Core library services and drill core submission
The Geological Survey of Queensland holds a large collection of cores and cuttings from Queensland's known mineral deposits and coal and petroleum basin strata. This collection represents about 6,000km of drill core/cuttings from across the state.
Located in Zillmere, North Brisbane, and Mount Isa, the growing collection is an invaluable geoscientific asset that allows rock and mineral samples to be studied and reanalysed at minimal cost or impact to the environment.
Inspect and sample core and cuttings
You can inspect any open file sample held by the Geological Survey of Queensland. You can also obtain samples for further analysis, subject to terms and conditions.
For a listing of bore holes held by us, you can search in GeoResGlobe or in QSpatial. In GeoResGlobe, select:
- Boreholes – Core/cuttings held by Qld Government to search for specific coal and petroleum cores
- Boreholes – Boreholes by type – Mineral layer to search for cores held in stock from the Mount Isa region.
Arranging an inspection
To request an inspection, contact the manager at the Exploration Data Centre or the John Campbell Miles drill core storage facility located in Mount Isa. You will need to make a written request to view core or to obtain samples:
- Exploration Data Centre core viewing request form (PDF, 239KB)
- John Campbell Miles drill core storage facility request form (PDF, 252KB).
Site facilities
We have core cutting, sampling and slabbing facilities on site and our staff will cut your samples for a small fee.
We supply dilute hydrochloric acid, sample bags and sample tags.
Note: You must wear covered footwear at all times in our facilities.
Core cutting service fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Core and cutting presentation—up to 100 boxes | $6.84 per box |
| Core and cutting presentation—101 to 200 boxes | $5.41 per box |
| Core and cutting presentation—more than 200 boxes | $4.50 per box |
| Cross section core cutting | $3.29 per sample |
| Longitudinal core cutting | $13.99 per metre |
Submit core and cuttings samples
We collect core, cuttings and other samples from exploration companies as part of their legislative requirements.
How to submit core and cuttings samples
As there is limited storage capacity at the Exploration Data Centre in Brisbane and the John Campbell Miles facility at Mount Isa, new drill hole samples are being vetted against existing samples to determine if they offer a new or more representative stratigraphic section for the region.
Provide details of proposed drill hole material to geological_info@resources.qld.gov.au prior to lodgement. The Geological Survey of Queensland will assess your samples and let you know which samples you are required to submit.
Notification and offer of core and cuttings samples: Petroleum and coal seam gas
This section relates to offers of core and cuttings by petroleum tenure holders under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004.
Before lodging your sample, email us at geological_info@resources.qld.gov.au with the required details of the drill hole material you are planning to submit.
We will assess your samples to determine whether they duplicate existing material and let you know which samples you should lodge.
For offers of core, advise:
- well name and number
- tenure type and number
- operator name
- well location (i.e. grid coordinates and datum)
- core type (full hole core)
- cored interval(s) with top and bottom and recovery specified in metres
- core diameter as specified in original units of measure
- core general condition
- core recovery date (the date at the which last cored interval in the well was recovered)
- number of core boxes
- number of pallets
- geological information (the formations and/or other stratigraphic units intercepted and depth in metres, or any evidence of fault intersections or other geological points of interest)
- note sections of removed core (core still being analysed) if relevant
- core photography.
For offers of cuttings, advise:
- well name and number
- tenure type and number
- operator name
- well location (grid coordinates and datum)
- volume of cuttings collected (frequency of sampling per interval, amounts in weight per sample bag, number of packing boxes)
- method of storage (cloth, foil or plastic sample bags)
- whether or not cuttings have been washed and dried.
Packaging and delivery of samples
Once you have been notified of what you need to supply:
- follow the instructions of how to package drill core and drill cuttings for delivery to the core collection
- complete the Petroleum and CSG core sample submission form (XLS, 17KB) and include with each shipment
- send your shipment to the nominated core library.
Notification and offer of core and cuttings samples: Minerals and coal
This section relates to offers of core and cuttings by mineral and coal tenure holders under the Mineral Resources Act 1989.
Before lodging your sample, email geological_info@resources.qld.gov.au with the required details of the drill hole material you are planning to submit.
We will assess your samples to determine whether they duplicate existing material and let you know which samples you should lodge.
For offers of core, cuttings, bulk samples, etc., advise the following:
- bore name and number
- tenure type and number
- principal holder name
- bore location (grid coordinates and datum)
- sample type (full hole core, cuttings, bulk sample, etc.)
- relevant interval(s) with top and bottom and recovery specified in metres
(Note: This component is intended to describe the downhole element of a sample, in addition to the provenance, e.g., sieved fractions.) - volume of sample
- method of storage (plastic sample bags, drum, cloth, steel/plastic core tray, etc.)
- core diameter as specified in original units of measure
- sample general condition (washed, dried, weathered, etc.)
- core recovery date (the date at the which last cored interval in the well was recovered)
- number of core boxes
- number of pallets
- geological information (formations and/or other stratigraphic units intercepted and depth in metres, or any evidence of fault intersections or other geological points of interest)
- note sections of removed core (core remaining in analysis) if relevant
- available sample photography.
Packaging and delivery of samples
Once you have been notified of what you need to supply:
- follow the instructions on how to package drill core and drill cuttings for delivery to the core collection
- complete the correct resource specific drill hole sample submission form and include it with each shipment
- send your shipment to the nominated core library.
Contact the Exploration Data Centre if you are unsure about your submission obligations or for more information about how to submit core.
HyLogger data
You can access Queensland's HyLogger data through the Geoscience Portal.
- Under the Add Data menu in the layers panel, expand the Boreholes heading and click on National Virtual Core Library.
- Use the drop-down to select Provider = Queensland.
- Click Add data to Map.
We do not offer commercial HyLogging services.
HyLogging is an advanced technique from CSIRO that helps geologists to non-destructively assess the mineralogical distribution of an entire drill core, with minimal sample preparation or removing from its original tray.
The data produced by the Queensland Government's HyLogger contributes to the AuScope National Virtual Core Library (NVCL) project.
This project in turn contributes to the AuScope National GeoTransects Program, which is progressively building a high-resolution image of the geology of the upper 1–2km of the Australian continent.
The Hylogger is currently being used full time as part of the GSQ Reference Collection Project.
If you are interested in collaborating with GSQ as part of this project by either donating or loaning drill core, email geological_info@resources.qld.gov.au.