An exploration drilling sampling and analysis system comprising: a capturing sub-system comprising a collar capture sub-system for continuously capturing returning drilling fluid and cuttings cycled through a drill string off a drill hole while the hole is being drilled, a sample recovery sub-system for obtaining a sample of the cuttings from the captured cuttings, said sample recovery sub-system comprising a centrifuge for separating captured drilling fluid and cuttings from each other to make a sample available at a reduced moisture content amenable to rapid drying, a sample preparation sub-system for drying and deagglomerating the sample, said sample preparation sub-system comprising a spin flash dryer configured to maintain the sample at a temperature of less than 105°C to dry the sample to less than 1% by weight of water (H 2 O) in less than 5 minutes to prevent mineralogical damage to the sample, a sample handling sub-system for preparing the dried sample and comprising a press for presenting the dried sample with a flat surface to provide a homogenous representation of the sample for analysis, and a sensor sub-system for analysing the presented sample, said sensor sub-system comprising at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of an X-ray fluorescence analysis sensor, an X-ray diffraction analysis sensor, an infra-red spectroscopy analysis sensor, a near infra-red spectroscopy analysis sensor, a shortwave infra-red (SWIR) spectroscopy analysis sensor, a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis sensor, a Gamma logging analysis sensor, a magnetic susceptibility analysis sensor, and a Raman spectroscopy analysis sensor. a capturing sub-system comprising a collar capture sub-system for continuously capturing returning drilling fluid and cuttings cycled through a drill string off a drill hole while the hole is being drilled, a sample recovery sub-system for obtaining a sample of the cuttings from the captured cuttings, said sample recovery sub-system comprising a centrifuge for separating captured drilling fluid and cuttings from each other to make a sample available at a reduced moisture content amenable to rapid drying, a sample preparation sub-system for drying and deagglomerating the sample, said sample preparation sub-system comprising a spin flash dryer configured to maintain the sample at a temperature of less than 105°C to dry the sample to less than 1% by weight of water (H 2 O) in less than 5 minutes to prevent mineralogical damage to the sample, a sample handling sub-system for preparing the dried sample and comprising a press for presenting the dried sample with a flat surface to provide a homogenous representation of the sample for analysis, and a sensor sub-system for analysing the presented sample, said sensor sub-system comprising at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of an X-ray fluorescence analysis sensor, an X-ray diffraction analysis sensor, an infra-red spectroscopy analysis sensor, a near infra-red spectroscopy analysis sensor, a shortwave infra-red (SWIR) spectroscopy analysis sensor, a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis sensor, a Gamma logging analysis sensor, a magnetic susceptibility analysis sensor, and a Raman spectroscopy analysis sensor.