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Mining Drilling

From exploration to exploitation

Renowned in the mining exploration industry for more than 10 years, FTE Drilling constantly operates in Canada, West Africa, and South America. Our state-of-the-art equipment makes all the difference when it comes to rotary-percussion with air (RAB), reverse circulation (RC), diamond core (DD), grade control, air core (AC), and blasthole drilling methods.

We use different mining exploration techniques to meet your needs in all possible environments. Our expertise applies to both exploration projects and mine service drilling.

FTE Drilling will help you achieve the maximum profitability from your mining project.

  • forage fte Norgold blast hole

    Choosing the Right Equipment


    In February 2016, FTE Drilling was hired to drill phases 1 and 2 for the blasting related to the construction of leaching installations. Since we were facing solid granite, we brought in a ROC L8 down-the-hole drill, equipped with a compressor and a dust-eliminating system. Drilling on average 150 m per work shift (but often exceeding 200 m depending on the presence of holes), we were able to finish the work faster than expected using only one machine.


  • forage fte drilling atlas corpo roc l8

    Precision Drilling at the Goldex Mine


    In Val-D’Or, after drilling 480 m to reach the underground mine, we tubed the hole in its entirety to allow the insertion of the probe material. We then vertically drilled a series of shallow holes at -45 m in order to proceed with the cement injection.


  • forage fte drilling atlas corpo roc l8

    The Gold Standard Controls the Grade


    Abrasive and fragmented materials are nothing scary for our experienced drillers or our customizable reverse circulation drilling machinery. We also have no difficulty respecting deadlines since our installations are located directly on-site. This allows you to keep a large inventory of replacement parts while offering time-saving maintenance services.


  • forage fte drilling atlas corpo roc l8

    Large Scale Mining Exploration


    The size of a territory is not an obstacle for FTE Drilling. We have recently drilled 40 120-meter holes, each split in six exploitation zones, which were, in some cases, over 200 km apart from each other. The Great North isn’t so large after all.


Mining Drilling

From exploration to exploitation

Renowned in the mining exploration industry for more than 10 years, FTE Drilling constantly operates in Canada, West Africa, and South America. Our state-of-the-art equipment makes all the difference when it comes to rotary-percussion with air (RAB), reverse circulation (RC), diamond core (DD), grade control, air core (AC), and blasthole drilling methods.

We use different mining exploration techniques to meet your needs in all possible environments. Our expertise applies to both exploration projects and mine service drilling.

FTE Drilling will help you achieve the maximum profitability from your mining project.

Air Core Drilling (AC)

Air core drilling is a simple and effective technique that consists of cutting samples from unconsolidated soil and rock in order to be analyzed. The sample is extracted using an injection of compressed air, which forces it to enter the inner tubes. Once collected, the sample is not only undisturbed, it is an almost 100% accurate representation of the soil.

Air core drilling is a simple and effective technique that consists of cutting samples from unconsolidated soil and rock in order to be analyzed. The sample is extracted using an injection of compressed air, which forces it to enter the inner tubes. Once collected, the sample is not only undisturbed, it is an almost 100% accurate representation of the soil.

Diamond Core Drilling (DD) 

Diamond core drilling is used in the mining industry to probe the contents of known deposits and potential mining sites. By removing a small diameter of rock from the deposit, geologists can analyze the core through chemical dosage and use the rock for petrographic, structural, and mineralogical studies.

Diamond core drilling is used in the mining industry to probe the contents of known deposits and potential mining sites. By removing a small diameter of rock from the deposit, geologists can analyze the core through chemical dosage and use the rock for petrographic, structural, and mineralogical studies.

Blast Hole Drilling

Often called production drilling; blast hole drilling is used to facilitate installation of different blasting agents to fracture and enable excavation of ore and waste rock. Fast and efficient, this technique allows blasters to perform their work quickly with precision. Drilling is available in several diameters and depths according to the customer’s needs.

Often called production drilling; blast hole drilling is used to facilitate installation of different blasting agents to fracture and enable excavation of ore and waste rock. Fast and efficient, this technique allows blasters to perform their work quickly with precision. Drilling is available in several diameters and depths according to the customer’s needs.

Rotary-percussion Air Drilling

Rotary-percussion air drilling is the simplest and most economical solution for taking the first steps in mining exploration. Performed using a triblade or down-the-hole hammer; of varying diameters between 3 and 6 inches, samples exit along the borehole walls. This technique is used to get an overall idea of the mining potential for low cost sites. To obtain contamination-free samples, we must rely on reverse circulation or diamond core drilling techniques.

Rotary-percussion air drilling is the simplest and most economical solution for taking the first steps in mining exploration. Performed using a triblade or down-the-hole hammer; of varying diameters between 3 and 6 inches, samples exit along the borehole walls. This technique is used to get an overall idea of the mining potential for low cost sites. To obtain contamination-free samples, we must rely on reverse circulation or diamond core drilling techniques.

Reverse Circulation Drilling (RC)

Reverse circulation drilling (RC) is a drilling technique that allows samples to be retrieved with minimal contamination. Drilling is typically done using a down-the-hole, tricone, or triblade bit. The samples travel through rods to a sample splitter at surface, avoiding all contact between the samples and the borehole wall. This quick execution technique is usually performed within a diameter of 150 mm and a depth that varies between 50 and 200 meters.

Reverse circulation drilling (RC) is a drilling technique that allows samples to be retrieved with minimal contamination. Drilling is typically done using a down-the-hole, tricone, or triblade bit. The samples travel through rods to a sample splitter at surface, avoiding all contact between the samples and the borehole wall. This quick execution technique is usually performed within a diameter of 150 mm and a depth that varies between 50 and 200 meters.

Grade Control Drilling

Using reverse circulation drilling techniques and advanced sample splitting and recovery systems our grade control drills can provide samples helpful to differentiate ore and waste rock maximizing the profitability of your mining operations.

Using reverse circulation drilling techniques and advanced sample splitting and recovery systems our grade control drills can provide samples helpful to differentiate ore and waste rock maximizing the profitability of your mining operations.

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