Drop an overshot down and snag the core tube. Bring it to surface where the drill offsider takes it and gets the core out. Usually slides out but in some instances some encouragement (rubber hammer or more) is required. Core usually put straight into the tray with care to maintain the correct order. The offsider tries to put the core into interlocking pieces and check if there is any discrepancy of drill run and core present. Put in core block with depth and run length for later cross checking. Orienting marks on core happen at this stage and will be used later by core technicians to try and get a continuous oriented line.
[3 6 9 and 12 (rare?)core barrels which may be solid or in 3m increments. Had one crew shuffle the core from a 9m barrel - jigsaw with last 3m first and backwards, middle last etc! Almost any permutation of what can go wrong happens if you see enough core so necessary to communicate with drillers.]
Nowadays drill rigs are treated as no go areas for unauthorised personnel. Company and drill personnel would be the norm with no one else allowed within easy visual distance of the core. Not so much for spying but safety reasons. Some posters mention having seen the rig but doubt anyone would have got close enough to see the core.
[Visuals
Depending on the target commodity the drillers will recognize some signs. Black water returns generally means high sulphide content which would be hoped for from Mongoose deeps. Sulphides Yes. Economic? - geo/assay or experienced driller. Visible gold really attracts the eye but does not always equate to an economic discovery. Core displayed at Brisbane had some shiny bits in it. Gold? Unlikely IMO given the SP activity since it was shown. Probably a mix of pyrite/pyrrhotite/chalcopyrite in some fractures/breccia. Any better then probably need an ASX announcement. A hand specimen size piece of core may or may not be representative of the 100+m interval needed to make Mongoose Deeps fly.]
Core is bundled up in daily/shift batches and taken to the core process area where more eyes can view it. For the core techs and geos it is their job which means they aren't supposed to discuss what they see. Secrecy becomes more difficult the more people know what is there. Often not easy to know even as the geo logging the core as bulk deposits require multiple assays.
Most core yards are a variant of drill rigs with only authorised personnel present. Working in Cloncurry is likely different to the Mine sites I am more used to so possible some casual person could pass through. Not many casual folk would know what they are seeing unless there is blatantly obvious mineralisation.
A lot of people get to see the core. Most are not supposed to comment to outsiders. Obviously happens but not easy to know what is in the core from a casual glimpse.
The core photos from TN's drilling at the GAM @Met2020 give an idea of what to expect but IMO for Mongoose to be a real success they will need such zones to be much longer and continuous.
I only held a small parcel for a short period then decided to take a small loss on the lotto game that is Mongoose deeps. Not for the faint hearted. GLTAH who continue to hold.
How much is needed to warrant more drilling at these depths if this hole is a technical success??
(20min delay)