RE: Meet Marc10 May 2026 13:07
In gold exploration drilling, deciding which part of the drill core goes to the lab and which part is retained follows a standard sampling process designed to preserve evidence while still getting accurate assay results.
Typical practice:
The drill core is logged, photographed, and marked.
The core is split lengthwise using a core saw or splitter.
One half is sent to the assay lab.
The other half is kept in storage as a permanent reference.
How the split is decided
The split is usually done so that:
Both halves are as representative as possible.
Mineralization is evenly divided across the cut line.
Structures, veins, and visible gold are not entirely removed from the retained half.
Geologists often cut:
Straight through the center of the core.
Or slightly adjusted to preserve key geological features in the retained archive half.
Which half goes to the lab?
There is usually a consistent rule for the whole program, for example:
Always send the right-hand half looking downhole.
Keep the left-hand half.
Or vice versa.
Consistency is important for QA/QC and audit trails.