What is Core Orientation & why is it important?

Core Orientation is the process of marking and determining the precise orientation and position of the core whilst it is still part of the parent rock.

This information is critical in the determination of faults, cleavages, joints, mineral lineation and other geophysical and mechanical properties. With correct orientation information, in combination with azimuth and depth measurements, Geoscientists are able to "map & extend" the lineations that determine the location of additional exploration boreholes and/or eventual mine-site positioning.

Whilst this requirement is essential in the Mining & Resources sector, this has become equally important in the heavy construction industry where underlying rock formations and density need to be considered when locating superstructures such as dam walls, spillways and tunneling operations.

Angled borehole orientation has traditionally been the only form of precise core orientation available. However Global Drilling Products has recently released a World first - a vertical borehole orientation tool, aptly named the Verti-Ori™. This tool also uniquely provides the user with additional survey information such as Dip (hole inclination) and Dip direction (Azimuth).