The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1891-05-23
STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Use of Diamond Drill.-Suggestions to
Parties Desiri0g to Investigate the
Extent and Value of Mineral Depos-
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.)

Special Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.)
Several parties living in different por-
tions of the State have asked that the
Geological Survey purchase a diamond
drill, to be used in making deep borings
for investigating the extent and value of
mineral deposits. building stones, Sc,
ard have offered to cooperate with the
survey IN bearing the expense Of making
these borngs. 1t is the object Of the
Survey to do every thing possible to aid
in making known and developing the
mineral and other resources of the State;
and but for the heavy expense Of pur.
chasing and operating the drill there
would be no doubt as to the wisdom of
our making use Of this important meas
ure Of exploration, which, on account of
its cost but few Geological Surveys have
tried. The cost Of operating one drill
continually would require the entire ap-
preparation for the survey; and that
without accomplishing very large part
of the work for which the Survey was
established, and the only basis on which
1t seems practicable, for the Survey to
operate drill is that of liberal co oper-
alton by parties On whose lands boring3
are to be made, and this is but fair as
these parties are the ones to be most
benefited by the borings 1t will be
well, before deciding on the purchase Of
a drill, that the Site Geologist be in
formed as to the probable number of par
tries who may desire to CO operate IL
| this work on the basis stated below.
| The cost of q diamond drill which will
bore to a depth of 700 feet, including
boiler and complete equipment, ranges
from So 900 to $500. To operate the
drill requires the services Of two. and at
times, of three, trained men, who are
paid usually about 400, So 90 and 81 90
considerable cost of "diamonds,a which
set in the lower end of the drill tube dc
the cutting (boring); the cost of fuel,
and of transporting the machinery from
place to place. In fairly soft rock like
the sandstones and shales of coal form
alton, the rate Of boring is 10 to Is feeI
per day aud the cost, including the
above named items, varies from $l.00 &c
IS 90 per foot, averaging 81 90 to So 90
per foot. At $3.50 per foot, boring
100 feet deep would cost $4,000 anc
one 500 feet deep would cost 81 $50 90
In harder rock the cost is greater; ani
often the breaking of 'dian nonds" add
much to the expense
The Diamond Drill consists of a tub
or hollow rod of iron, made in sections
In the lower end of the lower section
are set three rows of ''diamonds;" ant
this tube is revolved rapidly by tn
machinery on the ground. AS the dia
monds cut their way downward the roc
Cuttings (DoWder) are washed out by
current OF water forced down inside an
which flows up outside the drill tube
. Inside this tube is also case of soil
, , rock which when taken out shows th
! exact character and thickness of rock 0
mineral passed through.
The drill will be especially useful i
prospecting for coal, building stones an
iron ores; and under some circumstance
for other mineral deposits 1t seem
, like an expensive means of exploration
= : but it is cheaper than any other metho
: which furnishes equally reliable results
Parties in the State who desire to hay
bofings ~ ade have now to contract wit
: drill company in Pennsylvania {
other distant points, pay transportatio
charges both ways, pay all expense
y and good profit TO the company; an
p beside this they have to pay for the Sc
vices Of a geologist (SlO to 800 per da
for an ex animation and report on the T
suits.
The plan Of cooperation proposed
y that the State survey own the drill #
h occasional use 10 its general work, whe
!. parties desire special borings made {
: their property and make application a
J. cordingly. The survey will decide as
!; the wisdom Of making the boring, as
"a the location of the boring, and as to t
3: value Of the results, all free of charg
~ and the survey will also use the drill
% making the boring as desired, The sa
90 parties paying the actual cost Of trar
% portation and Of making the boring,
OO enumerated above.
10 Parties in the State who may wi
90 borings made on such basis of coopt
- alton will please notify the State Geol
90 gist, at Raleigh, on or eforo June ~
ry J. A. HOLMES, State Geologist.