What Is Core Logging?: The Following Steps Are Suggested During The Core Logging Process

What is Core Logging?
Is the systematic recording and measuring of as much information as

possible/required to determine the lithology (rock types), mineralogy, potential
geological history, structure, and alteration zones through a tiny piece of cylindrical rock
drilled and removed from a potential mineral deposit. Considered the primary method of
determining grade, size and mine ability of a potential mineral deposit drill cores are
relied on by exploration and mining companies around the world.
A cylindrical section of rock, or fragment thereof, taken as a sample of the

interval penetrated by a core barrel and brought to the surface for examination and for
analysis. All drill hole data gathering is called logging.
Core logging procedure

The following steps are suggested during the core logging process:
1. Clean the core of drilling fluids or mud.

2. Mark major structures, proposed point load testing locations, and depths (every
1-2 meters) on undisturbed core in splits.
3. Photograph the core in the splits (if using triple tube method) with a scale placed
in the picture and a whiteboard indicating what depth the core has been obtained
from.
4. Complete the Discontinuity and core description logs.
5. Transfer the core from the splits to a labeled core box.
6. Once a core box is full, take a single photograph of the core box with a scale.
History of Coring
The technique of coring long predates attempts to drill into the Earth’s mantle by
the Deep Sea Drilling Program. The value to oceanic and other geologic history of
obtaining cores over a wide area of sea floors soon became apparent. Core sampling
by many scientific and exploratory organizations expanded rapidly. To date hundreds of
thousands of core samples have been collected from floors of all the planet's oceans
and many of its inland waters. Access to many of these samples is facilitated by the
Index to Marine & Lacustrine Geological Samples,
"A collaboration between twenty institutions and agencies that operate geological
repositories."
Informational value of core samples
Coring began as a method of sampling surroundings of ore deposits and oil

exploration. It soon expanded to oceans, lakes, ice, mud, soil and wood. Cores on very
old trees give information about their growth rings without destroying the tree.
Cores indicate variations of climate, species and sedimentary composition during

geologic history. The dynamic phenomena of the Earth's surface are for the most part
cyclical in a number of ways, especially temperature and rainfall.
There are many ways to date a core. Once dated, it gives valuable information about
changes of climate and terrain. For example, cores in the ocean floor, soil and ice have
altered the view of the geologic history of the Pleistocene entirely.
Colour and Rock description
Colour and rock descriptions should be logged as part of the core logging
procedure to indentify the lithologies and alteration sequences encountered. Logging
should be based on easy to identify attributes that will in most cases allow rock type to
be determined quickly and easily. Such attributes include:
Pattern
Colour
Grain size
Texture
Fabric
Lithology
Alteration
Know where your hole is
This first thing to know and record about your core is its location in the world.
Hole Location in the old days was recorded using a local mine grid system which
basically used a man made grid actually cut into the minesite (stakes, pins,surveys) and
each hole would be referenced from one known point from which they were physically
measure out.
Drill hole locations like -700W, 200N would indicate the drillhole location is -700 units W
(or 700 units E) and 200 units North from some point usually referenced in a
map/report. The units used will vary and are usually included in the log but not always.
In addition, the cardinal directions (N/S/E/W) may not actually be as mine grids tend to
align themselves along known geology or features. So a large regional fault may run
through a property, from that the mine grid is parallel.
The map shows a mine grid (light blue) with drill holes as labelled. The direction of the
grid lines run approximately 72 degrees which corresponds with local geological
features. The log coordinates for hole 86-4 in the original 1984 log are 775E 20S, and
hole 86-1a is 700E 21S. The shown locations are exact GPS coordinates (to within
50cm) of the actual hole.
Things to note:
The grid overlain is ideal assuming a flat surface, the original grid was physically
measured on the ground – this will lead to errors.
N/S/E/W are relative
Physically measure locations introduce error (topography changes primarily) In this

case hole 86-4 is off by approximately 5 meters.
Today with a simple store bought GPS accurate to within two meters and more
expensive ones accurate to millimeters, GPS has been the go to for recording hole
locations.
Bibliography:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_sample#Management_of_cores_an
d_data
 https://www.slideshare.net/pramodgpramod/drilling-and-core-logging
 https://canadamines.ca/basics-of-logging-core-samples-for-mineral-
exploration/

What Is Core Logging?: The Following Steps Are Suggested During The Core Logging Process

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What Is Core Logging?: The Following Steps Are Suggested During The Core Logging Process

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

What Is Core Logging?: The Following Steps Are Suggested During The Core Logging Process

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What is core logging and what is its purpose?

What are the steps involved in core logging?

What is Core Logging?

Is the systematic recording and measuring of as much information as

A cylindrical section of rock, or fragment thereof, taken as a sample of the

Core logging procedure

1. Clean the core of drilling fluids or mud.

Coring began as a method of sampling surroundings of ore deposits and oil

Cores indicate variations of climate, species and sedimentary composition during

Colour and Rock description

N/S/E/W are relative

Physically measure locations introduce error (topography changes primarily) In this

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.