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Specialist drilling solutions for complex ground conditions.

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Rock Boring

With more than 40 years of experience, Master Drilling operates the world's largest raise-boring fleet across demanding mining, civil and energy projects.

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Exploration Drilling

Our work in exploration drilling delivers critical insights into mineral deposits, empowering your project with accurate geological data for informed decision-making and strategic investment.

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Core Drilling

Core drilling is a precision technique used to remove cylindrical samples of material, typically earth or concrete, enabling detailed analysis of subsurface layers. This method provides accurate samples crucial for geological exploration, material quality assessments, and construction projects.

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Reverse Circulation Drilling

Reverse Circulation is the most commonly employed drilling method for grade control in open pit mining operations. This type of drilling is utilised to better define the information already available on the ore grades and ore blocks on the mine in order to optimize ore extraction as well as mine planning and blasting patterns.

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Directional Drilling

Directional Drilling is an advanced technique used to create highly precise vertical, directional, and horizontal boreholes. It enables efficient drilling operations with enhanced control and precision, making it ideal for complex drilling scenarios.

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Geotechnical Services

Geotechnical services involve studying and engineering earth’s materials to assess their behavior. Critical in infrastructure projects, ensuring safety, stability, and longevity, geotechnical experts conduct testing, evaluate site conditions, and provide recommendations for foundations and structural support.

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Shaft Boring System

The Shaft Boring System (SBS) is a cutting-edge advancement in constructing vertical shafts for underground projects. Offering precision and enhancing safety, it streamlines excavation across diverse geological conditions. Minimising human exposure to danger, it creates access, ventilation, and material transport shafts, optimising timelines and reducing costs.

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Complete catalogue

All retained services

Browse all twenty-six services, or use the filters to narrow the catalogue.

26 services

A&R Group

In 2021 Master Drilling acquired shareholding with A&R Group, a leading mine safety technology provider, to deliver innovative solutions. A&R Group develops cutting-edge solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the mining industry. Their expertise in software, firmware, and hardware ensures that our operations benefit from the latest technological advancements.

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Applied Vehicle Analysis

Applied Vehicle Analysis (AVA) is a comprehensive evaluation of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency, involving simulations and physical testing to optimise designs and ensure regulatory compliance. It’s essential for creating more efficient, safer vehicles and enhancing fleet operations, playing a crucial role in advancing automotive technology and environmental sustainability.

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Blast Hole Drilling

Blast hole drilling is a technique used in mining to create holes into which explosives are loaded for blasting. This method facilitates the extraction of minerals by breaking up the rock. It’s critical for surface and underground mining, ensuring efficient and controlled rock fragmentation.

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Box Hole Boring

Box hole boring is a variation of raise boring on a smaller scale, typically used for creating short and small diameter holes vertically or near-vertically downwards. This method is often employed for slot raises, ventilation, waste and ore passes, or production slots in underground mines.

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Core Drilling

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Cut and Break Technology

Cut and break (C&B) technology is a precise approach for removing concrete and hard materials, ideal for demolition, renovation, and repairs. Advanced cutting tools make exact incisions, followed by mechanical force to break segments with minimal disturbance. This method reduces noise, dust, and vibrations, maintaining structural integrity while enhancing safety and efficiency.

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De-watering

De-watering refers to removing water from soil or rock, primarily in construction and mining operations, to lower the water table and provide a dry, stable work environment. This technique is essential for excavation safety, foundation stability, and efficient project execution.

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Diamond Drilling

Automation is a key component of any modern drilling rig, and our new automated drilling rig will be no exception. By automating various tasks and processes, we can maximise efficiency and productivity in exploration drilling. This means faster drilling times, more accurate data collection, and reduced costs.

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Directional Drilling

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Exploration Drilling

Our work in exploration drilling delivers critical insights into mineral deposits, empowering your project with accurate geological data for informed decision-making and strategic investment.

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Geotechnical Services

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Horizontal Raise Boring

Horizontal raise boring revolutionises tunnel creation with precise, safe and efficient horizontal drilling. Ideal for mining and infrastructure, this method ensures accurate tunnel alignment, minimal environmental impact and enhanced safety, transforming underground operations.

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LIDAR Scanning

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Scanning are advanced remote sensing technologies that use laser light to accurately measure distances to the Earth’s surface, offering precise three-dimensional data crucial for mining operations.

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Mobile Tunnel Borer

The Mobile Tunnel Boring technology is specifically designed for horizontal and inclined hard rock applications; eliminating the need to drill and blast. The high-level automation allows us to excavate tunnels with a smooth circular cross-section, safely and cost effectively.

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Mud and Air Rotary Drilling

Mud and Air Rotary Drilling are versatile techniques used for deep earth exploration. Mud rotary excels in softer formations, providing borehole stability and efficient cuttings removal, while air rotary is preferred in harder rocks, offering faster drilling and cleaner operations.

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Paste Holes

Paste holes are boreholes drilled in underground mines to inject a cement-like mixture (paste) into excavated areas. This process, known as paste fill, is crucial for ground support, ore recovery, and waste management.

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Percussion Drilling

Percussion drilling is a traditional drilling technique where a heavy cutting or hammering bit is used to break through rock, soil, or other materials. The drill bit is repeatedly lifted and dropped onto the surface, pulverising the material to create a borehole.

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Piling Drilling

Piling drilling in mining operations is a critical technique for stabilising infrastructure on unstable or soft ground. It involves drilling deep into the earth to install piles that provide foundational support for mining structures, ensuring operational safety and stability.

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Production Boring

Master Drilling is proud to showcase its experience in reef boring, a cutting-edge drilling technique that has been instrumental in optimising operation for our partner, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM).

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Rock Boring

With more than 40 years of experience, Master Drilling operates the world's largest raise-boring fleet across demanding mining, civil and energy projects.

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Reverse Circulation Drilling

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Shaft Boring System

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Shotcreting

Shotcreting is a construction technique that involves spraying concrete or mortar through a hose at high velocity onto a surface. The method is favored for its efficiency, versatility and the ability to form a compact, dense layer of concrete that adheres well to surfaces, including vertical or overhead areas.

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Slot Hole Drilling

Slot hole drilling is a specialised technique used primarily in the mining industry, particularly for underground operations. It’s a form of drilling that is employed to create a “slot” or a large void in the rock, which is an essential part of the process for block caving — a mining method used in large-scale underground mining.

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Sonic Drilling

Sonic utilises high-frequency, resonance generated inside head of the sonic drill rig to advance a core barrel or casing into subsurface formations. During drilling, this resonance is transferred down the drill string to the bit face causing liquefaction of the surface materials. Simultaneously the drill string rotates evenly distributing the vibration on the bit face.

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Vertical Raise Boring

With over 37 years in the field, we have the world’s largest raise boring fleet, consisting of more than 150 rigs. Our equipment is designed for hard rock drilling, reaching depths over 2km.

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