What Surface Coring Delivers

From drilling target to geological insight

High-quality core recovery gives exploration teams the continuous record they need to understand geology, control the hole and make confident decisions.

Browse Resources Explore Capabilities

Our Approach

Configured around the target, terrain and program

We align the rig configuration, tooling, drilling parameters and directional options to the geology, target depth, site access, recovery requirements and data needs of each program.

Surface Coring Programs

Configurations selected around geology, target depth, terrain and access.

Built Around Your Objectives

Recovery requirements and program data needs guide the drilling approach.

What We Bring

Core Capabilities

Our capabilities are configured around the target, geology, access and program requirements.

Directional Drilling

Wedging or mud motoring, supported by in-house directional motors, steering tools and pumps, helps us reach specific targets while aligning the drilling plan with project and budget requirements.

Deep Drilling

Deep-capacity rigs and specialist expertise support surface coring holes routinely exceeding 10,000 feet (3,048 metres).

Diverse Fleet

Our fleet includes a range of rig sizes, depth capacities, winterization options and skid, track, truck, specialty and modular fly configurations. In-house engineers design, build and customize equipment with technology such as auto-drilling and hands-free rod handling.

Rod Handling

Hands-free rod handling technology reduces manual interaction with drill rods to improve safety without compromising productivity.

Locate

Define the target

Advance

Control the borehole

Recover

Preserve the core

Interpret

Turn core into insight

What Surface Coring Delivers

Recover more than a sample. Recover the story underground.

A continuous, oriented core record supports geological interpretation from the first target through final analysis.

Core Recovery

Continuous geological record

Core Orientation

Retaining structural information

Target Control

Directional options for hole correction

Deep Capability

Built for demanding surface programs

Core Size Range

The right diameter for the program

Different programs call for different core sizes. From BQ through PQ+, we select the diameter around geology, recovery needs, depth, access, and the data your program needs.

BQ

Bit OD 59.6mm
Core Ø 36.4 mm

NQ

Bit OD 75.3mm
Core Ø 47.6mm

HQ

Bit OD 95.6mm
Core Ø 63.5mm

PQ

Bit OD 122.0mm
Core Ø 85.0mm

Oriented geological core samples in a storage tray.

Structural Data

Preserve the structural information around the core

Integrated core orientation identifies the angles of dips, streaks and formation fractures to provide more detailed geological data. The additional structural information supports 3D modeling and helps optimize pit design and development while giving exploration teams greater value from the program budget.

Operator reviewing geological data at a TruScan scanner.

On Site Core Analysis

Move from recovered core to near real time geological data

TruScan™ uses XRF technology designed specifically to scan rock, providing same-day, continuous analysis of drill core. Non-destructive elemental and photographic scanning at the exploration site produces accurate, high-density data and gives geologists access to near-real-time geological information as the core is drilled.

Surface Coring Fleet

Our surface coring fleet includes a range of rig sizes, depth capacities and configurations to support different targets, site conditions and program requirements.

Rig	Depth	Drill Rod Size	Main Hoist	Pull Force	Rod Pull	Power
LF™70	895 m NRQ™ W-Wall™	BQ–PQ	53.4 kN	62.9 kN	6 m	110 kW
LF™90C	1,193 m NRQ™ W-Wall™	BQ–PQ	71.2 kN	111.8 kN	6 m	153 kW
LF™90D	1,193 m NRQ™ W-Wall™	BQ–PQ	71.2 kN	111.8 kN	6 m	153 kW
LF™160	1,800 m NRQ™ W-Wall™	BQ–PQ	—	90 kN	6 m	194 kW
LF™230	2,983 m NRQ™ W-Wall™	BQ–PQ	177.9 kN	223.3 kN	9 m	205 kW

Rig Transport Capabilities

Mounting and transport configurations help match the rig to site access, terrain and operating requirements.

Rig	Truck	Track	Jacks	Skids	Helicopter	Hands-Free Rod Handling
LF™70	Yes	Yes	Yes	—	Yes	—
LF™90C	Yes	—	—	—	Yes	—
LF™90D	Yes	Yes	Yes	—	Yes	—
LF™130F	—	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
LF™160	—	Yes	—	—	—	Yes
LF™230	Yes	Yes	Yes	—	—	Yes

Specialized Technical Teams

Specialized solutions for difficult conditions

Our technical teams support multiple surface coring techniques, including blowout protection for high-temperature and high-pressure geothermal formations. We also operate the largest global fleet of heli-portable rigs and equipment for greenfield and roadless projects where conventional access is not available.

Technical Expertise

Experienced technical teams support multiple surface coring techniques and configure the drilling approach around the ground, site and program requirements.

Difficult-Access Programs

Specialized support for high-temperature and high-pressure geothermal formations, greenfield programs and projects that are not accessible by road.

Our Experience

Surface Coring Expertise

Our surface coring fleet includes a range of rig sizes, depth capacities and configurations to support different targets, site conditions and program requirements.

BQ to PQ+

Complete core-size range supporting high core recovery and accurate geological data.

Experienced Crews

Highly trained, locally certified crews backed by cross-regional technical expertise.

Core Integrity + Safety

Integrated core orientation and measurable performance data supported by field-designed safety innovations and world-class safety and training programs.

Project highlights

Core recovery in demanding conditions

See how a Canadian coring program delivered high core recovery through winter conditions.

Canadian Coring Program Averages 98.39% Core Recovery With Zero Re-Drills

Boart Longyear completed 218 holes and about 18,000 m of drilling for CNRL-Albian Sands while averaging 98.39% core recovery with zero re-drills and zero injuries.

View Case Study