Air Core Drilling

Air Core drilling utilities high-pressure air and dual walled rods to penetrate the ground and return the sample to the surface through the inner tube and then through a sampling system. The ground is cut through with the use of a steel blade type bit. The sample is then collected and analyzed. Air-core drilling is relatively inexpensive and is often used in first pass exploration drill programs. Air-core drills Ø 75mm to optimal depths 75 metres and is performed using a smaller mobile rig known as an Air-core rig.

It is possible to use hammer or tri-cone roller for drilling through surface cap rock at the top of the hole.