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MN Drill Core Library

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minerals Division, maintains Minnesota' Drill Core Library housing over 9,540 drill holes, totaling approximately 2 million feet. The majority of the drill core is a result of mineral exploration and new cores are being added each year. The importance of these cores is that they provide the only actual samples and understanding of the bedrock for 95% of Minnesota. These cores are available for public inspection and may be sampled for analysis. From the MN DNR Minerals Division, Hibbing MN.

drill cores

drill cores

drill core report

Each box of drill cores is labeled and stored in a warehouse library. All of the most recent samples include electronic data base results of the cores and the testing results. The older core samples along with the test results (kinds and percentage of rocks and/or minerals) are being added to electronic data bases as funds and time allow. Printed reports often include maps like the one at the left that shows the location of the drill hole, the angle of the drill core and the locations and amounts in the core of the minerals that the drilling company is trying to find.

drill cores

drill core examination

drill rig

Bedrock Sampling:

When geologists take drill core samples of bedrock, they drill in different locations and at different depths. This is the only way to get actual samples of what lies below. The rock underground change greatly from place to place. This text and last three photos from MN DNR Minerals Division.

drilling diagram