Diamond Drilling and Core Drilling of Ore Deposits

Why Diamond Drilling Remains the Gold Standard for Ore Exploration

Minerals Operating executes diamond drilling using state-of-the-art drilling rigs and strict adherence to international quality standards. Our core is not merely a rock sample; it is a document upon which multi-million-dollar investment decisions are based.

Key advantages of diamond drilling:

• High core recovery — up to 95–98% with proper technique, ensuring complete geological information
• Precision positioning — borehole deviation is monitored via inclinometry, essential for constructing 3D models of ore bodies
• Structural preservation — the core captures all features of mineralisation, fracturing, and contacts
• Re-examination capability — cores are stored for years and can be re-sampled as methodologies evolve or new data emerges

Technical Capabilities: Depth, Equipment, Precision

Minerals Operating maintains a fleet of drilling rigs ranging from lightweight portable units to heavy tracked machines. This enables operations in any terrain: from high-altitude mountains to wetlands, from shallow exploration holes of 50 metres to deep drilling exceeding 1,500 metres.

Our technical standards:

• Core diameters: NQ (47.6 mm), HQ (63.5 mm), PQ (85 mm) — selected according to project requirements
• Drilling depth: up to 2,000 metres
• Inclinometry: measurements every 30–100 metres to monitor trajectory
• Drilling fluids: formulations tailored to specific geological conditions to prevent collapse and preserve core integrity

On-Site Sampling and Documentation

Core is retrieved from the borehole and immediately placed in core boxes with depth markers. Minerals Operating employs digital photography of every run, eliminating confusion and ensuring transparency for clients and auditors.

Geological logging of the core follows international standards: lithology, texture, mineralisation, structural features. This forms the basis for subsequent interpretation and reserve estimation under KAZRC, JORC, or NI 43-101 codes.

Quality Control, Safety, and Technical Support

Drilling operations at ore deposits demand rigorous oversight at every stage. Minerals Operating has implemented a QA/QC (Quality Assurance / Quality Control) system that encompasses:

• Production control — daily equipment inspections, drilling parameter checks, core condition assessments
• Occupational safety — all drilling crews undergo health and safety inductions, work is conducted with PPE in compliance with Kazakhstan regulations
• Technical support — on-site engineering supervision, prompt troubleshooting, technology adjustments in response to changing geological conditions
• Work monitoring — weekly reports to clients detailing metres drilled, core recovery, and any complications encountered

Each borehole represents not just metres advanced, but accountability to the project. We understand that poor core recovery or loss of a mineralised interval can devalue an entire hole. Thus, quality control is not a formality for us — it is daily practice.

Core Material Management and Documentation

Following completion of drilling and geological logging, the core is transferred to a core storage facility where it is kept in specially equipped premises with controlled humidity and temperature. Minerals Operating provides:

• Core cutting and sampling — according to a pre-approved programme, with control over sample representativeness
• Sample packaging and labelling — each sample receives a unique number, with data entered into a database
• Transport to accredited laboratories — accompanied by documentation and a maintained Chain of Custody
• Reporting — drilling logs, borehole completion certificates, project summary reports, digital databases in formats compatible with geological modelling software

Documentation transparency is critical for auditing and reserve certification. We maintain records such that any Competent Person can verify the data and confirm its reliability.

Diamond drilling from Minerals Operating is an investment in the quality of geological information. We do not simply drill holes — we create the foundation for strategic decision-making in mining projects.