
Quality sample drilling is the process of digging a series of test holes in a proposed mining area to determine the quantity and quality of the resource that will be mined or that is being explored. Test holes are drilled across the proposed mining area at specific depths in a grid pattern to ensure that the area is sampled accurately across its entire volume.
The samples are used to produce a risk assessment and analysis report which identifies the risks and benefits of beginning production mining in the area. It is used when exploring for minerals or other resources, to determine the structure of the proposed mining area, to perform geotechnical analysis, for environmental management purposes, to aid in the design of pits and tailing dams and to perform groundwater assessments (which are used to see what impacts production mining may have on the water table).