Diamond Core Drilling

Diamond drilling (or diamond core drilling) is the process of using a diamond-studded drill bit to drill down and withdraw a solid core sample from the ground rather than a chipped sample. The diamond-encrusted bit is attached to the core tube which is then attached to the drilling rods. With the addition of water and drill muds the drill bit is rotated at high speed to cut through the rock in a cylindrical fashion to produce a core sample which is held up in the barrel. From there the core sample is lifted to the surface with the use of a wireline where it is removed for analysis by the geologist.