2.2.6 Diamond Drilling
If a geological, geochemical or geophysical anomaly is detected, the prospector often has to strip the soil surface. This exposes the rock and allows him to determine whether or not the source of the anomaly is related to the presence of minerals.
Stripping frequently involves digging trenches in the ground to the bedrock to delineate the anomaly at the surface and determine its source.
If the anomaly is deep-seated, a diamond drill is used to reach it and take a sample of the source rock.
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Diamond drilling is extremely expensive, approximately $90/metre. And holes frequently have to be drilled to a depth of 1,000 to 2,000 metres.
To top it all off, dozens of holes usually have to be drilled to delineate a deposit. And the holes often total thousands of metres in length!
