JAMES BAY LOWLANDS, NORTHERN ONTARIO
PROJECT: DEBEERS DIAMOND MINE – VICTOR PROJECT
Determination Drilling has played an essential role in the establishment of Ontario’s first diamond mine. Over the past 3 years we have mobilized drilling crews and shipped equipment to this site in order to perform drilling operations including:
- hydrogeological drilling studies
- geotechnical drilling for ice roads
- environmental drilling/sampling
- heliportable/extreme off road drilling
-diamond core drilling / exploration drilling
Our CME 55 track mount was the prefered machine to send, for its ability to navigate through the difficult terrain and its capabilities of diamond core drilling to depths of 200 feet. On other occassions, mainly for the environmental drilling and hydrogeological drilling, we mobilized our Beaver Drill and Pionjar, which suited the scope of work in the overburden drilling projects.
We have worked in all seasons with challenges ranging from -60 degree weather, heat waves, massive thunder storms and forest fires. Proper planning, kept all crew out of harms way and project completion was achieved. In many cases we had limited access to sites and had to airlift our drilling equipment by helicopter to the drilling locations. All crew members were trained in proper rigging/slinging techniques with a focus on helicopter safety. Drill locations were also accessed by pick up, snowmobile, argo, dozer, boat, and hiking.
The Environmental/Cultural/Health & Safety policies set out by DeBeers Canada were very stringent & specific. Determination Drilling exceeded all requirements and played an intrical part in further developing the mines safety policies to ensure operator safety.