Mineral Exploration
Aztec Engineering perform mineral exploration drilling with a variety of different techniques: Wireline coring (mostly PQ3 and HQ3), conventional large diameter coring, chip sampling using direct rotary with mud or air, RC, CFA. Our speciality is coring and testing of evaporite deposits (salt and potash) A brief summary of mineral drilling techniques can be viewed here.
Wireline Coring
Our MAIT GEA 500 (click on link for specs) has been used for much of our wireline coring work. This rig can be set up on a substructure with above ground mud system and solids control equipment if required (click here to see layout). We also use a Longyear 38 on smaller jobs with restricted access.
Electric Top Drive
We have an electric top drive we can fit to any of our rotary rigs for deep vertical holes. This provides the high speed rotation necessary for successful diamond coring.
We also have an arrangement with PSI Drilling to use any of their large fleet of rigs in Laos, Myanmar or Indonesia for projects requiring multiple drill rigs.