IN SITU SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR A DRILL RIG AND A DRILL RIG INCORPORATING SAME

摘要

An in situ sampling and analysis system 10 is supported by a drill rig 12. The system 10 incorporates a frame 26 which carries equipment capable of sampling and analysing drill cuttings produced during drilling. This equipment includes a drill cutting handling system 28 and an emission spectrometer 30. The frame 26 is moveable to an operational position which facilitates the acquiring samples of the drill cuttings and conducting an elemental analysis of the cuttings. Prior to the drill rig 12 being trammed to the desired location for drilling of a further hole the frame 26 is elevated with respect to the operational position to retract the equipment from ground level. The sampling of drill cuttings and determination of the composition of a mineral body is performed in real time simultaneously with the drilling.