Technical Specifications: Small Footprint Diamond Drilling
Project Parameter
Technical Specification
Geological Zone
Lachlan Fold Belt (Victoria), Reedy Creek Goldfield
Specific Sites
Prince of Wales, Wine Ridge, Thompson’s, and Empress Reef
Target Deposit
Deep-seated, Fosterville-style gold with arsenic haloes
Primary Challenge
Drilling through complex turbidites, siltstones, and black shale sequences
Technical Requirement
High-precision oriented diamond core for 3D structural mapping and vein orientationximum core recovery
Do you need technical precision when it counts?
Operating a major drilling program in the Victorian goldfields requires more than just machinery; it requires a partnership that understands the high stakes of geological data collection. During a 4,000-metre diamond program at Reedy Creek, One of our clients (VP of Exploration) identified several key factors that set Prestige Drilling Services apart from standard contractors.
Why is High-Recovery Diamond Core Critical for 3D Modeling?
High Core Recovery: The team successfully navigated difficult “turbidite” sequences, including siltstones and black shales, to maximize the amount of rock brought to the surface.
Perfectly Oriented Core: Prestige provided perfectly oriented samples, which are essential for mapping vein orientations and “Fosterville-style” arsenic haloes at depth.
Expert Feedback: The drillers maintained a constant dialogue with the geology team, adapting their techniques to the “peculiarities” of the specific ground conditions.
What is the Logistical Advantage of Small Footprint Diamond Drilling?
Accessing historic goldfields often involves navigating rugged terrain and sensitive heritage sites. Prestige utilized track-mounted Cortech rigs to solve these logistical headaches:.
Zero Land Clearing: Because of the small footprint, the crew drilled off existing tracks at sites like Shepherd’s Hill and Empress Reef, eliminating the need for environmental disturbance or track construction.
Tight Access: The rigs successfully reached collars in locations where larger, truck-mounted rigs simply could not fit.
Project Note: The exploration team reported that the small footprint of the track-mounted Cortech rigs was a primary logistical advantage, allowing for successful collar placement in locations where larger, truck-mounted rigs could not fit.
Prestige Drilling Services – track mounted drill rigs used for tight access drilling in the alpine region.
Well maintained rigs for Prestige Drilling Services – Victoria
How Do We Maintain Zero Downtime in Remote Exploration Campaigns?
Downtime can kill an exploration timeframe. Prestige maintained an exceptional reliability record throughout the campaign due to the rigorous maintenance of the rigs.
Mechanical Mastery: The teams mechanical capability meant the rigs were maintained to the highest standard.
Zero Recorded Downtime: The team utilized weekends for maintenance to ensure that during the Monday–Friday drilling window, the rigs never stopped.
Performance Metric: Throughout the 4,000-metre program, the client recorded zero downtime during the Monday–Friday drilling window. This reliability was maintained through a specialised approach to mechanical maintenance during off-shifts.
We’ll Handle the bush so you can focus on the science Prestige operates on the philosophy that your expertise should never be sidelined by rig logistics.
Do you value a partnership that respects the Geologist?
