the drilling operations are carried out today is now very different. There’s a hell of a lot more bookwork now and only so many hours in a day. I also think that the longer swings made the whole drill crew have ownership of contract completion, while teaching you the complete range of skills through necessity.

GT: What have been the biggest innovations and techniques introduced into

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drilling during your career and how have they changed the way drilling crews operate?

DT: I’m pretty sure I couldn’t put a name to just one of the biggest innovations to the drill rig or the techniques. It is an industry that is constantly changing. I started my career on a G&K 850 and I believed the rig was as good as it could be. To be fair, I realize that back then, I had absolutely no clue whether it was a good one, or an old dinosaur that was hiding out in the bush to die. I can’t quite remember when and where, although it wasn’t all that long after I had started. I was shipped off out to some God-forsaken place out in the middle of nowhere to what I was told was a little rig. A

‘I had learned from the very start from my first driller, that the way to learn the correct information, best skills and knowledge was to work in that field and learn from the people within it. I quickly understood that what I wanted to know, wasn’t going to come from books.’

little rig they said, well, when I got there after having sat in the middle of the Toyota with the handbrake giving my butt pins and needles for six hours. I found myself staring at what looked like an old Southern Cross Windmill that was about to fall over. Anyways, it turned out to be a Longyear 38 diamond drill rig. I can remember thinking, I would have gladly hacked off any body part, just to sit back in that Toyota and go home, and yes, missing a part of my body and sitting back on the handbrake for six hours.

The rig had manual foot clamps that you had to stand on and then take the weight with the winch. We didn’t have any major issues with them as far as dropping rods or anything of that

nature. Although, you could see that anything could go belly up at any second. So hydraulic foot clamps and all they become is one I would put at the top of my list. The next is the head chuck, going from the hand tighten chuck as if you are using the biggest lathe ever to the fully auto chuck of today. And the rod spinner is in the top three for me. I feel they made the biggest impact to the extremely high manual handling part of the job. I would say as an overall comment that the engineering has removed the manual handing and thus the risk. This is to me the greatest change.

GT: Describe the most interesting and challenging drilling program that you have ever been part of.

DT: The most interesting and challenging drilling program I was ever involved with was at the Cosmos mine site in Western Australia.

The Laterite-hosted nickel is some of the trickiest drilling going around. Looking back on it now through all my experience, at this site I was never truly happy with the results. At the time I was early into my new role as a drilling fluid specialist and was following the script.

It wasn’t enough, so I started building visual aids. Using a clear Perspex tube and a fishpond pump I was able to show the difference between a viscous fluid and a suspending fluid. I still do believe this helped me make an impact to the drilling at this site. What I didn’t know, is that it would set me on a whole new path of my own. I started building new training models every month until this day.

GT: I see how you've turned from a driller to a drill mud professional. Please tell us more about this shift.

DT: The move from a drilling to a drilling fluid specialist was driven by necessity and curiosity. Over the years I had watched the slow introduction of drilling fluid additives into the mineral exploration drilling while working at Boart Longyear. It started with very small amounts of Baroid products and that was it. Looking back at this now, we had some very astute supervisors at the time, and they were expensive…

It wasn’t long after that Australian Mud Company came on to the scene and was just starting up. For the first time, there was a little bit of information available about its products and their functions. I made the choice to learn as much as I possibly could in this new field. This is way before the internet, so finding information was a long process. It was clear to me then that there are so many factors to consider when drilling a hole.

I had thought I would be home more. Nope, this wasn’t the case.

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/21 QUESTIONS

GT: How did you decide to establish Thomson Tech?

DT: I had started a journey some thirty years ago that now had taken me through all types of drilling techniques. Then through drilling fluid additives and the API standards and finishing up with solids control systems. I had learnt from the very start from my first driller, that the way to learn the correct information, best skills and knowledge was to work in that field and learn from the people within it. I quickly understood that what I wanted to know, wasn’t going to come from books.

Over this time, I had built over 60 miniature drilling visual aids, ending with a miniature rig that can simulate any drill speed and at any drilling flow rate, while drilling down into clear Perspex tube that can show in real time the effects of high-speed rotation on the solids within the annular space.

It’s with these high rotational speeds and very small annular space that I started to question in my own mind some of the terminology’s use within the drilling fluid manuals I had pored over. So, I started making new miniature tooling that had to be fully hand-carved.

In recent years, the development of 3D printing really helped speed the process up. After what seemed like forever and countless designs, I had one that worked as I wanted. It wasn’t until the slow-motion video on the iPhone that I could be 100% confident with it. I was able to confirm what I was trying to achieve by using a PHPA (long chain polymer) die tracer on the high-speed simulator.

Over the years, I have walked down many lines of drilled core in countless core yards around the globe. More often than not, they are all out in the open and are continually exposed to the elements. It’s not only that, but most of them have also been out in the weather for years. It was this fact that made me ask the question. I wonder what is the percentage of core that has reacted to this? What I found out and what my new design can do was why I made the decision to be a hard rock drilling specialist.

The two confirmations were the beginning of Thomson Tech.

all the small solids from being between the steel and the stone. There for the steel was not wearing away all that fast. It was taking me hours to sharpen my knife. I asked the old butcher what I was doing wrong, and he said to let all the solids build up on the stone, as they will roll around and wear away the steel a lot quicker.

When I saw the diamond drilling for the first time some thirty years ago, and while watching the cuttings coming out in the returns, along with seeing all the shiny drill pipe that came out of the hole, I knew that was the most abrasive environment possible, it was like the perfect storm, and the downhole tooling and drill pipe was in it.

So, I thought I could change that. It takes a long time to really understand and even longer to implement change. This is hard rock drilling at its finest.

GT: Tell us the specifics of hard rock drilling? What equipment would you recom-

mend for a successful hard rock drilling operation?

DT: Thomson Tech focuses on hard rock drilling because, over the years, we as an industry have applied techniques from other methods like mud rotary, where formations are often soft, reactive, porous, cobble or have traveled.

The drilling rotation speeds are low and usually have a large annular space. This type of drilling has been the baseline for the majority of learning. From the drilling fluid additives right through to the drilling rig designs.

At Thomson Tech we have asked the question and looked at it for what it really is. High speed rotation with a tiny annular space with hard and consolidated drilling conditions.

Yes, I understand that there are soft, reactive, porous, cobble, fractured or even have traveled formation zones when diamond drilling underground. The overall percentage of these zones is very low across the board. So after learning this, we focused on the effects of high-speed

GT: How did you choose to make hard rock drilling the main focus of Thomson Tech?

DT: Thomson Tech is a company of hard rock specialists because Diamond Drilling is often linked to Oil & Gas. The truth and reality is, it’s like chalk and cheese. Absolutely different in every way.

If you recall, I mentioned I was a butcher and was learning to sharpen my knife and it would lead to where we are today. The very first time I put steel to stone I had running water going over my stone. The running water was keeping

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↑ I still go back out on the leavers. But age is slowly catching up...

Coring Magazine #20

rotation within the annular space and the impacts to the drilled solids and their removal.

Hard rock drilling has a huge variance in hardness and specific gravities, this requires a different approach when looking at efficient solids removal from the bore path.

So, you ask what I would recommend. Take your rotation speed - the OD of your bit and the specific gravity (SG) of the rock you’re drilling. Put the rotation speed and the radius that you have into a g-force app calculator, take the g-force number and multiply that number by the SG. That number is the g-force on the solids in the tiny annular space of diamond drilling.

Just because you have color in your returns, doesn’t mean the bore path is clean. If you can be bothered to do the above, then your head is in the game and change for the better will come.

GT: The hardest rock I’ve seen was in Jacobina, Brazil. The drilling contractor was having just a few meters on a single bit and they have tried different famous manufacturers. The bit consumption was huge.

Where was the hardest rock you've encountered in your career and what was the experience of it?

DT: Some of the hardest and harshest drilling conditions, I’ve ever come across were out the back of an oil and gas lease in Central Australia. We were North of the Mereenie Oil and Gas field and hit an interbedded solidified sandstone. Well, that’s what I called it at the time.

The on-site geologist said that it’s some of the oldest rock on the planet. I can recall replying quite quickly, ‘Errr yeah’, it’s some of the hardest.

We were down just shy of the 800 m (2625 ft) mark, and had just completed a bit change that had taken most of the day. We drilled 60 cm (1.97 ft) and the bit was cactus, so we tripped out to find the bit and the behind bit reamer pads worn flat and the box end tread was near see-through. I know that’s not all that exciting, but there’s just hard and then there’s bloody hard and abrasive.

GT: Besides the drill bit and the drilling fluid, what else can affect the drilling production in extremely hard rock? What are your tips?

DT: Wow, there are so many things to consider and so many variations. Not to mention the individual interpretation of fluid functions, drilling speeds and how much weight is needed or not needed to get it to cut. Over the years I have worked with some drillers, which can cut a lot of meters in hard ground and not miss a beat while reading a Steven King novel. Or other drillers that will cut about the same amount standing at the leavers chasing every single

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millimeter and smoking packets of Whinny Blues (A Winfield Brand of cigarette). The truth is, I’m that second option, although I did give up the smokes 16 years ago. I still to this day, stand up and immerse myself in between the control panel and the mast.

I personally believe the biggest effects on drilling in hard rock or in any tough conditions is the resistance to change. Now I’m not just talking about tripping out the rods and having a look at the bit and going, ‘Oh yeah, its polished’.

And then giving it a good touch up and sending it back down. I’m referring to the willingness to try different things to get a better result. This seems to be an easy statement and the more I think about it, the deeper the rabbit hole gets.

So, I will try to narrow it down from a personal perspective. You don’t know what you don’t know. If the driller hasn’t had the exposure to a highly-experienced operator across multiple drilling conditions, where is the knowledge coming from?

Please don’t think that in what I’m saying, is that the drilling companies are not training, as there is more training now than there ever has been. But it’s still not the same as doing the time. So, because of this, it’s not unreasonable for a driller to have only one drilling technique that he applies to all types of soft and hard formations. Because they don’t know the options, it’s not so unreasonable to wonder why they get so steadfast on how they are doing it. And that not one person in the entire world cannot tell them any different (Hmmm, this too is also me at one stage or another).

If I were to hand out a tip or food for thought.

Viscosity in a diamond drilling fluid is not a good thing. It is a consequence of the function you are requiring. We drill with a tiny annular space where the rods are at high rotation speeds, chasing mineralization and not a gas or a liquid pay zone.

GT: Can you explain the process of adjusting drilling fluid additives to specific projects?

DT: It wasn’t until I started working on large diameter horizontal directional bore paths that I really did start to see the absolute power of drilling fluid engineering. My early days at MI-Swaco were such a massive learning curve, that looking back, I really don’t know how I managed it all. I know I couldn’t do it today.

My first large diameter HDD river crossing, and I was to use the MI DRILPLEX drilling fluid system. Clay, mixed with metal oxide, starch and water. Who knew, that this combination would carry out small boulders from 600 m (1969 ft) away in an eight hundred mm (31.5 in) hole. That was a day of total euphoria for me, as I then watched it be pumped over a shaker deck. The shear thinning fluid magically and

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info@majordrilling.com info@majordrilling.com

/21 QUESTIONS

effortlessly separating away from the solids, and it still brings a smile to my face. It’s a drilling fluid system that requires attention to mixing procedures. It’s also very sensitive to other additives being introduced. Get it right, it’s amazing. Stuff it up, and you’re in for a world of pain.

GT: How crucial is the cleaning of drilling fluids from cutting? How effective and practical are the solids removal units?

DT: The removal of the solids from a circulating fluid loop is critical. Although to what degree will depend on the drilling fluid program and or the drilling technique. Colloidal solids are more likely required when building mud programs for soft, sand, reactive, porous, cobble and fractured formation zones. For instance, when drilling a water borehole.

The solids removal units are very effective, and they are becoming a little more practical with recent design changes. There are still a few challenges ahead with them being fully integrated into hard rock drilling. I personally do believe that solids removal will be a major part of the hard rock drilling fluid loop management going forward. What it will look like and how it’s done is still the ongoing question.

GT: High torque in deep holes is one of the issues every driller encounters. Can you tell us some out of the box solutions you’ve employed?

DT: Over the last ten years, we have been developing new bits, reamer and barrel designs that will allow a blended copolymer bead at nominated size to pass through all the designed downhole tooling. The blended beads then become a mechanical lubricant for the drill string. The design also uses the drill rod rotation speed to improve the solids removal from the bit, reamer, barrel and the back couplings. This zone is where the largest and highest SG solids are the most effected by the high g-force. The design also lowers the bit face formation pressure that happens when using high viscosity fluids and standard bit and reamer configurations. This can course pre-drilling pressurizing and pre-drilling saturation of sensitive formations.

GT: How has COVID-19 influenced the production and the evolution of diamond drilling tools?

DT: The last couple of years have been a little unusual, to say at the least, and from a personal point of view. It’s has been very challenging and a little frustrating at times. I feel like I have been removed from the life blood of the industry. With the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions, getting out to the mine sites or going to a

10

rig was near impossible, let alone being able to travel any of the mining Expos. So, for the last couple of years, we have been limited to all that is happening and just kicked on in our own little bubble.

Despite COVID-19, there is always evolution, that’s just the way everything is. Keep an eye out for very smart tooling and highly intelligent autonomous drill rigs with higher than ever drilling rotation speeds. And of course, the use of mechanical lubrication.

GT: Are Thomson Tech’s products manufactured in-house?

DT: No, I’m not a true manufacture, I outsource this, all the tooling and bits are made by local companies. The drilling fluids are made or blended here in Western Australia and Thomson Tech owns the designs and patents.

GT: Every manufacturer is offering series of drill bits, such as 13 to 15. But from my experience, the softest matrix is not always best for extremely hard rock. Why is that and what is the use of these high series then?

DT: The more drill bit brands that come on to the market, the dirtier the water gets. I’m not 100% convinced that the series numbers are as meaningful as they once were. As always, there are merely a guide to zero in on what to use. Since marketing is usually outsourced, it’s a very real possibility that the marketing creator may not quite have a full understanding of the key fundamentals. I absolutely understand this, as it takes all kinds of different skillsets to be great.

So, this makes it very challenging when asked for a crossover. I still personally go back out on to the leavers for this reason, as I like to personally understand the strengths and weaknesses of the competition. As the rigs, fluids and drillers evolve, so must the bits.

The Thomson Tech Turbulence Hybrid (Smart Bit) bit and the option to drop a couple of series to get the life up and use Thomson Tech Bean Bags (Bit sharpener) are coming soon.

GT: Moving on, which is the most challenging Australian region to drill into? What makes it so difficult?

DT: The most challenging region is the far North region in Australia, across the three States during the summer. The heat can be brutal, then throw in the humidity and you are pushing the human body to the extreme. The physicality of the work required on a drill rig in that environment must be carefully managed.

The effects of dehydration happen fast and can be deadly.

The most challenging underground drilling in my opinion, must be any site that’s drilling nickel. It’s just tricky to drill, you can put all the weight in the world on it and it still will not cut. When you do start cutting, it starts the torque up on you. I first thought the high torque was reaction, and then thought it was pressurization. It then led to me thinking it was the makeup water. Nope. Anyways, if you look up the SG of nickel, this will give you a clue to what’s going on. It makes drilling the very hard and tight-grained ground a walk in the park.

With BIF (Banded Ironstone Formation) being a close second. From ridiculously hard to powdery soft, to cutting well to bit being polished, and all this has happened in 10 cm (≈ 4 in) of drilling.

GT: What’s the future of diamond drilling tools especially in Australia?

DT: I guess, I’m a little one-eyed when it comes to the direction tooling is going here in Australia, as we push towards fully autonomous drilling, along with higher rotation speeds and deeper bore paths.

Downhole tooling will also have to change.

At Thomson Tech this is what we are all about.

The tooling that worked at 400 RPM at 200 m (656 ft) 30 years ago is now being used at 1400 RPM at 900 m (2953 ft). A combination of tooling design and drilling fluid engineering, that solely focus on the unique diamond drilling factors; this is the only direction. Blanket solutions are a thing of the past.

GT: You are visiting many drill sites in Australia. Are you happy with the drilling market there? What do you think could be improved?

DT: It’s only in the last few months that we have started seeing the impact of the restrictions being eased, and site visits are now a major part of business again. The current market is extremely positive and the feedback on what we are doing is overwhelmingly fantastic. The local manufacturing is no different to everyone else around the country, or the globe for that matter - the demand for materials being higher than the supply.

It feels like we are on the winds of change as we push for more Australian-made products.

Not because it will be Australian made, unfortunately. The fast-rising costs and very long lead times are driving it. However, it is a wonderful feeling to be a small part of it. C

For more information Visit: www.thomsontech.com.au

Coring Magazine #20

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DDH1

Australia’s largest mineral exploration drilling contractor

by Sy Van Dyk, CEO and Murray Pollock, Co-Founder and Non Executive Director at DDH1 Limited

Based in Perth, Western Australia, DDH1 Limited (DDH1) commenced operations in July 2006 with one drill rig. Today, just sixteen years later, DDH1 is by any metric Australia’s largest drilling contractor by number of operating rigs, meters drilled, revenue, profitability and dividends paid. DDH1 now includes four specialist brands, including DDH1 Drilling, Strike Drilling, Ranger Drilling and Swick Mining Services, providing the industry with a complete suite of mineral drilling services. Regardless of the brand, the common commitment to excellent customer service has resulted in continuous growth and consistent profitability.

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Coring Magazine #20

DDH1

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/IN FOCUS

A short history In 2006, DDH1’s founders, namely Murray Pollock and Matt Thurston, who had a long history of managing and growing directional drilling operations, decided to form a new company to specialize in deep directional core drilling. DDH1’s first hole, a multiple intersection directional hole of more than 2000 m (6560 ft), was drilled for Newcrest at the Cadia Gold Mine in New South Wales. Murray’s and Matt’s intention was to stay small with a maximum of four identical rigs. Their fleet grew to four rigs over the first three years and then, due to demand for the company’s specialist services, it rapidly exceeded this initial number in the ensuing years.

By 2017, DDH1 operated 40 rigs and decided to seek a corporate partner to accelerate its growth strategy. Oaktree Capital Management came on board purchasing a 50% equity stake in DDH1. Management was strengthened with the appointment of a group CEO and CFO and a representative board was formed and led by an experienced Independent Non-Executive Chairperson.

Prior to this time, DDH1 sub-contracted Strike Drilling or Ranger Drilling to meet customer demand. The potential of joining forces had often been discussed, which led to Strike Drilling being acquired in 2018 and Ranger Drilling in 2019. The founders of each company retained a significant equity stake in the overall group and continued to lead their respective business units.

In March 2021, DDH1 was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) with a market capitalization of AUD 380 million. The prospectus outlined a plan of organic and acquisition growth, a dividend policy and the company’s commitment to crew safety and client service. Subsequently, in February 2022, DDH1 acquired the ASX-listed Swick Mining Services (Swick) by a scheme of arrangement with Swick shareholders becoming DDH1 shareholders. Since listing, DDH1 has grown both organically and by acquisition to now operate 180 surface and underground rigs, paid over AUD 16 million in fully franked dividends and met its IPO Prospectus forecast.

ensuring operational safety, planning organic growth, setting budgets and achieving its set goals. Corporate functions naturally include consolidated accounting and group procurement. All brands co-operate to leverage business development opportunities by introducing parallel services from other group companies and often two or three brands are onsite at the same time providing their unique services.

All four business units share many common values, such as caring for their staff, continuous focus on operating safety, protecting the environment, and providing outstanding client service.

DDH1 group of companies Strike Drilling (15 rigs) Strike Drilling (Strike) specialize in Air Core (AC) and Reverse Circulation (RC) exploration and mine site drilling, utilizing AWD truck-mounted Schramm and KWL drilling rigs.

With an ability to mobilize over large distances and the expertise to operate independently in remote environments, Strike’s services are highly valued in early-stage exploration. Of note, their Schramm 450 dual-purpose AC/ RC rigs run 6 m (20 ft) rods with hands-free rod handling, stationary core sampling and gyro surveying, which brings a new level of safety, production, and sample quality to AC drilling. This unique rig is designed for a seamless transition from AC to RC, providing clients with flexibility on early-stage programs and avoiding the cost of mobilizing a second rig.

As programs develop and require deeper holes, then Strike’s Schramm 685 and KWL700 heavy-duty RC rigs, combined with auxiliary compressors and boosters, are the rigs of choice.

Strike’s EnviroPodsTM are designed to contain all drilling spoil and groundwater when AC or RC drilling. These highly awarded units are in demand when drilling on valuable farmland or environmentally fragile sites.

Drilling in remote locations isolated from support services requires safe and resourceful drilling crews which goes to the heart of Strike’s unique can-do culture. At Strike, camaraderie is one of their values and they actively support mental health programs. Strategically, Strike’s first pass exploration drilling services, assuming exploration success, can potentially introduce the group’s RC, surface coring, mine engineering and underground drilling services.

‘Each of the company’s brands offers a specialized drilling service and serves a unique industry or geographic segment. DDH1’s acquisition strategy is based on companies that offer parallel but complementary drilling services with a record of safety and consistent profitability, while achieving organic growth throughout periods of fluctuating demand.’

Business structure Each of the company’s brands offers a specialized drilling service and serves a unique industry or geographic segment. DDH1’s acquisition strategy is based on companies that offer parallel but complementary drilling services with a record of safety and consistent profitability, while achieving organic growth throughout periods of fluctuating demand. Fleet age and uniformity are important, but most critical are the management’s commitment to their brand, employees and clients.

Each brand is responsible for generating contracts, employing staff, 14

Ranger Exploration Drilling (24 rigs) Ranger Exploration Drilling (Ranger) are a specialist iron ore-focused driller operating in Western Australia’s Pilbara region performing longCoring Magazine #20

DDH1

↑ DDH1 Drilling’s drill site Drillers’ Trusted Publication

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/IN FOCUS

term multi-rig contracts for the major iron ore miners. Their fleet of AWD truck-mounted heavy-duty DRA & WDM RC Rigs and mid-duty Austex RC rigs are manufactured in Western Australia. Ranger also operate a group of BL LF160 and LF350 core drills, these rigs are manufactured offshore then upgraded locally with Ranger’s data monitoring system and to meet both Australian standards and their clients’ engineering standards.

Ranger and their client base are focused on drilling automation and data integration with the aim of drilling unattended to improve safety, increase efficiency and lower costs. By purchasing rigs manufactured in Western Australia, Ranger actively contributes to the evolvement of rig design and manufacturers are familiar with the iron ore industries standards, as well as Ranger’s bespoke monitoring system installed during manufacture. Over the recent years, Ranger’s automation drive has generated real progress in rig design, but the best is yet to come with the next generation of automated rig designs to be delivered this year.

Iron ore drilling is highly structured with non-negotiable compliance to agreed standards and systems of work. Rigs are likely to stay on one site for many years, site accommodation is of a high standard and rosters are family-friendly. Throughout their operations, Ranger exhibit a culture of disciplined compliance and the predictability of this work appeals to many, who otherwise may not be attracted to the drilling industry.

As a company, Ranger have a high focus on employee and employee family mental health programs and support several community causes.

DDH1 Drilling (72 rigs) DDH1 Drilling offer a complete range of core drilling services, however the company is best known for deep hole multiple intersection directional drilling. Operating across Australia with offices in Perth and Brisbane, DDH1 Drilling design and drill complex multiple intersection holes and have completed holes with over 30 intersections from a single parent with incredible spatial accuracy.

The company’s specialization in directional core drilling provides a foundation for mine engineering drilling where directional drilling skills are used to drill from surface to accurately break into mine workings at depth. Breakthrough holes are often inclined to avoid mine infrastructure and may be enlarged to insert casing for paste backfill operations, to drop electrical cables or pump water directly to surface rather than pumping or running cables in a decline.

Of interest are two inclined H-size cored electrical drop holes drilled at the Sons of Gwalia Mine that broke through at 1338 m (4390 ft) and 1450 m (4757 ft) and were then opened out to 12.25 in (31 cm), cased with 9.5/8 in (244 mm) oilfield casing and grouted to surface. Another

↑ Ranger Drilling’s drill site 16

Coring Magazine #20

DDH1

contract called for two inclined water bores designed to intersect old shafts at around 1200 m (3937 ft) beneath Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit. Holes were collared at 70° with a directionally drilled hole path designed to avoid historic workings and intersect the target at 50°. These holes were then enlarged with Down Hole Hammers to 21 in (53.3 cm) with all spoil lifted to surface before running composite casing and grouting to surface.

The hole opening and casing work is completed by one of DDH1 Drilling’s larger rigs equipped with hands-free rod and casing handlers. This mine engineering fleet includes a 180 000 lb (81.65 tonnes) WEI-capable of shallow angle holes and fitted with a 1000 RPM core drilling rotation head, a 130 000 lb (59 tonnes) Foremost Explorer and a much loved 100 000 lb (45.39 tonnes) UDR5000.

A major contribution to DDH1 Drilling’s growth is their participation in early-stage exploration and sharing the excitement of drilling a discovery hole which then grows into a multi-rig program, mine development and many years of resource drilling. Their commitment to supporting exploration has resulted in contract opportunities with years of continuous drilling and the opportunity to provide a complete range of drilling services. In recognition of the importance of successful exploration, DDH1 Drilling sponsor the prestigious Australian Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) annual Prospector Award. Over the past twelve

years of their involvement, DDH1 Drilling have been privileged to have drilled some of the awarded economic mineral discoveries.

DDH1 Drilling are committed to operator safety and the current focus is on hands-free rod handling solutions. Their challenge is to retain the efficiency of their current fleet of Sandvik DE880 rigs but operate them hands-free. DDH1 Drilling have commissioned Evolution Drill Rigs to design and build a 9 m (29.53 ft) system which is currently undergoing final trials; Exploration Drill Masters are also supplying multiple rigs, suitable for 9 m units and several BL LF160 rigs with freedom loaders are on order for delivery in calendar 2022.

Swick Mining Services (72 rigs) Swick, based in Perth, Western Australia are arguably the world’s largest underground coring contractor with 72 rigs drilling over 1 million meters (3 280 40 ft) annually. The company’s founder, Kent Swick revolutionized underground drilling when he designed and built the mobile underground core rig utilizing a jumbo carrier base, and today Swick continue to lead the world in underground rig design. Swick contract across Australia, North America and Europe and manufacture all of the rigs they own.

Swick are the most recent addition to the DDH1 group and come with

↑ Swick’s underground drill rig Drillers’ Trusted Publication

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/IN FOCUS

a mature culture of safety, teamwork, and ethics. Of note is Swick’s Perth training facility which houses an operational underground rig and replicates the underground environment including lighting and humidity. New employees spend four 12-hour shifts in training which is invaluable in preparing them to perform safely in such a unique work environment. As with the other group companies, Swick have an independent EAP provider and run a mental health program in collaboration with Curtin University.

Within Swick, DeepEx is a special deep hole drilling division employing the most experienced drillers to operate a more powerful Swick-built 3000 m (9843 ft) N-size capacity rig for deep and directional drilling.

Most contracts include multiple rigs on the same site and when required will include a mix of DeepEx and standard rigs. In general, most contracts run for many years and often transcend mine ownership, some current contracts have run for over ten years and include up to 14 rigs on a site.

Swick’s manufacturing and rebuild capacity is significant on a global scale and of real value across the wider DDH1 group. Swick’s Futures Department is where highly-qualified staff with the help of external specialist providers research and develop new drilling concepts. Of special interest is the development of direct electric drive which draws significantly less power from a mine grid and creates less heat without any loss of drilling performance. This work is advancing well and in time will also have application in reducing carbon across surface drilling, especially once emerging energy sources replace diesel for primary power. Swick’s manufacturing facility includes a dynamometer allowing R&D staff to quantify improvements and maintenance staff to measure the efficiency of new and rebuilt drill rigs. Other mature development

projects include automated unattended drilling, hands-free rod handling and a unique reverse flush coring system.

Productivity DDH1 are optimistic about the future and especially the opportunities presented on the pathway to a lower-carbon environment both from what they can do directly and their role in the discovery of critical elements located in secure jurisdictions that are required for electrification. One measure of environmental efficiency is meters drilled in relation to the number of operating rigs. The DDH1 group of companies are on track to drill 3.5 million meters (11 483 000 ft) for FY22 with an average of 177 rigs.

Diversity & inclusion The DDH1 group is actively committed to increasing the diversity of their workforce including increasing the participation of indigenous employees in the drilling industry. C

For more information Visit: www.ddh1.com.au

• B20 Drill Heads • 12HH Chuck Assy’s • “H” & “P” Hydraulic Clamps • Quality Repair Parts • Jaw Sets

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Prince George, Canada • Call 250.563.8899 • www.prolenc.com 18

Coring Magazine #20

With Lantern, a few dollars per timesheet is all it takes to track every shift, expense, hole and metre in the field, online or off.

Drillers can streamline their paperwork and manage everything from one place, from crew productivity to materials, site audits, manuals, safety docs and more. Clients can approve timesheets, monitor progress and track costs in real time, so they can make better decisions. Lantern lights the way.

Get started for free at

drillwithLANTERN.com

/DIAMOND DRILLING METERS STATISTICS

2 514 593 1 985 799

2 341 440 2 150 000

1 306 926 1 141 661

1 180 630 1 130 376

988 406 783 215

827 984 695 673

683 638 560 000

637 731 554 007

628 676

Ref. point 1 000 000

315 417

601 469 375 096

2021 2020

445 370 350 630

256 000

13M+ DD meters in 2021; 10M+ in 2020 achieved by the listed here drilling contractors.

214 000

GEODRILL ®

239 009 144 713

Over USD 1.49 billion in 2021 earned by the listed here drilling contractors.

203 620 118 900

190 072

Over 2000 drill rigs in 2021 owned by the listed here drilling contractors.

162 574

173 807 97 276

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Want to be included? get in touch at editorial@coringmagazine.com.

Coring Magazine #20

Top mineral exploration drilling contractors for 2021 Statistics of diamond drilling meters

by Coring Magazine's team

Disclaimer

Analysis

Coring Magazine is proud to present brand

2020 was supposed to be just another year, but became probably the only time in history when drills across the world stood still for an extended period of time. The COVID-19 lockdowns and the following restrictions caused a downturn in the industry with delayed projects, and reduced drill rig utilization, caused labor, drill rig and supply shortages in major regions. Furthermore, according to S&P data, annual global exploration budget fell to USD 8.3 billion.

As restrictions eased, companies struggled to catch up and developed various strategies and programs for recovery. By the end of the year, annual drilled meterage decreased slightly – by less than 10% across the industry – in comparison to 2019. A beneficial factor to the recovery in the second half of 2020 and throughout 2021 could be the continued trend of LTI reductions, innovations, and the general industry-wide improvement of on-site safety protocols and training.

2021 marked a meteoric recovery for the whole exploration drilling industry. The increase of commodity prices brought revitalized interest in exploration and a 35% jump in annual global exploration budgets to USD 11.5 billion. In turn, diamond drilling companies across the world recorded bigger drilled meterage – back to 2019 levels. Some surpassed even that, with increases ranging in the 10-15%, due to new multi-million contracts. It is important to note that multiple companies set new depth records and have claimed improvements to core recovery.

Expectedly, reported revenues and profits in 2021 rose by an average of 15 to 20%. This led to multiple high-profile mergers both within drilling and manufacturing, and a drive toward fleet expansion, modernization, and innovations. Many aspects of diamond exploration drilling were significantly improved in 2021. Notable is also the wider introduction of autonomous drill rigs, artificial intelligence, cloud-based solutions, and better rod handlers.

Even with all this progress and improvements, 2021 brought difficulties. The shortage of drillers and geologists caused by the COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020 deepened as the demand for staff for projects increased. As a result, hourly rates increased significantly in both Australia and Canada, perhaps also fueled by the spike in inflation later in the year. There were also drill rig shortages and delays in their manufacture, as supply chain issues continue.

2022 appears to continue the positive trend from 2021 so far. According to data from S&P Global, investments in exploration remain high, so do drilling activities. The prices of most commodities reached record levels in February and remain high. The latter part of 2022 could bring uncertainty, however. The price of fuel has skyrocketed, so has global inflation, and a recession is more than possible. One thing is certain, Coring Magazine will continue reporting the annual drilled meterage results. C

new ‘Top mineral exploration drilling contractors’ statistics for 2021 and 2020, classifying the leading diamond drilling contractors in the industry according to the number of meters drilled by them. Unlike the previous Coring statistics that contained total number of drilled meters, this time Coring Magazine filtered the portion of meters, achieved through diamond drilling only. The listed numbers were provided and confirmed by the companies themselves.

There are other companies that qualify for these statistics but are not listed here for reasons beyond our control. We tried, in fact we did our best, to include all diamond drilling contractors from the industry that we knew of, however, many did not respond to our invitations; others were omitted per their own request.

Coring Magazine cannot be held liable for any errors or inconsistencies presented in this report.

We always aim to rank as many companies as possible and next time, we hope to present even more information. Everyone is invited to get in touch, submit their numbers and thus help us accomplish this goal.

Drillers’ Trusted Publication

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/CASE STUDY

Drilling in Kazakhstan Aurora Quest Services and Nova Drilling complete a successful core drilling project in the Pavlodar region

by Doskhan Zhumakhanov, Project Manager at Aurora Minerals Group LLP

In one month (February - March 2022), the drilling Division of Aurora Minerals Group (Aurora Quest Services, together with Nova Drilling) completed a core drilling project for geotechnical and hydrogeological studies without a single LTI and in accordance with the quality requirements. The work was performed in the Pavlodar region in the Bozshakol copper deposit, located in northern Kazakhstan. The climate there is temperate, sharply continental with long, harsh winters with stable snow cover (from late October to early April) and hot summers with little precipitation. The deposit is developed by KAZ Minerals PLC and is the largest mining project in the former Soviet Union, both in terms of production volume and scale. Mineral resources of the deposit are estimated at 1.17 billion tonnes of ore at an average copper grade of 0.36%. The deposit also contains valuable by-products in the form of gold and molybdenum.

T

he project was completed successfully by using two Epiroc Boyles C6 drill rigs on insulated trailers. The rigs have the capacity to drill P-size – 770 m (2526 ft), H-size – 1100 m (3610 ft), N-size – 1391 m (4564 ft) at sea level.

We sent our team of 14 people for two shifts (day/night) and for the two rigs to the site – one site manager, four drillers and eight helpers.

We also sent an Australian foreman with international experience in packer surveys and installation of piezometers.

Total drilling volume was 2000 m (6562 ft). In 31 days of operation, our crew drilled six holes with depths ranging from 320 m (1050 ft) to 480 m (1575 ft). The average penetration was 20 m (66 ft) per shift with zero downhole problems.

Drilling was performed with a triple tube, the core was oriented with REFLEX ACT III™ core orientation tools, and intermediate dip and azimuth surveys were taken with a REFLEX EZ-TRAC™ inclinometer.

22

Upon completion of drilling, the borehole column was checked with a REFLEX GYRO SPRINT-IQ™ gyroscopic inclinometer. In addition, packer testing was performed prior to the installation of piezometers. Photo documentation and core description were successfully performed by the geotechnical team supplied by Aurora Minerals Group as per client specification.

During the drilling process, anti-vibration lubricants and environmentally friendly polymers were used to condense the drilling mud. Also, water-resistant grease was employed to lubricate the core tube bearing assembly. The threaded joints were lubricated with graphite grease to prevent contamination of the core material.

In preparing drilling sites, a safe work area was created for personnel with minimal environmental impact. The drilling site was fenced with a tight barrier fence to prevent intrusion by unauthorized/inducted persons and wild and domestic animals common in the area.

Coring Magazine #20

A banner with company information, managers’ contact phone numbers, and a list of necessary personal protective equipment for access to the site was installed in front of the site entrance.

Inside the site, storage areas for fuel and lubricants, bunded pallets were used. Waste management was performed at the drill pad by separation of waste into different containers, depending on the type of waste product. A smoking area was set out of the fenced drill pad for health and safety reasons with a container for cigarette butts and a fire extinguisher. Drilling rigs and vehicles were equipped with oil spill response kits (OSR).

In addition to the above-mentioned, the accommodation trailer was equipped with all conditions for eating, warming up, resting and sheltering the personnel in case of possible emergency situations.

After the wells were completed, all sump water and cuttings were sucked from the sumps using Aurora Minerals Group specialized vacuum trucks and taken to a dedicated reclamation area supplied by the client. After clearing the site, excavation work was carried out to return the drilling area to its previous state. This is done by backfilling sumps and drains. Then the drilling area was covered with topsoil that had been put aside into a separate area whilst constructing the sumps during drilling site preparation.

About the company Aurora Minerals Group is a service exploration company that provides high-performance and innovative services in the mining industry in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Aurora’s service companies offer a full range of exploration work, including support services for obtaining subsoil use rights, geophysical and drilling operations, as well as exploration support reserves estimation.

Aurora Quest Service (AQS) is a new-format drilling company, a joint venture between Aurora Minerals Group and Quest Exploration Drilling (Australia).

AQS is based on the world’s best practices, experience and knowledge of drilling in any surface conditions, including mountainous terrain by helicopter, with high standards of safety, health and environmental protection.

The company closely cooperates with the countries of Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan (10 rigs), Kyrgyzstan (5 rigs) and Uzbekistan (1 RC rig). The total number of employees is over 500. C

For more information Visit: www.aurora.kz

↑ The drill site in the Bozshakol copper deposit Drillers’ Trusted Publication

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/PRODUCT REVIEW

Necessity, perseverance, and achievement in the revolutionary WOJO wrench

by Robert (Terry) Wojick, Creator of the WOJO Wrench

Necessity is the mother of all inventions. I was struggling to get the wrenches on the inner tube when I heard, ‘We need more core in the box right now! Time is money!’ I looked up, I could see a clear night sky, nearing a full moon and I wondered how did I get here. Back in the office I was a 25-year-old college graduate working in sales. I spent a lot of time on the phone talking to these rough and tumble drilling characters like the one that was currently telling me to speed up. The colorful language, stories of bravado… it was my cup of tea. The boss would say, ‘You are missing the fine details on some of the orders. You need more experience… you got to get out into the field.’ I was easily motivated and so this is how I got here, answering my own question!

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Coring Magazine #20

I

t was early March, and I was in this shack with a seasoned drilling veteran whose drilling bonus is falling rapidly like a BRE-X stock (a Canadian fraudulent stock, which grew from less than CAD 1 to CAD 296 after a major gold discovery. It was all fake and the BRE-X stock tumbled and was subsequently delisted from the stock exchange, costing investors billions). The driller said, ‘let’s take a break’. He turned the drill down to an idle and we sat there with our backs to the wall staring at the other side for about five minutes and he finally said, ‘I can see that you are trying hard… and you are well-intentioned, but... if you are going to make it as a driller helper… you need to be quicker!’

'These wrenches are really hard to use. They are floppy and hard to maneuver!’, I said in defence. The driller responded, ‘You’ll get used to them and I hope you learn quick!’

That was my first night, then my first week, then month and this continued to about the three-month mark. Finally, I felt I had some form of control over this ‘old style’ wrench, however there were still some blatant frustrations and some serious pinches. A few nights I lay in bed and I thought there had to be a better way, maybe a trick or something.

‘... I started to think back of that night in March with the driller telling me that I must learn quickly and that night ‘got my goat’. So, this inner tube wrench thought came back again, and it became persistent! To start the new concept, I had to identify the problems of the old wrench.’

I worked for ten months in the field and eventually got called back into the office. It was well worth the experience. My field knowledge greatly improved my sales orders and quotes. Sitting back at my desk, once again the mechanical side of me said there must be a better way.

Unfortunately, a downturn happened in the economy, and I was a casualty of the mining cycle, so I had to put that thought on hold for another time.

and that night ‘got my goat’. So, this inner tube wrench thought came back again, and it became persistent! To start the new concept, I had to identify the problems of the old wrench.

The first and biggest problem was I had to use my finger to engage the bottom jaw on the wrench. It meant that my finger was in the pinch area. The second problem was I needed to keep side pressure on the first wrench while applying the second or it would slip off. I would get into this awkward yoga pose when using my knee to keep pressure. Sometimes if I worked in a small drill shack emptying the tube at a 45-degree angle, the poses were exceptional! The slip off problem could sometimes lead into unsuspected release and dropping of the inner tube on the floor when carrying it around the shack. One wrong move and it could let loose. The old-style wrench also had a ‘floppy’ head and I really had to watch that I did not pinch the web off my hand when carrying the wrench. All of these issues gave me the concept for the design. It had to satisfy ease of application with reduced pinch points, and it had to have a locking mechanism with a release button.

With the equipment from tower installations, I went to work on the designing and building. I was starting a family at the same time, so I had to balance hockey, homework along with my regular job. The design of the WOJO wrench was complicated and it took many concepts, many

Perseverance Shortly after, I started my own company installing towers. Tower installation was much like exploration drilling. Each site was a challenge and required equipment, logistics and a lot of planning. Before every tower install, I would go through all the details and ask endless questions. Is the ground going to be bedrock, limestone or shale? Do I have the right type of anchor? Will my drill be able to make the anchor holes in this crappy ground? I had to buy a lot of equipment to get these tower jobs done. I bought a welder, a small CNC Mill and a small Plasma table. After a while, I started to get pretty confident at tower installs and about the 50th tower in five or so years after drilling, I started to think back of that evening in March with the driller telling me that I must learn quickly Drillers’ Trusted Publication

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/PRODUCT REVIEW

prototypes, many hours to get to the final design. In the end, it took 10 years!

Getting it done!

It was a difficult design process. The three variables that had to be balanced were: pin and hole fits; the engagement of the lower jaw to latch; and the application of grit in a controlled thickness. Pin and hole fits had to take into consideration a loose enough fit for the bottom jaw to swing freely around the tube to engage on the latch while keeping a proper ‘ratcheting’ clearance. This allows the WOJO wrench to be used in a ratcheting fashion. To achieve these clearances a lot of ‘trial and error’ attempts were made to get to the final design. The engagement of the lower jaw to latch again is controlled by the ratcheting clearance. To achieve the proper engagement, the jaws and latch have to be accurate and consistent in dimension, therefore, water jet cutting is used to get these controlled and consistent dimensions. The application of the grit is crucial. It is applied in a uniform layer and thickness in order for proper alignment with the latch. The WOJO Wrench has come up with a proprietary method to achieve this!

Achievement!

After many years of tireless work, the final WOJO wrench design is complete. It took many prototypes and tests to finally achieve what I set out to accomplish with this wrench.

• Pinch points were addressed to make the WOJO wrench a much safer product than other wrenches on the market.

• No more awkward, uncomfortable and unsafe positioning to apply the wrench.

• No more accidental tube drops, as a result of the locking and ratcheting design of the WOJO wrench.

• The learning curve of the WOJO wrench is much faster and easier than other wrenches on the market. This results in more core in the box.

Finally, from one frustrating night many years ago, to the completion of a newly designed WOJO wrench today, the perseverance has paid off. C

↑ Terry, the creator, holding the WOJO wrench

For more information Visit: www.timeltd.ca

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↑ The WOJO wrench on a N-size inner tube Coring Magazine #20

/PRODUCT REVIEW

TactEx Industries X-10 surface diamond drill

by James Patterson, Co-Founder at TactEx Industries

Vancouver Island may not be the first place that comes to mind when you hear about exploration mining equipment. The four founders of TactEx Industries (short for tactical exploration) call this place home for its diversity of recreational activities and easy climate. It never hurts when you can offer prospective clients visiting the 45 000-square-foot (4180 m2) facility, an opportunity to play a round of golf, go salmon fishing or catch a wave practically year-round.

The X-10 surface diamond drill – born from necessity There are lots of diamond drill choices on the market these days, TactEx could see the need for a drill designed from day one to perform and integrate seamlessly into proprietary platforms so drillers could adapt their X-10 surface diamond drill to the diverse terrains where exploration contracts can take them. Components are fabricated in-house to ensure quality control and guaranteed delivery date, so TactEx customers can meet contract start dates.

Modern features The X-10 itself has many modern features while at the same time keeping it simple. The drill’s prime mover is a Cummins Turbo Diesel Tier 4 Engine. TactEx chose

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Coring Magazine #20

Cummins for the power-to-weight ratio, modern emissions standards and for the fact that all Cummins does is focus on building reliable powerful diesel engines, it also comes with a standard two-year warranty.

Walking up to an X-10, one of the first things that stand out is the inhouse custom-formed feed frame with a 24-in (60.96 cm) mast dump and the modular design of the engine and hydraulic control frames.

It immediately lets you know this drill is meant to be light, strong, and easily integrated between the three proprietary platforms. SX-10 Skid shack system, FX-10 heli-portable system and the TX-10 Track drill system. The X-10 drill moves seamlessly between these platforms to get you to your target.

X-10 drilling functions X-10 drilling functions are controlled through modulated hydraulic signals to the spools. This pilot system allows for the modern integration of features such as safety interlock switches built into the guards and easy to use on/off switches for features like mud mixers and downhole pumps. Pilot controls also allow for remote mounting of the control panel for any custom applications. A quality drill requires a quality support system, TactEx has spare parts in stock and people to provide high-level technical support should the X-10 require parts or consumables.

TactEx Industries – forged from Macon Industries Industry-leading drill platforms, TactEx Industries is the product of combining extensive industry knowledge forged from Macon Industries. Macon industries has been a leader in designing, fabricating and supplying the mining industry with drill support equipment and placer mining equipment. Some of Macon Industries’ equipment has even debuted on Discovery TV series such as Gold Rush with Parker Schnabel’s iconic ‘Sluicifer’ which is a Macon Industries SD600M.

The SX-10 The SX-10 is the X-10 surface diamond drill in its skid shack platform.

Macon Industries has perfected the diamond drill skid shack, loading the most popular features from the Macon product line into the TactEx SX-10 skid shack. The inspiration behind the SX-10 came from existing clients looking for a turnkey drill package, complete with rod handling capabilities and all the modern features of a Macon Industries Diamond Drill Shack. Having well-designed modern equipment helps companies attract and retain their top talent and provides a safe efficient work environment.

The SX-10 skid shack offers hydraulic leveling rams on each corner, hydraulic helpers slideout and LED lighting inside and outside of the shack. AVD rod handlers and rod rack systems allow for hands-free rod handling and stacking of up to 2000 m (6561.68 ft) N-size drill rods inside the shack.

The FX-10 The FX-10 is TactEx’s X-10 diamond drill in its heli-portable configuration. One of the key components to heli-portable drilling is the ability to move from target to target efficiently to save on helicopter time and Drillers’ Trusted Publication

↑ The X-10 exploded view. Photo: Mia Lindkvist capitalize on weather windows that can open and close on a moment’s notice. TactEx’s proprietary ‘H’ frame design holds the drill aligned with the drill collar while minimizing the number of set aside components during drill move. So rather than setting components aside to reach the base of the drill before you can begin your move to the next pad, components fly directly from the current ‘H’ frame on to the next ‘H’, saving a tremendous amount of time and keeping pads less cluttered. The frame of the FX-10 has certified lift points for each component and is designed with a tapered base to easily land and self-center into the awaiting ‘H’ frame. There are many field-inspired features in the FX design.

The TX-10 TX-10 is the X-10 surface diamond drill in its self-propelled track carrier.

Many mineral targets exist where heli-portable exploration is not feasible, and the terrain characteristic won’t allow skid-based drill platforms.

Enter the TX-10. The X-10 diamond drill was designed from day one to integrate seamlessly into its platforms and the TX-10 is no different. A 308-steel CAT track system is powered by the X-10’s Cummins diesel engine. The track-driven platform is remotely operated keeping the crew at a safe distance while the TX-10 is underway.

There are four hydraulic stabilizing rams on each corner, fold down walkways to allow the driller and helper to work off the ground. This platform has custom fuel and mud tanks to maximize the usable deck space.

Evolution The mineral exploration industry is constantly evolving, new discoveries are being found in some of most challenging environments. The TactEx founders have experience from being diamond drilling contractors, industry-recognized design and fabrication specialists, they know your equipment needs to be safe to operate, have the ability to adapt to challenging conditions and have a high level of customer support while doing it. Whether it’s a mountain top drill pad, skidding around a mine site or transiting through a sensitive area where low ground pressure track systems are required. The TactEx X-10 surface diamond drill integrates directly and easily into specifically designed platforms allowing the same high-performance drill to excel in all these conditions. C 29

/PRODUCT REVIEW

↑ The TactEx Industries surface drill platforms Photo: Mia Lindkvist

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Coring Magazine #20

/SURVEY TOOLS

Smart mining vs. quality control Relationship between the deviation of boreholes and investment in mining projects

by Orlando Ramirez, Founder & CEO, Stockholm Precision Tools AB - Sweden (SPT)

When it comes to the exploitation of ore bodies, the accurate measurement of trajectories (borehole surveys) - both in the exploration and production phases - is a factor that those responsible for geology, drilling and planning departments must consider. The main factors that influence borehole deviation are the drilling parameters, the geological structure, the drilling method used and other miscellaneous factors.

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M

any companies and investors commit to projects that initially seem very promising, but as they progress, the results obtained are not as expected. One of the most frequent causes for this is that the simplest of factors are ignored, and due to lack of knowledge, certain important criteria are not met, such as an accurate trajectory measurement for every borehole drilled or the use of incorrect technology combined with the absence of exhaustive quality control of the tools used.

All investors want to obtain the optimum results and benefits from the capital they have invested, but unfortunately, they often rely on people who do not understand the importance of an accurate measurement of the well trajectory or more practically, the relative accuracy of different tools and Coring Magazine #20

survey methods. The spatial location and the exact orientation of the core are key to accurate determination of the existence of ore and volume of rock waste for disposal.

Other related factors that have an impact on the poor delineation of an ore body are the survey tool selection criteria - often based on the lowest cost without any detailed technical analysis of the relative and absolute advantages and disadvantages of the different survey tools.

Why are gyroscopes so important?

A gyroscope is any rotating body that exhibits two fundamental properties: gyroscopic inertia or ‘rigidity in space’ and precession, which is the inclination of the axis at right angles to any force that tends to change the plane of rotation. These properties are inherent to all rotating bodies, including the Earth.

Gyroscopic inertia and the force of gravity can be used to make the gyroscope function as a directional indicator or compass. If one considers a gyroscope mounted at the Earth’s equator, with its axis of rotation lying in the east-west plane, the gyroscope will continue to point in that direction as the Earth rotates from west to east. Thus, the eastern end will rise relative to the earth, although it will continue to point in the same direction in space. It resists this force and generates a precession motion about the vertical axis, toward the meridian so that the axis of the gyroscope seeks and maintains the true meridian, i.e., points in a north-south direction.

Since a Gyro’s method of operation is based on the earth’s rotational force and not on magnetism, the north seeking gyroscope, such as SPT’s GyroMasterTM, is much more versatile in its applications and is increasingly being used in major geological and mining projects.

Types of gyroscopes: Reference vs. north seeking.

We can distinguish between different types of gyroscopes: the true north seeking gyro (NSG) and the reference gyro.

Unlike the north seeking gyro, the reference gyro lacks a sufficiently accurate sensor to measure the Earth’s angular velocity projection.

↑ GyroMasterTM Drillers’ Trusted Publication

↑ North seeking gyro vs. reference gyro 33

/SURVEY TOOLS

The reference gyro is not capable of finding North, which means that it cannot establish an azimuth itself. In order to perform its survey function, it needs manual input at startup. We sometimes name these instruments as reference or indirect measuring inclinometers (not actually a very good name!). However, the reference gyroscope is sufficiently accurate, slimmer, and robust enough for short blasthole surveys if an accurate start azimuth is available.

Azimuth is the direction of a wellbore in the horizontal plane, expressed in degrees (°) with respect to magnetic or geographic north.

The inclinometer, as the name implies, is a tool that measures the inclination of a borehole and does not measure direction directly but takes it from an external point and its data accuracy depends on this external input, and hence there is room for potential cumulative errors to be generated as the survey proceeds along the borehole. But the measurements made by these tools are not only inclination, but also direction (azimuth). Since reference gyros lack the technology and the sensor needed to find true North and establish an azimuth, they cannot survey vertical boreholes.

SPT’s GyroMasterTM is a true north seeking gyro capable of measuring even at +/- 90° angles. Its performance and accuracy have been proven in adverse conditions. GyroMasterTM is an excellent tool for use in boreholes that are near one other, where the highest possible accuracy is required.

It should therefore be clear that the use of reference gyroscopes in extremely important mining projects is not always the best choice, as their performance depends on the starting datum, if provided with the wrong starting datum, the whole measurement would be wrong.

The same happens with other gyroscopes that are true north seeking , but which are unable to provide consistent, repeatable, measurements between the in and outrun surveys to/from the borehole, so it is appropriate to classify them as true north seeking gyroscopes, but of low accuracy.

Equally disastrous for exploration mining programs is the use of reference gyroscopes as low accuracy north finders. Low-precision gyroscopes are remarkably similar to reference gyroscopes. Some of these even obtain the initial reference point using a magnetic compass.

↑ An azimuth graphic

SPT offers a gyro for every need The GyroMasterTM is a north seeking gyro designed with NaviboreTM technology, created by SPT. In addition to all the advantages mentioned above, GyroMasterTM is very easy to use thanks to its intuitive software. It is perfect for continuous measurements during any drilling operation. Thanks to its proven reliability, with approximately 1200 MTBF, we can proudly say that the GyroMasterTM is unbeatable.

It is also compatible with the SPT SmartCloudTM, which allows cloud synchronization of all mining projects.

In summary, the gyroscope is a multi-purpose tool and there are different types. It is used in many areas and ideally, you should select the gyroscope that best suits your project needs. Visit the website www.sptab.com to consult the wide catalog of gyroscopes and other solutions for borehole surveying that we have at your disposal.

We participated in PDAC 2022 where we offered a spectacular augmented reality experience for all visitors. Thanks to this technology visitors could discover our tool capabilities in a unique and special way. We are already preparing to surprise the public at the next PDAC 2023, scheduled for March, 2023. C 34

↑ Magnetic North vs. Geographic North

For more information

Schedule a session to test our tools directly in your mine for free and without any obligation.

Or visit: www.sptab.com

Coring Magazine #20

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Exploration Mining Geology In this Issue:

In conversation with Dr Addepalli Kasiviswanadham Associate General Manager at Vedanta Exploration Global Company

Resource Geology: Threading the needle between geostatistics, rock licking and human psychology,

by Lucy Potter, Founder & CEO at Etana Mining Mentors

Getting it right: Putting the structural geology of mineral deposits in context

by Dr Brett Davis, Section Editor at Coring Magazine & Principal Structural Geologist at Olinda Gold Structural Geology Consulting

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Coring Magazine #20

/Q&A FROM THE EXPERTS

In conversation with FROM

THE EXPERTS

Dr Addepalli Kasiviswanadham Dr Addepalli Kasiviswanadham (Kasi) is an Associate General Manager of the exploration department of Vedanta Exploration Global Company (VedEx) based in India. He has over 21 years of experience in mineral exploration, focused on mine- to regionalscale geology, including three years of research experience.

Dr Addepalli Kasiviswanadham Associate General Manager at Vedanta Exploration Global Company

Prior to VedEx, he was working for Geomysore Services India Pvt. Ltd. for nine years. For another nine, he carried out extensive fieldwork in regional greenfield exploration across India for gold, base metals and platinum-group elements (PGE). He identified several greenfield exploration targets in different geological belts of Archaean- and Proterozoic-age, which have received prospecting and mining licenses. He was also actively involved in initial resources drilling of the BIF-hosted Ganjur and epigenetic clastic sediments hosted Gurharphar gold deposits.

Kasi’s work is focused on identifying new exploration targets and delivering ore-grade intersections. He also provides structural input to base metal deposit orebody controls and 3D geological modeling, along with greenfield exploration strategy, auction blocks assessments, executing drilling programs on base metals and gold prospects. He is currently leading the drilling program in Central India for copper-gold.

Dr Brett Davis: Firstly, thanks for giving Coring the opportunity to interview you Kasi-ji. You’ve gained enormous respect in the mining and exploration industry as a geologist who can work across many facets of geology. Can you tell us what interested you in a career in this sphere?

Dr Addepalli Kasiviswanadham: I am from a village located in the East coastal part of Southern India. I had no idea about geology and during my childhood days, I was interested in becoming a scientist or doctor.

After finishing school, there were different options for my degree. Geology was one of them in my college along with chemistry and zoology.

I developed an interest in chemistry and wanted to do a Masters (MSc) degree. I scored very good marks in chemistry and geology, but I was Drillers’ Trusted Publication

not able to get a free seat for the MSc chemistry entrance exam at my university and was unable to pay the tuition fee for a private college.

There were several other universities, but I was also unable to afford them. I had come across one of the geology professors and he explained the greatness of geology. So, my elder brothers convinced me to join the master’s of geology program. It was a turning point in my life, as I developed a keen interest in the field while completing my degree.

Afterwards, I joined a PhD program, since I got the fellowship, and became passionate about structural geology and geochemistry.

BD: I’ll ask you a few drilling-related questions first because you’ve planned and managed lots of drilling programs utilizing many different techniques. Which technique(s) do you enjoy the most and why?

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/Q&A FROM THE EXPERTS

AK: I managed drilling operations in different parts of India for gold and base metals and obtained a handful of experience in RC and diamond drilling. One of the projects used DTH during the initial part of my career.

RC is very quick with limited geological information, but if there is free gold in the system, we can pan it and get excited to see the colors. Drilling programs that produce oriented diamond core provide samples that are enjoyable to log and contribute to an easier understanding of the mineralization system. I like combinations of RC and diamond drilling in greenfield as it is cost- and time-effective.

BD: Have there been any particularly challenging drilling programs, and what did you do to overcome these?

AK: Drilling programs have various technical and non-technical challenges. In one of the gold prospects we were chasing the orebody strike extension and the entire area was covered with soil. It was a structurally complex fold pattern. Initially, we opened some trenches in the strike direction of the main orebody and ended up with greywacke. Afterwards, we used different exploration layers, including a ground magnetic survey and close-spaced traverses in agricultural land, to locate BIF boulders. After integration of different exploration layers, we opened the trenches, sampled them, and followed that with drilling, which led us to establish oregrade intersections. In another soil-covered area, we used advanced geochemistry, Mobile Metal Ion, and carried out the orientation survey, known to unknown. It was a very satisfying and proud moment to see ore-grade intersections. There are several similar success stories in my career to date.

Non-technical issues include managing negotiations with landowners, drilling crews, etc. Language in remote areas and villages is a bit difficult to understand. To overcome this, we needed proper planning, CSR, and we had to explain well to the locals/landowners in their own language.

Developing healthy community connections with the locals through different CSR activities is the key to working in any greenfield projects.

The same goes for developing small-scale local employment. Another non-technical issue is to keep a prime focus on ESG and empowering the working partners to follow it.

shift driller was marking the bottom. Even after explaining it several times, it took some time to make them understand.

Another story is from the time when the mechanical tool – the downhole spear - was used. It was horrible if a driller did not understand how to handle it and the marking. Several times it happened that a geologist did not have any idea about orientation marking, QA-QC, data collection and plotting. So the data and the geology would not match, and geologists were questioning each other.

BD: You have a PhD in Igneous Petrology. Where was your field area and how has your research training helped your industry career?

AK: I completed my PhD in 2003 just after my MSc. I worked in one of the large igneous provinces, the Deccan basalts in Central India. My PhD topic was to establish the stratigraphy of the Bagli Volcanics. I studied the petrology, the detailed geochemistry, and paleomagnetism of each flow and also rock magnetic properties.

My degree is helping me understand magnetic surveys, since I studied the magnetic properties of rocks. That fundamental understanding of different elemental behavior is also helping me with geochemical surveys. Mapping of the mafic-ultramafic complex for nickel and PGE exploration helped me to identify the prospective lithologies.

I also learned how to establish stratigraphy in high-grade metamorphic terrains of volcanic sedimentary basins. Petrology, especially, is helping to understand the complex rock types and alteration halos. In one of the exploration blocks I have mapped meta-gabbro, yet the lithological setting was not convincing enough for me to give the rock this name. In old reports, it was mentioned as amphibolite. So, we cut the section and got a surprise as it was a calc-silicate rock.

‘Another story is from the time when the mechanical tool - the downhole spear - was used. It was horrible if a driller did not understand how to handle it and the marking. Several times it happened that a geologist did not have any idea about orientation marking, QA-QC, data collection and plotting. So the data and the geology would not match, and geologists were questioning each other.’

BD: Core orientation is a fundamental aspect of exploration and drilling. Which method do you prefer and why? Do you have any horror stories about core orientation?

AK: I personally prefer electronic tools. They are accurate and trustworthy. Drillers need to understand well how to handle the tool. They need to be consistent in marking either the bottom or the top of the hole. Drillers should also maintain lines of accuracy and orientation that should be marked at the drill site.

I can tell you a few funny stories. One of my experiences was with a night shift driller that was marking the top of the hole, while the day 38

BD: You’ve worked across many parts of India as an exploration geologist and researcher. The cultures, languages and geology can vary markedly from place to place. Are there any skills or mindsets that have helped you in your roles in these places?

AK: I faced a language problem during the initial stage of my career since I couldn’t speak Hindi and had to slowly learn it. I recommend learning different Indian languages, especially Hindi. Being independent of translators, helps fieldwork in remote areas tremendously.

Another problem I faced during my early days was related to the food habits of the people from other parts of India. It took me some time to get used to them. Being a geologist, one should be bold and humble while working in remote areas. Nowadays in several places, villagers also have knowledge of the exploration process, since they have associated with different exploration companies.

BD: You’re now in a senior management position in VedEx. Tell me about the company and the path your career has taken to get to your current role.

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AK: The VedEx team is working on mostly greenfield areas, assessing the auction blocks for different commodities and in particular, the techno-commercial assessments of the project. Once we win the exploration block through auction, we carry out the detailed toll-gated exploration to establish the mineral inventory. Also, the team is supporting other business units of VedEx since its members are highly knowledgeable geoscientists with varied experience and backgrounds.

Currently, I am responsible for the development of litho-structural geological models for Hindustan Zinc mines. Other team members are supporting geophysical surveys and information technology.

In addition to my strong field technical skills in different commodities along with the understanding of the Indian geology, my management

skills have helped me get the current role. Also having strong working experience in different geological terrains.

BD: Give me your thoughts on the skills needed to be a successful geologist in the Indian mining and exploration industry.

AK: Anywhere in the globe, the exploration process is the same, however, the Indian Archean and Proterozoic geological belts have undergone multiple phases of deformation. If a geologist has a good understanding of structural geology, petrology, geochemistry, and a basic idea about geophysical surveys, they will succeed anywhere. Exploration geologists must be flexible to work in different regions and with people from varied cultural backgrounds.

BD: Which geological environments do you most enjoy working in? And which deposit have you found most interesting?

AK: I’ve worked in different Indian geological belts from Archean to Proterozoic belts. When I was starting, I was enjoying the big hills that provide extensive exposure of the BIFs for kilometers. Currently, I enjoy working in Central India on a copper-gold system to identify the mineralization, generating targets and I hope to eventually take the project to the mining stage.

I find the Kayad deposit to be the most interesting and challenging.

This deposit is located approx. 100 km (62 mi) West of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan state. There I carried out a detailed underground mapping to develop ore controls and came across several textbook examples of structural geology. I can say it is a museum for geologists.

Another greenfield project I worked on in Central India was a rift basin called Mahakoshal belt. It has great exploration potential for different commodities. My first exploration posting was in the belt. It has an excellent hilly terrain, great ecosystem, nice local villagers - I’m still in touch with them - and mineralization systems. On the Mahakoshal belt, I got the opportunity to develop myself as an exploration geologist and received great mentoring from my manager.

BD: Historically, India has produced some world-famous structural geologists. Given that a big part of your work is focused on that particular field, what is your opinion of the structural geological skill levels of your teams?

AK: Yes, India has produced several world-famous structural geologists and some of them are teaching in universities.

There are several young geologists on my team, coming with a lot of textbook knowledge, but with limited field experience. They are now developing their skills by spending time in underground development, learning mapping and core logging. Whenever I get a chance, I try to spend time with them to develop their structural geological understanding. I can say we have mixed-experience geologists.

BD: We are seeing increasing implementation of new technology into mining and exploration geology. For example, drone surveys, core scanning and software such as Leapfrog. Are there technologies that you find particularly important for exploration? And do you think the use of these technologies is making better or worse field geologists?

↑ Kasi in the field 40

AK: Yes, all these technologies are making for a better understanding. In the last couple of years, I’ve been working with Leapfrog to develop 3D models. These models contribute to the understanding of the orebody controls and provide a 3D view of the deposit, which helps to generate the drill targets, mine planning, ore production and address geotechnical concerns. It’s also helpful with reserve and resources calculations.

Coring Magazine #20

Currently, I am using Leapfrog to generate drill targets and for drill hole planning. This software is user-friendly, it’s easy to stack the multiple exploration layers, and view everything in 3D. VedEx as a group is moving towards digitalization and innovation in a big way and encourages and supports us to assess various technologies and then implement them in our activities.

Core scanning is also appearing to be very interesting. I’ve not used the technology much, but I have come across several successful stories.

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BD: Without giving any secrets away, where do you think is highly prospective for finding new world-class orebodies in India?

AK: India has an enormous exploration potential to discover new orebodies. Most of my exploration experience is in Archean to Proterozoic belts. Indian geology is comparable to Australia, Canada and Africa.

The mining industry in the country is one of the oldest on Earth. There are several ancient gold and base metals mining spots in different parts of India. Ancient mining is giving a clue to today’s exploration geologists to understand orebody controls.

In my childhood, my father used to say that if you want to see an elephant, go to elephant ground. The Kolar goldfield is giant, and the surrounding areas have potential. There are several potential belts which need advanced exploration in Dharwad Craton, Singhbhum Craton, Bastar Craton and Aravalli Craton.

To discover sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX)/Broken Hill-type (BHT) deposits, the Western part of India has great potential. Several rift basins in the region have a great potential for the discovery of a SEDEX deposit. I strongly believe that BHT-style ore bodies are yet to be discovered in India, especially in high-grade metamorphic terrains. In different places mafic-ultramafic complexes need keen attention to find Ni-PGE. There are excellent iron ore belts in different parts of India. Areas surrounding Khetri and Malanjkhand have the potential for copper. There are several other areas that require a closer look and regional-scale exploration.

BD: Many of the base metal mines in Proterozoic rocks in India are hosted by high metamorphic grade rocks. Are there any exploration criteria that are especially useful for exploring for this style of mineralization?

AK: Most Indian base metal mines are in the Aravalli Craton, and a number of different styles are represented. For example, the Rajpura-Dariba Belt deposits are SEDEX type, and we have mapped several locations with syngenetic ore overprinted by deformation. Another giant deposit is Rampura-Agucha, which I prefer to classify as BHT-type, and this is based on my working experience with this deposit style.

Another small deposit is Kayad, which may also be a BHT. The Zawar deposit seems to be similar to Irish lead-zinc deposits. All of these deposits have undergone greenschist facies to granulite facies metamorphism. In addition to the deposit types just mentioned, there are several VMS-style prospects reported. Geologists should understand the characteristics of SEDEX/BHT-style deposits, in particular the tectonic setting, rift basin environment and geology, prior to undertaking exploration for these deposit styles. Knowledge of the appropriate guide and pathfinder minerals, breccias within the rift basin if exposed, and local litho-geochemical are also necessary.

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BD: How does VedEx demonstrate diversity in its geology workforce?

AK: Our company is promoting diversity across key managerial and executive roles with a target to achieve 30% diversity by 2030. In my team

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/Q&A FROM THE EXPERTS

currently, we have 50% diversity. There are several female geoscientists in charge of exploration or in senior positions.

BD: I’ve always been amazed at the longevity of past empires and their legacy in India, particularly when I worked with you in Rajasthan. What measures do you take to preserve ancient sites when you are exploring and mining?

AK: Yes, India had great mining activity in ancient times and senior colleagues in our company have dated it to 2500 years ago. During our exploration activities, we take care of the legacy by identifying these sites prior to entering a new area. We ensure proper barricading and permissions are in place before carrying out our exploration activities close to the ancient sites. In addition, we interact with local villagers to find out about other sites of importance to the community and ensure that they are preserved.

We have several geological monuments established by the Geological Survey of India. The Gossan Monument is located at the Rajpura-Dariba belts and another is at Zawar. Our company also built one museum at the Zawar area dedicated to ancient mining and smelting methods. There are several old temples that are taken care of by the Archaeology department.

BD: VedEx is a huge company. Do you get an opportunity to visit many of their mine sites, both to understand the geology and to share your expertise?

AK: Of course, our company is investing a lot in order to understand mine geology. I’ve visited all our Indian mining operations and contributed my expertise. It was also a good learning opportunity for me.

BD: How has COVID-19 impacted your group and its exploration activities?

‘...India had great mining activity in ancient times and senior colleagues in our company have dated it to 2500 years ago. During our exploration activities, we take care of the legacy by identifying these sites prior to entering a new area. We ensure proper barricading and permissions are in place before carrying out our exploration activities close to the ancient sites. In addition, we interact with local villagers to find out about other sites of importance to the community and ensure that they are preserved.’

BD: How do you mentor your personnel on a professional basis?

AK: We encourage youngsters to develop their skills through professional internal training. I lead several training courses for entry-level professionals and senior geologists. I prefer personal interaction and to work with them closely in the field, so they can develop their skills. I led the meetings for the structural geologist community and as part of these, I organized training courses and overseas field visits for the team.

We also share several publications relevant to our operations. We have geological communities within our group of companies. The community meetings are held monthly and all geologists get together online or in-person and we share our experiences and expertise.

BD: What do you consider the most satisfying moment in your professional career so far?

AK: Two of the projects that come to my mind are when I got a BIF-hosted gold mineralization intersection in one of my exploration projects in 42

the Dharwar Craton and an underground mapping project for our HZL mines to delineate orebody dimensions and controls. These two projects helped me develop myself.

The BIF-hosted gold prospect reported an economic mineral inventory and I was satisfied when it became a mineable deposit. The mapping project played a key role in ore production, mine planning and addressing geotechnical concerns.

In both instances, I felt proud to be a geologist. My fieldwork delivered several potential prospects and ore-grade intersections. I have dreamed to lead a team that discovers and develops a greenfield field mine. I think that will become my most satisfying moment.

AK: There was an impact during the early days of COVID-19, due to the many restrictions and the fear of the unknown.

We stuck to our field camp for two months without fieldwork just doing desktop work.

Slowly, we started fieldwork again with a lot of restrictions and safety protocols. But now we are working well, thanks to the excellent Indian vaccination drive.

BD: India has traditionally been viewed as a difficult jurisdiction for foreign companies to operate in when it comes to mining and exploration. Are you seeing any change in the number of non-Indian companies exploring in India?

AK: During the initial days of my career, so many big mining and exploration companies were holding exploration licenses. Nowadays exploration/mining blocks are allotted through auctions. It is an open market for any investor. My expectation is that bigger exploration blocks should be made available to allow regional-scale exploration using advanced technology. I am expecting that with a stabilization of the mineral policy, a lot of non-Indian companies will participate in exploration, as it is one of the major potential geological terrains.

BD: Finally, what is next in your career, Kasi-ji? Will you continue to maintain a strong fieldwork presence, or move across to increasing managerial roles?

AK: I am very keen to spend a lot of time in my field along with my managerial role. I’d like the next generation of geologists to recognize me as a successful exploration geologist. My dream is to get the National Mineral Award. C

Coring Magazine #20

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Resource Geology: Threading the needle between geostatistics, rock licking and human psychology

by Lucy Potter, Founder & CEO at Etana Mining Mentors

The job of a Resource Geologist requires practitioners to call upon a multitude of skills in areas such as data analysis, descriptive and spatial statistics, geochemistry, structural and deposit model geology and mineralogy. This entire spectrum of knowledge must be held together by computing skills, problemsolving savvy and, most of all, a good dose of common sense. Yet another dimension of responsibility is layered on, as a Competent Person is expected to assess Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE), and other modifying factors like land tenure and metallurgical recoveries.

A resource geologist could be forgiven for experiencing a sort of identity crisis; in that they are often not close enough to the rock to be fully in tune with local ore-forming processes and their characteristic features and are not rigorous enough to ensure no statistical rules are bent along the way. Rather, a resource geologist must successfully balance the tension between interpreting natural systems represented by poorly sampled data sets, and using sophisticated methods designed to respect stationarity and change of support for different model objectives.

They must also balance the technical aspects of the job with external pressure from management, clients, and downstream users such as mining engineers.

So, although resource geologists must draw upon a breadth of experience that is technical and practical, they must learn to apply that experience not as a set procedure or routine, but as a winding path, partially mapped out, and adapted to the specificities of every deposit and model they seek to represent. It’s this high degree of unpredictability that highlights some key characteristics of a resource geologist like a talent for problem solving, an appetite for continuous learning and an aptitude for collaborative work.

While uncertainty is part of the process, resource geologists can look to several sources to facilitate their work and to produce the most accurate estimates possible given the available data. These can be broken down into three areas: organizational, technical and human.

Organizational Since time constraints are ubiquitous, good time management is essential. Figure 1 illustrates the typical workflow for the preparation of a Mineral Resource Estimate, and the approximate proportion of time to be spent on each step. More important than targeting the exact numbers shown, is the recognition that all the steps are crucial, and that skipping any may end up extending the process unnecessarily. However 44

tempting it is to dive right into the data, a project kick-off is extremely valuable. This permits discussion between data providers (e.g. field geologists, core loggers), downstream users (e.g. mine planners, metallurgists) and project managers to highlight objectives and concerns.

In the case where different practitioners are responsible for individual sections of the resource estimate (e.g. database management, geological modelling, and geostatistics), additional touchpoints should be added to transfer knowledge. Special mention must also be made of the geological modelling stage, which is often the longest to complete, and has the most significant impact on every subsequent piece of work. No amount of geostatistics can save a model that is not geologically sound.

Under pressure to deliver, validation is often neglected. It should occur several times throughout the process, both informally and formally, and should be documented to avoid replicating errors and to provide an audit trail. A single type of validation, such as a global swath plot, is insufficient. Several visual and statistical validations must be performed both by the practitioner and a peer reviewer.

Finally, a standardized checklist at the conclusion of the model update is recommended to catch potential gaps and to avoid imposing on the time of model users if, for example, the model is missing key information (see example Figure 2).

Technical The veracity of a mineral resource model hinges on careful use of available and verified data, proficient use of modelling and geostats techniques and, above all else, robust geological understanding that translates into the 3D model. Ideally, the resource geologist participates in data collection, and so understands the geological setting, and has an innate sense of the controls on mineralization. In practice, these tasks are often segmented, and the resource geologist must seek out understanding from colleagues who can share knowledge on the interpreted Coring Magazine #20

↑ Figure 1 - Mineral Resource Estimation - Work Overview

emplacement, geometry and continuity of the system. Photos of the outcrop, drill core and field sketches are essential resources, and their influence should be apparent in a model that is geologically sound.

The data that underpins the interpretation and geostatistics usually comes from several generations of work, from a number of different sources, and has variable levels of confidence. Resource geologists must somehow qualify or quantify the level of confidence and decide which data can be used ‘as is’, what needs some form of adjustment, and what must be removed entirely. One way to manage this is to implement a scoring system that manages data usability objectively and serves as a possible guide for downstream resource classification (see example, Figure 3).

Most resource geologists have access to sophisticated software offering tools like variography modelling, co-kriging, and multiple indicator kriging. The tools are often easy to implement, but complex to understand. And if used inappropriately, they can lead to inaccurate grade estimates, project valuation studies and mine plans. For example, the use of multiple indicator kriging is notoriously risky, since it relies on the separation of data into subsets that can be either too small or too erratic to model appropriately. Kriging has the natural effect of smoothing grades during change of support (e.g. from composited drillhole data to a block model grade). If not handled appropriately, grades above a Drillers’ Trusted Publication

↑ Figure 2 - Mineral Resource Estimation - Completion Checklist

* Tolerance for DLS depends on type of drilling, rock, depth, etc.

↑ Figure 3 - Database Accuracy Scorecard 45

Volume (percent)

Length (percent)

/EXPLORATION & MINING GEOLOGY

↑ Figure 4

Ag_ppm Values Zoomed In

cut-off can therefore be over or understated. In Figure 4, 16% of the data is above the selected threshold of 100 g/t Ag, but only 7% of the blocks are. Further checks are necessary (such as data declustering) to validate whether this is reasonable.

Software packages also permit the generation of visually appealing, but potentially dangerous geological models. Some common features observed are generally created where data is limited and models blow out to create volume (‘pincushions’), isolated mineralized intercepts are allowed to create individual ‘smarties’, or models weave in and out of discontinuous mineralization to include only higher grade assays (‘lightning bolts’) (Figure 5).

Human Human factors in mineral resource estimation are omnipresent: from the client/manager waiting for results, to the mill manager needing to

Kr, Ag_ppm in GM_MINZ: a

know next week’s feed material, to the exploration geologist wanting to plan their next hole with the best chance of success. There is frequent pressure for bigger numbers (tonnes and grade), faster completion, and/ or replication of past results. Resource geologists can reduce the temptation to bend to such influence through frequent communication and updates, thorough documentation of their work and decisions, and by turning to a technical mentor and peers to question assumptions and results.

Resource geology is often seen as an exclusive domain reserved to a select few industry specialists, and that methodologies are shrouded in code and secrecy to keep the general population as bay. In fact, the opposite should be true; resource geology is a genuinely multidisciplinary field that must rely on a vast amount of information, data and knowledge from multiple sources. Above all else, the model must be a 3D representation of that knowledge and data and must also convey the competent person’s confidence of all combined factors. C

↑ Figure 5 - Pincushions, smarties, lightning bolts

For more information Visit: www.etanaminingmentors.com The article presents some of the content shared in a February 2022 Geohug seminar.

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Coring Magazine #20

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Putting the structural geology of mineral deposits in context GETTING IT RIGHT

by Dr Brett Davis, Section Editor at Coring Magazine & Principal Structural Geologist at Olinda Gold Structural Geology Consulting

I have worked as a geological consultant since I had dark hair. It’s fully grey now and I have seen a lot of deposits in my time working with exploration, mining and resource geologists. The reason I get asked to visit projects is to help more fully understand the mineralized volumes, and a common comment is ‘we need a structural review’. But what does that really mean? In some cases, it has been suggested by an analyst or someone in management because another someone has said it is the thing to do. So, sometimes it is a comfort blanket where people can hand-on-heart say ‘yes, we’ve done a structural review’ when prompted by shareholders. Sometimes, the person requesting it is a genuinely informed, interested geologist who wants to integrate the structural geological controls on mineralization geometry, timing, and controls to deposition.

But mostly, it is somewhere in-between where simple geological observation without any high-level structural geological input is all that is necessary.

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Coring Magazine #20

V

isiting the deposits to undertake a review is a geological privilege. I get to see the best parts of a deposit and I get to interact with interesting people, commonly in interesting places. Once on site and standing on the rocks, it is really illuminating to quiz people on their perceived interpretation of the formation of the deposit. Frequently, there will be an invocation of either a wellknown or currently trendy model and the rocks are then presented in the context of the perceived model. These models are then repeated in reports, stock releases and conversation, becoming folklore. Overwhelmingly, the structural geology is considered in the context of that model, being used to understand the current shape of the deposit or trying to extract an orientational trend that can be used for exploration and resource addition. Much less commonly, the client will request the structural geology to be spliced into a model of deposit evolution that integrates with all the other geological aspects of the rocks. Because of the uncertainty as to what the requested structural review should achieve, I am rarely presented with an informed geological snapshot of a deposit. Typically, there are only general ideas and that ever-present perceived model. As such, much of my work entails trying to understand the formation of geological features over time, integrating them with kinematics, overprinting relationships, and structural geometries of the other features, such as alteration assemblages, mineral paragenesis, igneous emplacement episodes, metamorphism, etc.

So, where is this article going? I am going to present the thesis that we should understand the evolution of our deposits and all geological influences in a coherent geological history if we want to pragmatically and economically explore for, and mine, volumes of hydrothermal mineralization. Now, I am a bit biased. That happens when you have worked in a career for a while. I am of the opinion that structural geology is king and without it, you can’t fully understand 99% of mineral-

ization occurrences. However, there is a caveat to this statement - the full understanding of the 99% of mineralization occurrences requires an integrated approach that should include all facets of geology, not just structure. Geochemistry, igneous petrology, stratigraphy, metamorphism, alteration, etc… all need to be considered and placed in a spatial and temporal context. In addition, they need to be considered at all scales.

Geological bias and patch protection People who can’t understand the concept of geological inputs during orebody formation, and who rabidly protect their geological patch by only considering their own ideas and disparaging others, are a hindrance and will only make mediocre contributions. This can be damaging in situations where significant money is spent, such as by drilling deep holes, and they make the geological focus myopic and misguided.

As an example, I recently worked on a very large mineralized system that exhibits strong orientational controls to veining, alteration, and structure (mylonite zones, cleavages, etc.) due to regional deformation events. Another consultant on the project made one of the most laughable, and most alarming, comments I’ve heard in my long career, stating: ‘The structural part remains to be integrated, though I am strongly of the opinion that we can’t let that unnecessarily complicate the deposit and exploration model…’. This really was a ‘did I just read that?’ moment! This comment, and others I noted, were classic examples of patch-protection, where the geologist in question did not want interrogation or criticism of his work. Sadly, in addition to reflecting the character of the geologist, it is characteristic of an approach that will cost the company and the shareholder time and money.

↑ Figure 1 - Results of a Google search for VMS deposits. Not a single one of these images represents a real deposit. They are all models based on what people think the deposits should be like.

Drillers’ Trusted Publication

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/EXPLORATION & MINING GEOLOGY

↑ Figure 2 - Geological history a ‘classic VMS’ deposit in Kazakhstan. Despite being touted as such for decades, several days spent looking at the overprinting relationships shows that the age of mineralisation, which post-dates some deformation and metamorphism, is not consistent with the classic model as shown in Figure 1 .

The role of every geologist should be to realize mineral deposits are complicated systems that have formed due to a perfect storm of complex circumstances with contributions from many facets of geology over time. To avoid the blinkered approach, such as in the previous example, we have to try to understand a deposit by establishing a geological history, which incorporates all the structural history. We should not, for example, simply devise a logging system comprising several vein sets with no temporal, geometric or orientational constraint and think our work is done.

The problem with models Geological history is something that is taught (or should have been) in first year Geology, but the memory of this and its pertinence seems to wane rapidly after people exit university. The structural geological 50

history is simply a subset of the geological history, comprising the sequence of deformation events and the various structures that have formed in response to this. To reiterate, the goal of the geologist should be the formulation of a complete geological history that can be used as an exploration tool and for understanding orebodies such that they can be economically mined. This will entail the recognition, incorporation and citing of other people’s work where applicable. The inclusion and integration of overprinting and orientation information from oriented drill core is commonly critical to establishing the geological history.

Limitation to a subset of the geological history will blinker and bias you and will blind you to exploration and discovery opportunities. Similarly, belief in a model without testing it is just as dangerous!

A good example of a model that is presented extremely commonly is that pertaining to VMS deposits. This is exemplified when a search in Google is undertaken (Figure 1 - Image of a Google search screen).

Now, there are no genuine cross-sections of mineral deposits showing Coring Magazine #20

real-life images that replicate these idealized images. You may think that this is because the initial results during such a search are simply not good. However, you can expand the search as much as you like – the results are the same! All the images, perhaps excepting one or two, are models that people spend time finding evidence to support rather than testing!

The context of structural geology Basically, there are two things that encompass structural geology – geometry and over-printing. The geometry of geological features refers to their shapes and volumes in 2D and 3D. Resolving the geometric relationships, such as the asymmetric shapes of structures, polygonal outlines, repeated shapes, etc. enables us to understand the processes involved in developing these geometries. Furthermore, it enables prediction of favorable locations of mineralization, resolution of kinematics, and construction of realistic geological and resource models.

Overprinting refers to the cross-cutting relationships between geological features, which can also control the geometry of features. Resolving the relative ages of structures enables us to pinpoint which ones have been important for localizing mineralization. The end result should be a ‘live’ snapshot of the deposit that characterizes all features and puts them in temporal order (Figure 2 - Geological history of Kazakh deposit). It also allows grouping of similar age characteristics, such that we can identify all of the features produced prior, during and subsequent to the time of deposition of hydrothermal minerals.

Problems with data collection Commonly, data in mining and exploration databases has not been collected in context. For example, there are commonly columns of planar data but there is no indication of what structures we are looking at e.g. which generation of cleavage. Lineation data is very rare.

Even if the structures have been subdivided into populations, it is commonly restricted to the broad categories of veins, cleavages and faults, and this is where the problem starts! For example, most hardrock hydrothermal deposits have more than one vein set, but the temporal relationships are rarely, if ever, documented. Consequently, databases are full of vein (and other structural) orientation data, but it comprises all vein types and is next to useless. As an example, many hydrothermal mineral deposits will have several temporally distinct quartz-carbonate vein phases (e.g. Figure 3a/b - Photos of veins from Twangiza), of which only one might be the same age as the mineralization e.g., gold. Trying to tease out which is the important, gold-related vein set from a column of data that is logged simply as quartz-carbonate veins, is nigh impossible. Similarly, 2D or 3D representations of the data are of limited use (Figure 3a/b).

A key problem emanating from not documenting all events and features is that information is ‘lumped’ and then several features get documented as the same entity from then on. If this is done, it becomes impossible to separate out the critical features from the less important – for example, the mineralized vein set from the barren one, as stated above. However, if features are documented separately, they can be ‘lumped’ later if deemed necessary. Having separate populations allows them to be examined individually and compared with each other.

If using oriented core, it allows for orientation data for individual populations to be collected and compared, a critical step in the structural geological analysis.

Typically, many deposit studies restrict the geological history to the vein-alteration paragenesis, which is established through systematic documenting of overprinting and geometric relationships. However, the vein-alteration paragenesis needs to be incorporated with the structural history, effectively giving a geological history for a deposit. Other events, such as igneous intrusion events and metamorphic events, must be included.

Auditing the confidence level of core orientation must be undertaken before a quality 3D model with geometric/orientation constraints can be produced.

↑ Figure 3a/b - Photos of veins from Twangiza Drillers’ Trusted Publication

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/EXPLORATION & MINING GEOLOGY

The price of not understanding context The repercussions of not understanding the geological history can be expensive. For example: • If the mineralizing structures, such as a particular vein population, are not identified then orientation constraints cannot be resolved.

• Temporally and spatially associated structures, such as faults that have acted as conduits for mineralizing fluids, may be overlooked.

• Incorrect drilling orientations may be suggested and employed.

• Late recognition of the problems can lead to expensive additional drilling and relogging campaigns.

Put simply, the result may be a waste of time and money combined with a complete lack of understanding of deposit formation. This can be very embarrassing if subsequent exploration by another company discovers an economic deposit because they took the time to understand the geological history and orientation constraints to mineralization.

Concluding comments Establishing a coherent geological history is essential to understanding structural controls on both the mechanism of emplacement of mineralization and on the geometry of the mineralized zones.

• The geological history is critical to dividing structures into discrete populations of the same-age generation.

• Measurement of structures to constrain any 3D models is dependent on knowing which structures host mineralization and cannot be achieved without fundamental knowledge of the overprinting and geometric relationships between structures i.e., former knowledge of the geological history.

• The extraction of high-confidence structural data from supposedly oriented drill core is, unfortunately, compromised in most cases in the mining and exploration industry due to poor procedures at the drill rig and in the core yard.

The price of not undertaking fundamental geological investigation and of employing blinkered, patch-protective measures can preclude our understanding of mineral deposit genesis. As a result, economically sensible, informed exploration programs will be compromised as will profitable deposit exploitation. C

For more information Get in touch with Dr Brett Davis on LinkedIn

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