The Development of the Aircore Sampling System

摘要

Heavy mineral sand exploration drilling prior to the 1970s generally utilised open hole auger andrnair-blast type drilling. However, mining reconciliations were poor and limitations on accuracy andrnprecision of drilling results were severe.rnWorking with the exploration companies, Wallis Drilling principals designed various systems,rnincluding what was termed the ‘Eneabba System’ and then the ‘Capel Twin-Tube System’. Eventuallyrnthe company with its improvements developed and patented the Aircore Drilling System.rnAircore drilling has subsequently become recognised as an excellent drilling system for explorationrnand mine-sample drilling that gives good precision and accuracy in sampling both above and belowrnwater. Its use has also been extended to many other commodities and is used in a number of overseasrncountries.rnThis paper documents anecdotally the development of the system, identifying problemsrnencountered during the times it was evolving and of the means to overcome the problems asrnbeing the documentation of the story by the inventors and developers in Wallis Drilling Company.rnAircore drilling system is a Western Australian technological development owing its existence to therndesigning and incorporation of a number of discrete improvements along the way and recognises therntenacity and inventiveness of all who contributed to the system, in both Wallis and also in a numberrnof companies that gave the impetus to succeed.