A core barrel head assembly, comprising: an elongate tube body defining a first interior cavity and a selectively sealed interior cavity spaced from and extending distally from the first interior cavity, wherein the elongate tube body has a threaded proximal end for coupling to a wire line retrieval portion of a head assembly, wherein the first interior cavity extends distally from the threaded proximal end to a base portion of the elongate tube body to permit receipt of the wire line retrieval portion, and wherein the elongate tube body defines a port proximate to the base portion that extends from the exterior surface of the elongate tube body into fluid communication with the first interior cavity; a plurality of windows defined in the elongate tube body that extend from the exterior surface of the elongate tube body into optical communication with the sealed interior cavity proximate a closed proximal end of the sealed interior cavity; at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data mounted therein the sealed interior cavity, wherein the at least one electronic instrument comprises at least one digital and/or electro-mechanical sensors (42,44) in a core orientation data recording tool that can be configured to determine a core orientation of a sample core just prior to or after the core break; a power source in operable communication with the at least one electronic instrument, wherein the power source is mounted therein the sealed interior cavity; and communication means to receive and/or transmit core orientation data; wherein the sealed interior cavity is sized and shaped to hermetically enclose the least one electronic instrument and the power source. an elongate tube body defining a first interior cavity and a selectively sealed interior cavity spaced from and extending distally from the first interior cavity, wherein the elongate tube body has a threaded proximal end for coupling to a wire line retrieval portion of a head assembly, wherein the first interior cavity extends distally from the threaded proximal end to a base portion of the elongate tube body to permit receipt of the wire line retrieval portion, and wherein the elongate tube body defines a port proximate to the base portion that extends from the exterior surface of the elongate tube body into fluid communication with the first interior cavity; a plurality of windows defined in the elongate tube body that extend from the exterior surface of the elongate tube body into optical communication with the sealed interior cavity proximate a closed proximal end of the sealed interior cavity; at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data mounted therein the sealed interior cavity, wherein the at least one electronic instrument comprises at least one digital and/or electro-mechanical sensors (42,44) in a core orientation data recording tool that can be configured to determine a core orientation of a sample core just prior to or after the core break; a power source in operable communication with the at least one electronic instrument, wherein the power source is mounted therein the sealed interior cavity; and communication means to receive and/or transmit core orientation data; wherein the sealed interior cavity is sized and shaped to hermetically enclose the least one electronic instrument and the power source.