Wooden core boxes are a proven way to store, ship and archive drill core neatly. They are used in mineral exploration, mining, geotechnical investigations and core libraries, wherever core has to stay in the right order for years.
Why wooden core boxes?
- Sturdy build: softwood frame with a moisture-resistant multi-layer plywood base that keeps its shape.
- No metal contact: some sampling and assay programs prefer wood to rule out any influence from metal boxes.
- Easy to handle and label: uniform dimensions stack well on racks and pallets, and the timber takes marker and labels easily.
- Custom sizes: wood is easy to adapt, so we also build boxes for non-standard core diameters and lengths.
Sizes and capacities
Our standard wooden core boxes are designed for the common wireline sizes. Each channel holds 1 m of core.
| Size | Core diameter | Cores per box (1 m) | Outer size L × W × H | Item no. | Minimum order | |
|---|
| NQ | 47.6 mm | 5 | 104 × 38 × 6 cm | DD-GB-5-47-H | 150 | Request |
| HQ | 63.5 mm | 4 | 104 × 38 × 7 cm | DD-GB-4-63-H | 150 | Request |
| PQ | 85 mm | 3 | 104 × 35 × 9 cm | DD-GB-3-85-H | 150 | Request |
| SQ | 101 mm | 2 | 104 × 27 × 16 cm | on request | on request | Request |
Larger cores up to 180 mm and other lengths are built to order, see custom-made boxes.
Options
- Lid
- Rope handles
- Label holder for clear sample IDs
- Depth markers and spacer blocks
Q-series core and hole diameters
| Size | Core diameter (approx.) | Hole diameter (approx.) |
|---|
| BQ | 36.4 mm | 60.0 mm |
| NQ | 47.6 mm | 75.7 mm |
| HQ | 63.5 mm | 96.0 mm |
| PQ | 85.0 mm | 122.6 mm |
| SQ | 101.0 mm | 134.0 mm |
The size you drill depends on ground conditions, depth and the amount of material the lab needs. Broken ground near surface is often drilled in PQ or HQ, deep holes are reduced to NQ. For metallurgical testwork or geotechnical studies, PQ or SQ is common. More on this in our core box size guide.
Typical applications
- Mineral exploration and mining: core logging, photography, archiving
- Geotechnical and site investigations: project storage and long-term archiving
- Universities and research institutes: sample collections and teaching
- Laboratories: a clean, traceable chain of custody
Getting a quote
To quote quickly, we need the core size (NQ, HQ, PQ or SQ), the number of boxes, the delivery country or site and any options you want.
If solid-wood core boxes are used as wood packaging in international shipments, ISPM 15 requirements may apply. Whether treatment and marking are needed depends on the material, how the boxes are used and the import rules of the destination country, so please check before you order.