Our Geological Data Service aims to redefine the future of mineral exploration through emerging technologies and innovation delivered through industry-leading products and services.

Like an exciting journey across the open ocean, exploratory drilling is an adventure. Whether navigating difficult formations, reaching impressive depths, or facing challenging geology, drillers have unique tools to help them find their way. Just like a compass at sea, one method changed everything radically: the fundamental direction.

Core orientation is a maneuver that has been used since the mid-1800s, “To describe the geological structure, obtain geotechnical information, determine the bedding plane into which the formation is submerged, azimuth and slope. ” Because the core provides the best record of subsurface geology, we've perfected maximizing recovery by providing robust, reliable and expertly excavated specimens. Minerals and rock can fold, dip, or fault. Using directed core data, a more cost-effective and refined approach can be used as a guide with previous examples. Similar to a compass, the core direction shows the way, making it easy to plan and drill where the next hole is. Core orientation is useful in determining an ore deposit reserve estimate. It also improves geotechnical mine design, mine planning and safety issues. This method provides information for meaningful discovery. It is also useful for extraction and planning. Each ore deposit structure has its own complexities. The core orientation process influences orebody estimates. The data produced from this process makes the basic orientation indispensable. After a drilling operation is completed and core samples are exposed, drillers are trained to work closely with a geologist to mark cores.

Consider the following scenario: You have a property full of goods and you have hired a talented team of geologists and innovators to excavate it. Minerals formed on Earth over thousands of years and they have developed in a certain way. Core orientation is the tool to understand the unseen, underground structure. Modern tools such as digital core routing devices help drive the process. More subtle directional approaches to geology are possible with properly applied core orientation methods.

By using core orientation, exploratory drilling becomes more cost-effective and more precise. The core orientation technique is an important aspect of core drilling techniques that adds value to clients' partnerships with geologists.

Magnetic surveying is a method used in archaeological geophysics. Magnetic surveys record the spatial change in the Earth's magnetic field. Magnetic surveys are used in both marine and land geology. Magnetometers used in geophysical surveys may use just one sensor to measure the total magnetic field, or they may use two (or sometimes more) spatially separated sensors to measure the gradient of the magnetic field (the difference between the sensors). In most geological and paleontological applications, the gradiometer configuration is preferred because it provides better resolution of small and near-surface events. Magnetometers may also use a scale made up of different types of sensors. Proton precession magnetometers have been largely replaced by faster and more precise fluxgate and cesium instruments. Every type of material has unique magnetic properties, even if we don't think of it as "magnetic". Different materials underground can cause local disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field, which can be detected with sensitive magnetometers. A major limitation of magnetometer research is that fine features of interest can be obscured by highly magnetic geological or modern materials.

In terrestrial paleontology, magnetic surveys are typically used for detailed mapping of paleontological features in known paleontological areas. Alternatively, magnetometers are used for low resolution surveys. Several types of magnetometers are used in terrestrial paleontology. Early research, beginning in the 1950s, was done with proton precession magnetometers. Data collection with proton precession instruments was slow, making high sample density studies impractical. Data were manually plotted and stacked. The following introduction of the cesium vapor magnetometers and Fluxgate improved the sensitivity and greatly increased the sampling rate, making high-resolution researches of large terrestrial areas practical. Equally essential was the development of computers to manipulate, process and display huge data sets. Magnetometers respond very strongly to iron and steel, brick, charred soil and many types of rock, and archaeological features made of these materials are very detectable. Where these highly magnetic materials are not available, it is often possible to detect very subtle anomalies caused by degraded soils or rotten organic materials. Magnetic measurement helps to prove that a research area has the potential for further study and scientific excavation.

Magnetic surveys are extremely useful in the excavation and research of underwater paleontological sites. The apparatus used in water is somewhat different from that on land. Marine magnetometers come in two types: surface-retracted and near-bottom. Both are pulled a sufficient distance (about two ship lengths) from the ship to allow them to collect data without being affected by the ship's magnetic properties. Surface-drawn magnetometers allow a wider detection range, but have lower sensitivity than near-bottom magnetometers. The most common type of magnetometer used for marine surveys is the fluxgate magnetometer. Fluxgate magnetometers use two ferromagnetic cores, each wound with a primary coil (in opposite directions) and an outer secondary coil connected to an ammeter. When an alternating current (AC) is passed through the primary coils, it creates two opposing magnetic fields which vary in intensity with respect to the external magnetic fields. By floating them parallel with respect to the seafloor, they can measure changes in magnetic fields on the seafloor.

Another common used type is the newer proton precession magnetometer. This uses a vessel filled with hydrogen-rich liquids (usually kerosene or methanol) that energizes electrons when agitated with a direct current (DC) or Radio Frequency (RF) and transfers that energy to protons. The Overhauser Effect basically turns them into dipole magnets. When the stimulus is removed, the protons advance at a rate which can be interpreted to determine the magnetic strengths of the field. In marine paleontology, they are often used to map the geology of wreck sites and determine the composition of magnetic materials found on the seafloor.

The method of measuring the earth's magnetic field is a very useful method for oil exploration, mineral exploration and geological mapping. Aircraft such as helicopters, airplanes and drones are used to cover large areas with uniform data. The amount of detail is a function of sample density and flight altitude in addition to instrument accuracy.