What is the best choice for efficient drill core storage?

The efficiency of core storage has a direct impact on costs, logistics, safety, and the integrity of geological data. Below, we present a clear and objective comparison between the traditional NQ wooden core box system and the Core Case GII NQ tray.

Internal Space Utilization

Wooden Core Box (Canadian Standard)

3 channels of 1.5 m each → 4.5 m of core per box
1 wooden spacer per channel (3 total)
Each spacer occupies 5 cm
Total lost space: 15 cm per box
Actual usable length: 4.35 m
Capacity loss: 3.33%

CORE CASE Tray

4 channels of 1 m each → 4 m per tray
1 Core Shock per channel (4 total)
Each Core Shock occupies 1 cm
Total lost space: 4 cm per tray
Actual usable length: 3.96 m
Capacity loss: only 1%

Depth-Based Comparison (100 m, 300 m, and 500 m)

Even though fewer wooden boxes are used over the course of a drilling campaign, the wooden-box system results in significantly more core loss.

For a drilling program of 100,000 meters:

This loss results in:

The Lid as a Box vs. the Lid as a Lid

In Canada, wooden core boxes typically require one lid per box to ensure safe land and air transport. This results in a strict 1:1 ratio.

With Core Case, the lid is used strictly as a lid, never as a box, allowing for a ratio of 1 lid for every 15 boxes. This drastically reduces both cost and transport volume.

Even when using the same number of boxes, Core Case requires up to 15 times fewer lids, generating significant savings.

Core stacking and core shed

In mining, where every detail matters for ensuring safety, efficiency, and sample integrity, the stacking of core boxes becomes a strategic issue.

When boxes do not align properly, as happens with many options on the market, the result is a misaligned, unstable, and risky stockpile.

Credits: Mining.com | ngu.no | centuryglobal.ca

Helicopter TEST

We conducted a real-world demonstration comparing a stack of wooden core boxes with a stack of CORE CASE trays.

Watch the video and see the difference for yourself.

One person, easy load

Load capacity is nothing without safety

Core Case trays are lighter and more ergonomic, reducing physical strain and the risk of injury. While many workers still lift 27–34 kg boxes several times a day — above the 23 kg safe limit recommended by NIOSH/CCOHS — our trays help protect workers’ health and make these tasks more accessible to women and smaller-built individuals.

Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Dividers

Traditional wooden spacers are bulky and waste valuable internal space. The Core Shock provides a far more efficient solution:

Average savings of ~15 cm per box
In a 500 m drill hole, this represents 9 boxes saved solely from using Core Shock
Reduced risk of sample loss
Improved ergonomics
Greater durability
Zero biological risk (wood can attract insects, fungi, and other contaminants)

Conclusion

Wooden core boxes played an important historical role in the development of mining and in the storage of drill core samples. They offer reasonable durability in cold climates, such as Canada, and can be manufactured locally even when the origin of the timber is unknown. However, when examined in depth, especially over the long term, they reveal a series of limitations that affect cost, safety, data quality, and sustainability.

The list of disadvantages is extensive, and any mining company should evaluate them carefully. For this reason, we have compiled 16 reasons demonstrating why the Core Case tray represents a technological leap forward: a premium product, created by a geologist, made from 100% recycled material, 100% RFID-traceable, and engineered to deliver higher operational efficiency and continuous sustainability. With full traceability, the Smart Case strengthens QA/QC practices and supports compliance with global reporting standards such as NI 43-101 and JORC.

NO ONE TAKES CARE OF YOUR CORES LIKE CORE CASE

From an environmental standpoint, the issue is even more critical. Using wood to manufacture core boxes leads to deforestation, habitat loss, and direct impacts on local wildlife, in addition to increased CO₂ emissions throughout the production chain. Given these consequences, it is no longer acceptable to rely on solutions that contribute to such impacts when superior, safer, and truly sustainable alternatives exist.

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