In May 2019, Deepcore Drilling’s site leaders from New South Wales and Victoria attended workshops in Bendigo to continue supporting a culture of informed awareness of mental health issues in the field. 

The workshops, conducted by Direct EMS, were specifically developed to provide key information and support for supervisors and managers to promote a healthy and safe work environment for all employees and to improve confidence and skills to support workers with mental health issues or illnesses.

Attendees were given the opportunity to role-play simulated scenarios, learn about changes in OHS obligations and enhance their knowledge to dispel inaccuracies and myths surrounding mental health and illness.

 As a company, Deepcore Drilling values the mental and physical health and well-being of our people. 

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing difficulties, contact 13 11 14, or visit www.beyondblue.org.au  #mentalhealthawareness

Deepcore Drilling are excited to announce our nomination as a finalist (Innovative Mining Solution category) for this year’s Australian Mining Prospect Awards.

As the leading Australian specialists in underground mobile and surface diamond drilling, Deepcore Drilling has, in collaboration with our client, Kirkland Lake Gold, Fosterville, have successfully trialled the Sound Enclosure, to support the mines’ environmental and community obligations.   

Deepcore Chief Operating Officer, Don Macdonald states, “The Sound Enclosure is the solution to the problem that many mining sites face; maximising their productive mining activities while successfully meeting all their stakeholder and community’s needs of safety, minimal environmental impact (reduced footprint), low noise and visual amenity.”

Designed and manufactured in Australia, the Sound Enclosure is a portable and dynamic engineered enclosure that can be situated on any surface to contain a drill rig. Its green exterior references a traditional barn and does not dominate its surroundings.

“The outstanding feature of this innovative world-first design is the dramatic reduction of the amount of sound that is made by a drilling rig, during a 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week operation. Evidence from independent studies demonstrates that the Sound Enclosure significantly reduces noise emissions by 20%”, Mr Macdonald commented.

The Sound Enclosure solution includes:

• Industrial fans and newly increased air flow to ventilate the drill rig and control air conditions

• Fresh air supply into the structure for the health and safety of the drill rig operators. Hygiene testing confirms that workers are not exposed to any harmful emissions while working in the Sound Enclosure

• Engineering upgrades to exhaust fans to further decrease noise pollution

• New improvements to shed access, to decrease trip hazards

• Custom designed to be flat-packed and easily transported

• Installation and demounting require limited manual handing, yet taking minimal time (under one day) to construct or remove

The Sound Enclosure means 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week drilling is possible, maintaining community and stakeholder relationships to a high standard.

“For Kirkland Lake Gold Fosterville, they have achieved an outstanding commercial outcome, doubling of their production capacity from 12 hours a day to 24 hours a day”.

For more information on the Sound Enclosure, or the range of Deepcore Drilling’s service capability, visit www.deepcoredrilling.com, follow us on social media, or contact enquiries@deepcoredrilling.com.

The 2018 Australian Mining Prospect Awards will be held on October 18th. Deepcore are proud to be acknowledged for our commitment to innovative mining solutions and wish all nominees the best with these awards.

Image: Deepcore Drilling’s Sound Enclosure has been nominated as a finalist in this year’s Australian Mining Prospect Awards for Innovation.

Deepcore Drilling, along with industry-partners Monash University and Kirkland Lake Gold, are proud to launch a new initiative, designed to improve drilling/mine site exposure to first, and third year Bachelor of Science (Earth Science) students.

Following attendance of an ADIA/AIG-sponsored conference held in March this year, entitled “Unlocking the Benefits of Better ‘Driller-Geologist’ Partnerships”, concerns from both parties were raised at the seminar pertaining to an industry-wide shortfall on the lack of exposure to active field operations and down hole drilling issues for Geology students commencing graduate programs.

“Listening to the concerns raised from industry representatives at the seminar prompted us to think outside the box and introduce an initiative to support the industry moving forward”, Deepcore Drilling Project Lead, Dona Carter stated.  After an initial research period, we identified that, by allowing students’ the opportunity to visit active mining and drilling operations, conducted through the course of their studies, will strengthen their field/practical knowledge when commencing on site and assist with forming stronger partnerships between our Drillers and future Geologists.”

Partnering with Melbourne’s Monash University and Kirkland Lake Gold, a new initiative has been developed to allow first year Undergraduate students the opportunity to visit operating mines and drill sites, scheduled to support to the students’ curriculum, with the inaugural field trip (with Monash University’s School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment’s first year students), held last Wednesday, 26th September, at Kirkland Lake Gold’s Fosterville Mine Site in Bendigo.  

Kirkland Lake Gold Exploration Superintendent, Nathan Phillips comments, “It’s is a great initiative to provide more awareness to emerging scientists what a career in the minerals industry provides. Victoria has a long history of mining and with the discovery of the world class Swan orebody, there are exciting times ahead for the Victorian minerals sector. This new investment in exploration in Victoria will no doubt yield future employment opportunities that needs to be supported by developing the next generation of geoscience graduates”.

Students attending the field excursion were granted access to the Fosterville mine surface operations including a guided visit to view the open cut pit and processing facility, core shed and Deepcore Drilling’s Robin’s Hill exploration site. Representatives from both Kirkland Lake Gold and Deepcore Drilling hosted information sessions, discussing Fosterville’s mining history, the Geology, Extraction and Metallurgy process, career opportunities and the drilling process and how it pertains to the overall planning of mining operations.

Visitors were then able to view a bank of core samples taken from a variety of depths and locations within the region. The tour concluded with students visiting one of Deepcore Drilling’s operating drill rigs located within one of the recent award nominated sound enclosure sheds used at Fosterville, designed to assist the mine manage an 24-7 drilling program with a range of environmental benefits, including the reduction of noise pollution to support the surrounding community.

Monash University's School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Assistant Lecturer, Dr James Driscoll comments, “We are very pleased to partner with Deepcore Drilling and Kirkland Lake Gold to provide industry-focused field trip opportunities to first year undergraduate students to showcase potential career pathways into the mining industry. This level of cooperation between the resources industry and universities is uncommon in undergraduate studies, and we certainly hope that this becomes an annual event so our students gain insight into both the mining and drilling sectors. Feedback from the students (from the recent excursion) has been very positive, and we look forward to supporting the next generation of Geologists graduating from Monash University!” 

“Using the feedback provided by the students, will enable us to develop a clear and defined field excursion program, specifically formatted to support Monash University’s future curriculum, assisting students with key information relevant to the area of study”, Ms Carter remarked. “Further opportunities have been identified to support future opportunities for first, and third year students for access to underground drilling operations, with the addition of a long-term plan to expand the program interstate, allowing students and our mining clients from QLD and NSW to join this initiative. Our goal is that, by working together to strengthen Geologists’ exposure to the industry, we can bridge the gap and strengthen Geologist-Driller relationships. We look forward to continuing a long-term partnership on this project with Monash University and Kirkland Lake Gold.”

Images: Monash University Bachelor of Science (Earth Science) students now have the opportunity to gain vital exposure to mine site and drilling activities to support their education