How do I choose a core drilling rig for mineral exploration?
A core drilling rig is a ten-year decision bought against a drilling programme, so the selection order matters: start from the holes you must drill, not from a catalogue's headline number. The five checks below — depth by rod size, ground, access, mechanical headroom, and support — filter a long list down to the one or two rigs genuinely suited to your programme.
FULONGZUAN's exploration range illustrates the two main families. The YB portable rigs (500–1,300 m class) are modular and man-transportable for remote greenfield work; the YDX crawler rigs (to 2,000 m BQ) trade portability for torque, pull-back and depth. Most exploration fleets end up owning one of each type rather than forcing a single rig to cover every site.
Key Specifications
Key specifications from the manufacturer's catalogue: Checklist compiled from the parameters buyers most often under-specify; model data on this site is quoted from the manufacturer's catalogues.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Step 1 — Depth | Deepest planned hole, read on the rod size you will actually run (BQ/NQ/HQ/PQ) |
| Step 2 — Ground | Hardness, fracturing and abrasiveness set torque and flushing demands |
| Step 3 — Access | Roadless/steep → modular portable rig; vehicle access → crawler rig |
| Step 4 — Headroom | Torque and pull-back at least one class above the programme's worst case |
| Step 5 — Power & fluids | Diesel units on site; mud system matched to ground and environmental rules |
| Step 6 — Support | Spares, wear parts and service reach for the country you drill in |
Main Features
Two specification traps recur. First, headline depth: a rig 'rated 2,000 m' reaches it only on the smallest rod size, so always compare on your working size — the YDX-1800's 2,000 m is BQ, while its PQ rating is 1,000 m. Second, recovery power: pull-back force decides whether a stuck string comes out or is abandoned, which is why the YDX pairs its depth ratings with 150–240 kN of pull-back and a dual-motor head. On portable rigs, check the mud pump as carefully as the head — the YB's direct-drive BW100/6 with stepless flow exists because flushing, not rotation, is what usually limits broken-ground drilling.
Supply & Trade
FULONGZUAN equipment is manufactured by Fujian Yizuan Machinery Co., Ltd. (Longyan, Fujian, China), a national high-tech enterprise holding 128 authorized national patents. Export enquiries are handled by the Simiai Technology trade desk: hemingwang@simiai.top, WhatsApp +86 130 7787 8567 (https://wa.me/8613077878567). Pricing, order quantities and delivery terms are quoted per enquiry (RFQ) against the buyer's target specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What depth margin should I allow above my target holes?
Buy the rig whose rating on your rod size exceeds your deepest planned hole with comfortable headroom, and confirm torque and pull-back scale with it. Programmes routinely deepen; a rig at its limit on day one has no answer when the geology team extends a hole.
Portable or crawler rig for a first exploration fleet?
Follow the access. If your prospects are roadless, a modular portable rig (FULONGZUAN YB class) gets drilling started anywhere; add a crawler rig (YDX class) when programmes move to accessible, deeper, higher-metreage work.
What should an RFQ for a core drill include?
Target depths by rod size, expected ground conditions, site access and altitude, power/fuel situation, required angle range, and destination country — so the quote can cover the right model, configuration and export terms.
Conclusion
Choose on the programme, verify on the full parameter table, and leave headroom in depth, torque and pull-back. The Simiai Technology trade desk can map your hole plan to the YB portable or YDX crawler range and quote on an RFQ basis.
Contact the trade desk
Pricing, minimum order and delivery terms are quoted on request. Send your target specifications to the trade desk for a quotation.